Senior Data Analyst (Census) (5194)

Scottish Government

Edinburgh

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks

Business Intelligence

Full time

£49,401 - £59,152 per year

Job summary

Do you want to shape the delivery of Scotland’s Census, enabling governments and other public bodies to plan the services we all rely on, and telling the story of Scotland's people for generations to come? If so, this post could be for you.

We are the trusted producer of Scotland’s population statistics, including taking the Census of Scotland’s population every 10 years. The next Census is in 2031 and will be delivered in partnership with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Northern Ireland Statistics & Research

Agency (NISRA). This is one of the largest digital programmes delivered in Scotland, gathering data from every household across a population of c.5.7m.

NRS requires a Senior Data Analyst, the role is being offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (Fair and Open) basis for 2 years to support the delivery of Census 2031 by leading the design and implementation of data models and analytical structures, working closely with data architecture to shape how census and administrative data is structured, integrated and used.

You should note that Scotland’s Census 2031 is a time limited project and as such the position is being offered on a Fixed Term (fair and open basis). Please contact the line manager named in this advert if you have any further questions.

The candidate will take a hands‑on role in developing and delivering census data models, ensuring that data is structured in a way that supports high‑quality statistical outputs, operational delivery, and integration with administrative data sources. This role combines advanced analytical expertise with practical delivery, focusing on building and implementing robust data models and transformation logic.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Design, build and maintain data models and analytical structures for Census and population data
Translate data architecture designs into implementable data models and transformation pipelines
Define and apply standards for structuring, transforming and quality‑assuring census data
Develop schema designs that enable efficient querying and analysis of large‑scale demographic datasets
Deliver data integration and linkage with administrative data sources, supporting consistency and comparability
Implement estimation, aggregation and geographic data structures to support statistical outputs
Document data models, metadata and transformation processes to ensure transparency and reproducibility

Person specification

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills:

Applying statistical and analytical tools and techniques - Practitioner
Data management - Practitioner
Data visualisation - Practitioner
Managing a data project - Practitioner

You can find out more about the skills required, here:Senior Data Analyst framework.

Experience:

Significant experience in data analysis or statistics, ideally within government or large-scale data environments
Advanced proficiency in statistical programming (R or Python) and SQL
Experience working with large, complex datasets (e.g., census, survey, administrative data)
Proven ability to lead analytical projects and influence senior stakeholders

Behaviours:

Changing and Improving - Level 3
Delivering at pace - Level 3

You can find out more about success profile behaviours here.

Behaviours

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

Changing and Improving
Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

Applying statistical and analytical tools and techniques - Practitioner
Data management - Practitioner
Data visualisation - Practitioner
Managing a data project - Practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,401, Scottish Government contributes £14,311 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).

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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, Experience and Technical skills.Apply using the link below

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.

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

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Salary range

£49,401 - £59,152 per year