Policy Advisor

Job summary

Are you interested in shaping policy and influencing decision‑making across government?

The role sits within the National Statistician’s Office, part of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics. This area supports the National Statistician in their role as the UK Government’s principal adviser on statistics and Head of the Government Statistical Service (GSS) and the Analysis Function (AF).

Working at the centre of the UK statistical system, the National Statistician’s Office plays a key role in strengthening collaboration, innovation, and excellence across government. It provides advice and guidance to a wide community of over 12,000 civil servants involved in producing official statistics, as well as a broader analytical network of around 17,000 professionals across more than 50 organisations.

Within this, the GSS and Analysis Support and Standards Division is responsible for developing high‑quality standards and policies that support statisticians across government, helping to ensure that official statistics are trustworthy, high quality, and serve the public good. These roles are part of the GSS Policy and Coordination team, which works closely with departments to promote collaboration, provide guidance, and support the effective delivery of statistical activity across government..

This is an exciting time to join the National Statistician’s Office, as it leads the implementation of new strategic priorities and supports the future direction of the statistical profession, including the findings of the first UK Statistics Assembly and recommendations set out in the recent GSS and Royal Statistical Society “Future Statistician” report.

Job description

These roles sit within the GSS Policy and Coordination team and play an important part in supporting effective decision‑making, collaboration, and delivery across the statistical system. The post holder will be responsible for leading the coordination and delivery of senior GSS leadership meetings, including overseeing logistics and providing high‑quality secretariat support. This will involve preparing and presenting papers, briefings, and submissions on a range of statistical policy issues. The role will also work closely with senior leaders across the GSS to support the delivery and implementation of the GSS strategic vision.

In addition, the role will have specific responsibility for devolution within the GSS, supporting effective inter‑governmental working and collaboration in line with the Concordat for Statistics.

One role will focus on supporting senior GSS leadership, taking the lead on coordinating high‑profile meetings, developing briefings and submissions, and supporting governance at a senior level. This will involve working closely with the National Statistician, senior leaders, and cross‑government Heads of Profession. In addition, the role will have specific responsibility for devolution within the GSS, supporting effective inter‑governmental working and collaboration in line with the Concordat for Statistics.

The second role is a newly established position focused on coordinating and delivering the findings of the first UK Statistics Assembly. This role will support the implementation of strategic priorities emerging from the Assembly, ensuring activity across the GSS is aligned and delivered effectively. It will involve building strong stakeholder relationships, enabling cross‑government collaboration, and contributing to governance and reporting activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the coordination and delivery of senior GSS leadership meetings, including managing logistics and providing end‑to‑end secretariat support
• Prepare high‑quality papers, briefings, and submissions on a range of statistical policy issues
• Work closely with senior leaders across the GSS to support delivery of the GSS strategic vision
• Support inter‑governmental collaboration, including specific responsibility for devolution activity in line with the Concordat for Statistics

Examples of Typical Work

• Produce weekly briefing cascades for GSS Heads of Profession
• Collate and report metrics to measure impact and monitor implementation of the GSS strategic vision
• Provide secretariat support for key forums, including the Inter‑Administration and UK Census Committees
• Coordinate and manage briefing sessions with Devolved Chief Statisticians
• Support the delivery of devolution policy training alongside analytical subject matter experts
• Monitor and provide updates on progress on meeting the recommendations of the UK Statistics Assembly for senior leaders and external stakeholders

Wider Responsibilities and Impact

• Build strong networks and increase visibility across the organisation and wider Civil Service
• Develop and maintain strategically important relationships across government and with professional bodies
• Contribute to projects that improve standards and strengthen decision‑making across the statistical system
• Work closely with senior leaders, including the National Statistician, leadership team, and cross‑government Heads of Profession

Person specification

Essential Skills Criteria:

Candidates will need to demonstrate:

• Experience in a policy, and/or project delivery environment; and a solid understanding of the processes that lead to the delivery of successful outcomes in these contexts, at pace.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey messages effectively using appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact.
• The ability to maintain excellent working relationships across departmental boundaries, and the ability to engage with large numbers of stakeholders, including senior colleagues.
• The ability to work at pace and under pressure, remaining flexible to meet evolving key milestones and objectives.

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,985, Office for National Statistics contributes £12,163 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our valued colleagues across the organisation.

Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that our careers site will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues, and our fantastic working culture.

Inclusion & Accessibility

At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a Disability Confident Leader we’re committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.

As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.

If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.

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

Number of Stages: 3 stage process

Stage 1: Civil Service Situational judgement test

Stage 2 : Application

Stage 3: Interview

Stage 1 - Civil Service Situational judgement test

Upon submission of Part 1 your application form you will be sent an invitation to complete Civil Service Situational Judgement online test.

There will be full instructions on how to complete the test including an opportunity to practice before undertaking the actual test. The test is not time limited.

If you pass the test for this vacancy, you will be invited to complete the final stage of your application, this is where you will provide information such as your work history, Skills and experience and Personal Statement.

Stage 2 – Application

The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your work history, CV, skills, experience, and personal statement. It is important that your application is tailored to highlight the skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role.

A personal statement is required at application stage, the maximum wordcount allowed is 1000, which should not be exceeded. You should provide evidence for each essential skill criterion listed in the person specification. As these criteria are scored, it is advisable to give clear examples for each one, including the impact of your actions, ideally utilising the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Please note that Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage of the application process.

When a high volume of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted. Candidates will be invited to interview based on their merit order, with those achieving the highest scores being prioritised. Applicants who score below the adjusted pass mark but still pass will be placed on hold and may be invited to interview at a later date.

Stage 3– Interview

If invited to interview, you will be assessed using techniques aligned with the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, covering all behaviours listed in the job advert.

Interviews will be carried out Via Ms Teams.

Our main locations are Newport (South Wales), Darlington and Titchfield.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.

Important Dates:

The closing date for the role is 26/06/26 at 23:55. Please note, both the Situational Judgement test and written application (work history, qualifications and personal statement) will need to be completed by this deadline.

The Sift will be conducted from 29/06/2026

Interviews will be conducted from 14/07/2026

Dates are subject to change.

For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see attachment.

Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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 : Michael Wilmott
• Email : Michael.Willmott@statistics.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitmentoperations@ons.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact recruitment.complaints@ons.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission

Attachments

ONS_Vacancy_Terms(Permanent) Opens in new window (pdf, 83kB)