Senior Operational Researcher – People Analytics

Job summary

Can you use problem structuring and soft skills methodologies to help understand how an organization works and responds to issues?

Are you a collaborative, curious problem-solver who can engage stakeholders, shape a data-driven culture, and provide tools and insight that guide evaluation and decision-making?

Can you turn complex people data into clear outputs using tools like Power BI, Python or R?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

About the team
You’ll join the People Data and Analytics team within the Department for Transport’s Analysis Directorate, part of a dedicated People Analytics function supporting colleagues in Human Resources. Working alongside specialists, you’ll deliver insight on workforce trends, culture and transformation using tools like Power BI, R and Python, helping shape evidence-based decisions and improve employee experience.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

The Job holder will lead analytical projects that deepen understanding of workforce dynamics, combining modelling, insight generation and stakeholder engagement to inform strategic HR decisions. They will guide stakeholders to an understanding of problems and then design and deliver innovative data and modelling products, integrate multiple analytical approaches, and contribute to shaping policies and interventions by evaluating their impact across the organisation, ensuring insight is practical, accessible and aligned to business priorities.

Responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Build networks and relationships and developing a clear understanding of the factors that influence organization transformation, and how current and future work will drive desired change.
• Use soft OR skills like problem structuring methodology to develop this understanding in partnership with the business and create appropriate outputs that communicate insight to stakeholders.
• Build and improve models that allow for workforce prediction and forecasting, or analysis of the impact of changes.
• Regular ad-hoc analysis on topical issues such as return to the office, location of staff, performance and talent
• Support quality assurance and analytical scrutiny across both the immediate team and in improving rigour across the HR function within the wider DfT group
• Building out reporting into prescriptive and predictive analytics with insights, and themes and creating repeatable analytical pipelines to bring richness to products created in R, Python or Power BI.
• Bring or develop an understanding of the HR business context and the scope and limitations of available data and how it can best be used; provide insight and suggestions for continuous improvement.
• Develop new ways of working, and more integrated approaches that draw in and model data from across HR, the wider organization, and the Civil Service at large.
• Understand the requirements around handling personal information in line with GDPR and be able to challenge inappropriate use or presentation of data.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile.Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

This role is open to badged members of the Government Operational Research Service (GORS) or those eligible to become members with these qualification requirements:

- You need, or expect to receive, a 2:1 or higher, degree apprenticeship in a highly numerate degree subject;
or 2:2 with a highly numerate postgraduate degree (subjects like math's, statistics and physics; for mixed degrees, at least 50% should be in a highly numerate subject)

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications/licenses at interview stage. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Experience in applying both soft and hard Operational Research techniques to define, structure and solve complex organisational or policy problems
• Experience in developing and applying models and statistical analysis to generate robust, evidence-based insights
• Experience in working on complex, large-scale challenges and translating analytical findings into practical, implementable solutions
• Experience in influencing decision-making by clearly communicating technical insights to non-technical stakeholders

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 35 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

DfTc does not offer Visa Sponsorship for this role.

Qualifications

GORS Badged or meet qualification requirements.

You

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

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

• GORS level 3 – Knowledge and Application of OR Skills and TechniquesPlease refer to the role profile for the specific points of criteria to be tested.
• GORS level 3 – Achieving Impact with AnalysisPlease refer to the role profile for the specific points of criteria to be tested.

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).

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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile element:

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (1000-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

• Experience in applying both soft and hard Operational Research techniques to define, structure and solve complex organisational or policy problems
• Experience in developing and applying models and statistical analysis to generate robust, evidence-based insights
• Experience in working on complex, large-scale challenges and translating analytical findings into practical, implementable solutions
• Experience in influencing decision-making by clearly communicating technical insights to non-technical stakeholders

The sift will take place on Wednesday 17th June 2026.

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours – Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together, Developing Self and Others
• Technical - GORS level 3 – Knowledge and Application of OR Skills and Techniques, GORS level 3 – Achieving Impact with Analysis
• Strengths

You will also be required to complete an assessment, which you will present to the panel on the day of your interview. Further details will be shared with successful candidates upon invitation to interview.

The interviews will take place on Tuesday 30th June and Wednesday 1st July 2026.

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change

Further information on the selection process

We will also hold a 12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

If your application is successful but you have been dismissed from the Civil Service, your application could be removed at the pre-employment checking stage depending on the nature of the dismissal.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

All external applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:

• Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour
• Threats or acts of violence
• Illegal activity or substance misuse
• Sexually explicit material
• Extremist views or affiliations

Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public. Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle - it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture. If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert or the information on our website, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit theHow We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Anthony Dudden
• Email : anthony.dudden@dft.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.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 Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here

Attachments

Senior Operational Researcher - People Analytics - Role Profile Opens in new window (pdf, 251kB)