Lead Analyst for Digital Transformation Group

Job summary

The Digital & Transformation Group (D&T) in DWP designs and transforms services around user needs, delivering major change programmes supported by Data and Insight. These programmes include Service Modernisation, and initiatives addressing Fraud, Error and Debt. The focus is on helping citizens access the financial support they need, reducing fraud and error, supporting progression, and lowering the cost of service delivery. ​

This role is also embedded within DWP’s Analytical Community (AC) which has over 900 analysts made up of Economists, Operational Researchers, Social Researchers, Statisticians and Data Analysts. Analysts are grouped into 20 Lead Analyst areas, embedded across the Department. Our services are in high demand from ministers, senior leaders and policy and operational stakeholders. ​

​Virtual Engagement Session ​
Date: Friday 16th October 2026
Time: 11:10 – 12:10
This virtual session is an opportunity for you to find out more about the role and what it's like leading the Digital Transformation Group. You'll get the opportunity to hear directly from Paul Francis, Catherine Hutchinson and Beverley Morton, who will provide an overview of the role and hold a Q&A session.
Click here to join the Live Engagement Event

Job description

As Lead Analyst you will be responsible for: ​

• Setting a clear overall vision for the programme of analytical work in the Digital Analytics Directorate and the wider Transformation Group in collaboration with the Director and other Deputy Directors – championing the use of quality analysis so that it has maximum influence over the work of the directorate and across Digital and transformation, whilst maintaining alignment with the DWP data strategy and Department Priorities ​
• Strong personal leadership, setting a clear vision and objectives for the division, building capability, pride and staff engagement whilst effectively managing performance, continuing to push the boundaries in building a collaborative culture and harnessing expertise from all professions and individuals. ​
• Collaborating with stakeholders across DWP and wider government and externally to establish a high impact evaluation, research and analysis programme that drives continuous improvement in the way DWP digitises and transforms its services. ​
• Acting as the senior analytical adviser for major transformation programmes, providing strategic challenge, analytical assurance and insight to executive leaders, programme boards and Ministers. ​
• Championing the use of customer and colleague insight and evidence to inform Operational Delivery, Policy Development and service transformation to improve outcomes for customers. ​
• ​Leading the development of transformation measurement frameworks, including performance metrics, benefits realisation and value-for-money assessments. Championing innovative approaches where appropriate. ​
• Strengthening the evidence base and developing evidence narratives to support transformation activities. Whilst ensuring decision makers understand both the strengths and limitations of evidence used to support policy, operational and transformation decisions. ​
• Acting as the accountable senior analytical leader for the quality, integrity and use of evidence across the Lead Analyst area, ensuring appropriate quality assurance, governance, publication standards and adherence to professional best practice. Managing analytical and reputational risk associated with the interpretation and use of analysis, research and data. ​
• As a member of the Senior Civil Service and Senior Analytical Leadership Team, the Lead Analyst has wider leadership responsibilities across the DWP, visibly leading on activities that support improved diversity and inclusion, talent and capability growth.

Person specification

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their knowledge, experience and skills against the following essential criteria: ​

• Excellent leadership skills with a track record of designing, developing and motivating high-performing and diverse multi-disciplinary teams and ideally experience of setting up new analytical functions and ensuring the work lands with influence and impact,
• Outstanding, broad and interdisciplinary analytical skills, with strong experience of leading large evaluation programmes and scrutinising and challenging methodological approaches, with extensive experience of developing, commissioning and managing complex research/evaluation programmes,
• Excellent communication and influencing skills and proven ability to build highly effective and trusting relationships and to work collaboratively with senior leaders across DWP, Ministers, and wider government,
• Experience providing strategic analytical advice to senior decision-makers, boards and governance forums, translating complex evidence into clear recommendations and business outcomes for both operational and strategic purposes,
• Experienced in building capability and growing talent across teams and professions, using inclusive leadership to build a new division and create a culture of inclusivity and wellbeing, where individuals are valued and diverse talent can thrive and succeed,
• Preferably experience of delivering analytical leadership within large-scale digital, operational or organisational transformation programmes.
  ​

The successful candidate will be from one of the government analytical Professions or will need to be suitably qualified to join.

For further details of eligibility requirements and membership please see links below: ​

• Government Economics Services (GES) - Membership - Government Economic Service - GOV.UK
• Government Statistician Group (GSG) - Joining the GSS and GSG – Government Analysis Function
• Government Operational Research Service (GORS) - Government Operational Research Service - Mainstream Recruitment - GOV.UK
• Government Social Research (GSR) - Government Social Research Membership and Eligibility Guidance - GOV.UK

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £24,914 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing and flexible working.
• Generous annual leave – at least 25 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application Process

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process outlined below no later than 12 noon on Monday 26th October 2026.

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years;​
2. A personal statement (maximum 1250 words), explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification. ​

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say’. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be provided to the selection panel. The information you provide when submitting your application will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming the most inclusive employer.

2. Shortlist

A panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the person specification section of this pack. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

3. Assessment

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE) and Individual Leadership Assessment in advance of the interview. This assessment will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, it is designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

Shortlisted candidates may have the opportunity to speak to Paul Francis and Catherine Hutchinson prior to the final interview. This is an informal discussion to allow candidates to learn more about the role and is not part of the assessment process.

4. Interview

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the person specification. You may be asked to prepare a short presentation. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.
Your interview will be via a video call; further details will be provided nearer the time. The interview panel will be chaired by Paul Francis who will be supported by additional panel members. The final panel interview will be a blended interview, covering Behaviours, Technical skills, and Experience. A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation exploring the candidate’s capability for the role.

5. Offer and Feedback

Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible. We will offer the opportunity to discuss feedback for all candidates who reached interview.
A reserve list will be held for up to 12 months, which we may use to fill future similar vacancies for candidates who are considered appointable following interview.

Please see candidate pack attached to this advert for further information regarding the selection process and recruitment timeline.

Reasonable Adjustments

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, especially those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact senior.recruitment@dwp.gov.uk as soon as possible, before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

For further information regarding reasonable adjustments, please see following link: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : DWP SCS Resourcing Team
• Email : senior.recruitment@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : senior.recruitment@dwp.gov.uk

Further information

What do I do if I want to make a complaint?
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact: senior.recruitment@dwp.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response, you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Lead Analyst for DTG Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 661kB)Lead Analyst for DTG Candidate Pack Welsh Opens in new window (pdf, 673kB)