Senior Statistical Officer

Job summary

We are looking for an SEO Statistician to join the Farming Directorate Statistics Team.

The team produces official statistics on uptake of agri-environment schemes, including Environmental Stewardship (ES), Countryside Stewardship (CS) and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). Our publications cover areas such as numbers of agreements and businesses participating, land under schemes and payments. The team also carries out ad-hoc analysis of agri-environment scheme uptake.

This is a hands-on statistical role with a strong focus on working with data and programming in R. You will help produce and improve our regular statistical publications, carry out analysis to answer new questions, and make sure our statistics are accurate, reproducible and easy to understand.

Job description

You will:

• Lead statistical projects and publications, taking responsibility for planning the work, making analytical decisions, and coordinating input from others
• Produce official statistics on CS, ES, SFI and other agri-environment schemes
• Use R to clean, process, analyse and summarise administrative data
• Develop and maintain clear, reproducible R code, including helping to automate our statistical production processes
• Check the quality of data, code and statistical outputs, and investigate unexpected results where necessary
• Write clear explanations of what our statistics show and any important limitations
• Carry out ad-hoc statistical analysis to answer questions about agri-environment scheme uptake
• Work with colleagues who provide and use the data to understand requirements and resolve data issues
• Help improve our statistical publications and analytical processes, including making outputs accessible and useful to users
• Make sure work is completed accurately and on time
• Work in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics
• Help create an inclusive and supportive team where people are treated with respect, different perspectives are valued, and colleagues can contribute effectively.

Person specification

Essential skills and experience

You will need to:

1. Be confident programming in R. You can use R independently to clean, manipulate and analyse data, understand existing code, and identify and fix problems. We are interested in what you can do with R rather than where or how you learned it.
2. Have good statistical skills and judgement. You can choose appropriate analytical approaches, check that your results make sense and understand the strengths and limitations of the data you are using.
3. Be able to produce reliable and reproducible analysis. You can organise your code and analytical work so that it can be understood, checked and run again by other analysts.
4. Communicate statistics clearly. You can explain statistical findings, uncertainty and limitations in plain English to people who may not be statisticians.
5. Work effectively with other people. You can understand what colleagues or data users need, ask appropriate questions and work with others to resolve problems with data or analysis.
6. Work inclusively. You treat people with respect, value different perspectives and ways of working, and help create an environment where everyone can contribute.
7. Be a badged member of the Government Statistical Service (GSS), or have the qualifications and/or experience needed to become a badged statistician.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• Data analysis (Government Statistical Group)
• Presenting and disseminating data effectively (Government Statistical Group)

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Data analysis (Government Statistical Group)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,052, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £12,761 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, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

After submission of the first stage of your application, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test and Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). The closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 27th November 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Please note that online tests associated with this vacancy are not subject to time limits; for further information visit Reasonable adjustments for online tests - a candidate guide - GOV.UK

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, 500-word statement of suitability, a 250-word behaviour (Changing and Improving) and technical question (Data Analysis).

Please use your statement of suitability to provide evidence of your ability to meet the requirements of the post.

Please make it clear whether you are a member of the Government Statistical Service. If you are not currently a member, please state how you meet the minimum eligibility requirement for the Government Statistical Service.

Applications will be sifted on CV, statement of suitability, the “Changing and Improving” behaviour and the Data Analysis (Government Statistical Group) technical skill.

Please see Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK and Competency framework for the Government Statistician Group (GSG) – Government Analysis Function for more details about the specific criteria we are looking for in these questions.

If there are a large number of applicants, applications will initially be sifted on the lead technical skill, Data Analysis. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift.

Interview

Interviews will be completed online using Microsoft Teams. If this presents any access problems for you, please let us know before the interview date.

Interviewees will be asked to complete a technical exercise using R at the interview. The exercise is designed to assess analytical thinking, use of R, code quality, interpretation of results and the ability to explain technical work. Candidates are not expected to complete every task perfectly.

You will be sent the dataset and details of how you will access R one calendar week before the interview.

The interview will last for two hours. At the start of the interview, you will receive the technical assessment questions and have one hour to complete the exercise. You will be asked to remain on camera and share your screen throughout the exercise. This is so that the panel can be confident that the assessment is being completed under consistent conditions for all candidates. You may use search engines and artificial intelligence tools to support your work- for example, to look up syntax or troubleshoot code issues. However, the analysis, interpretation and solution must be your own work.

After the technical assessment exercise, the panel will join the Teams call. Around 20 minutes will be spent discussing your approach, code, assumptions and findings. In the remaining part of the interview, we will ask you the behaviour and technical questions.

As a reasonable adjustment for a member of the interview panel, live transcription will be used during interviews. This will be used solely as a note-taking aid and will not form part of the assessment. Candidates will be assessed only on their interview performance, and transcripts will not be used for AI analysis or scoring. All transcripts will be deleted when no longer required.

The Civil Service is a diverse and inclusive workplace. We want to help you show your full potential whatever type of assessment we use. If you need any reasonable adjustments, tell us when you submit your application that you need an adjustment and how it will help.

The below is what we will assess you against in the interview:

Behaviours

We'll assess you against this behaviour during the selection process:

Changing and improving

Technical Skills

Data analysis (Government Statistical Group)

Presenting and disseminating data effectively (Government Statistical Group)

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further Information

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Reserve List

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

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to DEFRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ 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 instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Internal Fraud Database Check

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.

Feedback

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.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 : Farming Directorate
• Email : FD_BusinessManagement@defra.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defrarecruitment.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: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here