Senior Quality Specialist

Job summary

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the value of the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution, and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime, and migration.

The posts are in multi-disciplinary teams, or Hubs, working on the quality of the data we use, quality assurance of the work we do, and managing risks to quality within the ONS Quality Framework.

The teams are part of the Quality and Improvement Division in the Methodology and Quality Directorate. The Divisionstrives towards data and analysis in the ONS being aligned with the vision of the UK Statistics Authority and of the National Data Strategy. Also, we ensure that quality standards and frameworks, such as the Government Data Quality Framework and the Code of Practice for Statistics, are known and followed. We are responsible for managing the tools ONS uses to manage risks to statistical quality, and for reporting on those risks. We apply innovative approaches to promote and embed good practice in quality across the ONS, including a focus on communicating the quality of statistics, analysis and data. We provide a forward-looking, efficient, professional, and accessible service

Please note, this vacancy is not badging to professions. An assessment for badging may be arranged once in post.

Job description

These roles apply data‑quality expertise in practical and accessible ways, adapting its focus to organisational priorities and the needs of different teams. Senior Quality Specialists combine technical understanding with strong communication and stakeholder‑engagement skills to support improvement in real‑world contexts.

Depending on the post, the role may place greater emphasis on understanding and interpreting survey quality and survey performance, working with teams to make sense of measures, trends and quality indicators and to communicate their implications clearly. Other posts may focus more strongly on building capability and consistency across ONS, for example through developing guidance, standards and learning materials, or contributing to wider quality‑improvement and assurance activity.

Across all posts, the role involves working collaboratively with stakeholders, translating technical concepts for different audiences, and taking a pragmatic, proportionate approach to improving how quality is understood and applied in practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Support teams across ONS to understand, interpret and apply data‑quality principles in a clear, proportionate and practical way.
• Contribute to the development, maintenance and effective use of quality guidance, standards, learning materials and tools.
• Work collaboratively with analytical, methodological and operational stakeholders to support improvement in how data and analysis quality is managed and communicated.
• Provide analysis, insight or advice that helps inform decision‑making, governance, assurance or quality‑improvement activity.
• Communicate technical quality concepts clearly to a range of audiences, adapting messages to context and user need.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships that support openness, consistency and shared understanding of quality across the organisation.
• Take a pragmatic, delivery focused approach, balancing depth of expertise with proportionate and timely support.
• Reflect on the impact of work undertaken, using feedback and learning to continuously improve outputs and ways of working

As well as the Responsibilities above, the successful applicants may also be required to meet the following too:

• Expected to lead on a projects related to data‑quality improvement, guidance, analysis or capability‑building, taking responsibility for planning, delivery and reporting as appropriate. Includes managing others’ input into the work and seeking advice where needed.
• Independently represent the Quality and Improvement Hub in cross‑organisational work, representing the hub in discussions with analytical, methodological and operational teams, and exercising judgement over when to seek advice or escalate issues.
• Coordinate subject‑matter input from analysts, methodologists and operational colleagues, ensuring the right expertise is brought together at the right time.
• Contribute to, lead elements of, or take full leadership of a Quality Review, depending on the complexity and needs of the work.
• Balance several workstreams at once, including those with tight deadlines or high visibility, while keeping work moving at pace and maintaining high standards.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience in surveys and/or statistical or analytical methods, sufficient to assess, interpret or explain data or survey quality and performance.
• Strong experience in data quality, assurance, review work or process assessment.
• Ability to analyse end‑to‑end processes and judge risks to quality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to explain complex issues clearly to non‑technical audiences.
• Experience using analytical tools or software (for example R, Python or Power BI).

Qualifications

We welcome applications from individuals who satisfy the essential criteria and are a member of, or eligible to join, one of eligibility for the government analytical professions as listed below :

- Government Economic Service (GES),
- Government Statistical Service (GSS),
- Government Operational Research Service (GORS), or
- Government Social Research (GSR).

To achieve this, candidates need to hold at least;

- A 2.2 degree in economics OR
- A 2.2 in a social science related subject with sufficient research OR
- A 2:2 in a numerate subject containing taught statistical content OR
- 2 years relevant work experience

Please note - All candidates are expected to ensure they meet the entry requirements. Failure to demonstrate how you meet these requirements will result in your application being rejected.

Behaviours

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

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

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.

Security Clearance

For ONS the requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying and the department will consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.

If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please read the information available on Gov.uk on this link, or contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss, as failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.

At the point of SC application, you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:

• Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)

• UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records

• Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency

• Security Services records

Application Process

Number of Stages: 2 stage process

Stage 1: Application

Stage 2: Interview

Stage 1 – Application

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

If a personal statement is required at application stage, it will state the maximum word count allowed, which should not be exceeded. The word count for this vacancy is 1250. Where it is a requirement to make a personal statement, 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 2 – 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.

A 5 minute presentation (No slides) will be required at interview.

Interviews will be via Microsoft Teams.

Our main locations are Newport (South Wales) 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 Sift will be conducted from 29th June 2026

Interviews will be conducted from 13th July 2026

These dates may 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.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

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 : Veronique Siegler
• Email : veronique.siegler@ons.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : ons.analytical.resourcing@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

2721 Advert 1B Permanent - ONS National v1-00 (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 83kB)