Senior Statistical Officer – National Road Traffic Survey

Job summary

Are you a motivated and curious analyst looking for an opportunity to be bold and innovative?

Do you like to work collaboratively to find better ways to deliver data and meet customer needs?

Have you got the strong analytical skills needed to manage data quality in large and complex datasets?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Department for Transport’s National Statistics on Road Traffic are a cornerstone of the transport evidence base. Our data is important for many areas of decision making and planning as well as feeding into other key statistics and analysis areas like accident casualty rates, greenhouse gas emissions and air quality.

The Traffic Surveys team is responsible for acquiring the high-quality traffic data to meet the above needs. We utilise our skills and knowledge in data collection, handling large datasets, managing data quality, coding in statistical packages, traffic technology, contract management, procurement and project delivery.

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

This role will have a future focused oversight of the planning and delivery of the National Road Traffic Survey and will be responsible for various projects across both of our core data collection contracts, seeking to modernise the way we collect and utilise data.

You will be a self-starter who actively searches for new opportunities guided by your wide view of the needs of the traffic surveys and road traffic publications teams.

Ahead of planned contract re-procurement in late 2027, this role will play a key part in defining how our future contracts will provide us with the best quality data.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

1. Leading on individual work strands focussed on data quality, innovation and data delivery
2. Developing a thorough understanding of the wider road traffic team and the topic areas that they support.
3. Effectively utilise team member’s knowledge to best meet a variety of customer needs in a wide range of projects
4. Having a long-term view of the management of our core contracts, leading on analytical projects focussing on the development and improvement of the team’s traffic data collection methods.
5. Oversight of the day-to-day operations of the National Road Traffic Census, including engagement with data collection activities and interfacing with contractors.
6. Building effective and lasting relationships with external stakeholders and developing up-to-date knowledge of available traffic technologies to facilitate the improvement of our procurement specifications.
7. Effectively communicate the statistical needs of the team and actively explore new opportunities for innovative traffic technology methods with a view to being open and adaptable while meeting the core functions of the team

For further information on the role, please read the attached 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

Essential Qualifications:

Membership or eligibility for membership of the Government statistical service is a requirement of the role.

To be eligible to join the GSS you should have:

A first- or second-class honours degree (2:1 minimum for Fast Stream applications, 2:2 minimum for all other) in a numerate subject containing taught statistical content (e.g. Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Psychology, Geography)

OR a higher degree, for example MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (e.g. Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Psychology, Geography)

Have achieved a Level 6 Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship

OR have achieved a Level 4 Data Analytics apprenticeship and are able to demonstrate Continuous Professional Development via a logbook that has been signed off by an existing member of the GSG profession in the role of manager of mentor, covering 2 years in a statistical/data analysis field in government.

OR have worked in a statistical or data science field and are able to demonstrate Continuous Professional Development (via a logbook) covering a minimum of two years. You will need to evidence how you applied statistics or data science at the same level as a foundation degree or HND (level five) and demonstrates the expected skills as outlined in the GSG Competency

Full details can be found here: Joining the GSS and GSG – Government Analysis Function

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications at some point during the recruitment process. 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:

1. A proven track record in effectively managing quality to a standard required for accredited Government statistical series.
2. Experience of managing data in large datasets and using at least one statistical coding language
3. Experience of working with stakeholder to innovate on existing systems and better meet customer needs

Additional Information

The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual £3000 retention allowance, paid monthly.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 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. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

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

A first- or second-class honours degree (2:1 minimum for Fast Stream applications, 2:2 minimum for all other) in a numerate subject containing taught statistical content (e.g. Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Psychology, Geography)

OR a higher degree, for example MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (e.g. Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Psychology, Geography)

Have achieved a Level 6 Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship

OR have achieved a Level 4 Data Analytics apprenticeship and are able to demonstrate Continuous Professional Development via a logbook that has been signed off by an existing member of the GSG profession in the role of manager of mentor, covering 2 years in a statistical/data analysis field in government.

OR have worked in a statistical or data science field and are able to demonstrate
Continuous Professional Development (via a logbook) covering a minimum of two years. You will need to evidence how you applied statistics or data science at the same level as a foundation degree or HND (level five) and demonstrates the expected skills as outlined in the GSG Competency.

Memberships

Membership or eligibility for membership of the Government Statistical Service

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Technical 1 – Acquiring data and understanding customer needs
• Technical 2 – Data Analysis

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

• Technical 1 – Acquiring data and understanding customer needs

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Department for Transport contributes £12,816 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

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 and Technical competency

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 elements:

• Technical – Acquiring data and understanding customer needs (250- word count) Competency framework for the Government Statistician Group (GSG) – Government Analysis Function
  
  
• Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (750-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:
  • Managing data quality in data collections or large datasets
  • Data manipulation using a statistical package or data processing language (e.g. R, Stata, SQL, Python)
  • Working effectively with stakeholders to improve analytical processes

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Success Profile element: Technical - Acquiring data and understanding customer needs. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Please note: the sift will be completed on a rolling basis whilst the campaign is still live, so you may receive your sift scores before the advert closing date.

The sift will take place week commencing 15/06/2026

Stage 2: interview

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

• Technical – Acquiring data and understanding customer needs, Data analysis Competency framework for the Government Statistician Group (GSG) – Government Analysis Function
  
  
• Behaviours – Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace

The interviews will take place week commencing 06/07/2026

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

Feedback on your application can only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

We will also hold a12-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.

Pre-employment Checking

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 : Ben Lucking
• Email : Benjamin.lucking@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

Role Profile Opens in new window (pdf, 209kB)