Ministry of Justice

Do you have the passion, values, and ability to help us solve the biggest problems of the justice system?

Senior Evaluation Analyst (SEO), Prisons Directorate Ministry of Justice

1. Overview

We have 2 roles in the Prison Estate Evaluation team, within the Prison Analysis Unit (PAU) in the Prisons Directorate.

Roles are open to: 

1. Existing analysts from all professions (GORS/GSS/GSR) either on level transfer or on promotion.
2. Other candidates that are not members of GSS, GORS, GSR professions but possess and can demonstrate similar experience at the appropriate level. Badging opportunities will be available once in post for those who wish to apply become GSS, GORS, GSR badged professionals.

Specialist allowance

Due to the role(s) being analytical, those successful in recruitment will be eligible for a specialist allowance following an analytical interview based on the following values: 

• SEO London: £500  
• SEO National: £1500 

Minimum requirements to apply:

Candidates must be able to show the relevant experience and skills and must meet the criteria for entry:

You have significant work experience evidencing use of data and/or analytical skills. Time spent on an analytical PhD can count towards this.

We welcome applications from candidates based across the UK. Candidates will have the option of being based in the Leeds or London HQ offices (with flexible working arrangements available) or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office: see this map for more details.

Alternative locations may be available and will be discussed and agreed on the completion of background checks.

Interviews are likely to take place in August 2026 and will be held via MS Teams. We will keep a merit list for a year for those who successfully pass the interview board but who are not offered a post.

1. About the Prisons Directorate

The Prisons Directorate plays an important part of achieving MoJ’s aims. We lead the department’s work to ensure our prisons protect the public by holding prisoners safely and securely as they serve the sentences handed down to them by the courts. We are tackling the underlying causes of offending by promoting rehabilitation and reform, ultimately cutting crime. We work right at the heart of an important area of social policy and make a meaningful difference to the lives of prisoners and the public.

The Directorate is responsible for advising Ministers on all aspects of prison policy. Within it, the Prisons Analysis Unit plays a crucial role, delivering high-quality analysis to support a safe, effective, and sustainable prison estate, working closely with policy and HMPPS colleagues. These roles sit within the Prisons Analysis Unit, a team of analysts within Prisons Directorate supporting policy and HMPPS colleagues.

As analysts, we create a culture in which people are empowered with the data and information to make excellent decisions; using cutting edge tools, techniques and collaboration; putting evidence at the heart of the justice system.

The wider Analysis community is made up of analysts and specialists including: Social Researchers, Economists, Operational Researchers, Statisticians, Data Engineers, Data Scientists and other data specialists (such as data strategists, data dissemination, generalists and assurance experts).

Why work in the Prisons Analysis Unit?
We want all our people to feel valued for who they are and for the work they do. We provide a warm, inclusive place to work and offer a wide range of flexibilities and benefits as part of our people offer to reward our staff.

What we offer

• Flexible working arrangements and a focus on equality of opportunity – including welcoming part-time and/or job-share arrangements, compressed hours, working from home or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centres or Justice Satellite Office.
• Career development – regular development and promotion opportunities across a wide range of roles, career development support, with a generous individual learning and development budget.
• Range of new areas of work and new tools and techniques – we pride ourselves on our excellent deployment of well-established analytical methods, but also our progress to date. Progress such as our ambitious and innovative transformation programme to leverage departmental data and drive evidence-based decision-making using cutting-edge tools and techniques (for example: experimentation, personalisation, artificial intelligence).
• Analysis is at the centre of the Department’s decision making – our transformation programme is focused on maximising our impact on departmental outcomes. The Ministry of Justice’s Senior Team and our Ministerial Team want all decisions to be evidence driven – your analysis will be key in influencing decisions and real-world impact.
• Vibrant community – part of a multidisciplinary team that has a supportive culture and is looking to further develop the community with the help of everyone.
• See the frontline and what your work is influencing – regular opportunities to visit our front-line service providers, including courts, prisons, and probation to better understand the areas your analysis is affecting.

1. What you’ll do

The Prisons Analysis Unit (PAU) is driving evidence-based solutions that make prisons safer, smarter, and more effective. From forecasting prison capacity to improving operational efficiency, we tackle complex challenges with innovation, adaptability, and collaboration at our core. 

Your work will help shape the evidence base on prison design and outcomes, influencing key decisions and supporting the department’s objectives to deliver modern, effective prison places.

We are recruiting two senior analysts to join the Prison Estate Evaluation Programme, working across three teams focussed on the evaluations of New Prisons, Houseblocks & Refurbishments, and Rapid Deployment Cells (RDCs) & Category D Expansion. These programmes are strands of an overall Prison Estate Expansion Portfolio, which is set to deliver 20,000 new prison places by 2031. 

Postholders will work primarily within one team to deliver a major evaluation, while also providing flexible support across the programme. Successful candidates will gain hands-on experience in research design, data collection, evaluation methods, and strategic evidence generation for the prison estate. 

Depending on the evaluation and team, your responsibilities may include: 

Internally conducted evaluations 

• Shaping evaluation design and research questions 

• Conducting primary fieldwork in prisons 

• Analysing qualitative and quantitative data using tools such as NVivo and R 

• Producing and quality assuring outputs (reports, slide decks, infographics etc) 

• Disseminating findings, including publishing final evaluation reports 

Externally contracted evaluations 

• Procuring external contractors 

• Managing delivery against timelines and milestones 

• Providing analytical steer on design decisions 
• Reviewing and quality assuring contractor outputs 

You will also contribute to developing the MoJ’s broader evidence base on prison design and effectiveness, working with analytical, policy and operational colleagues across the Long-Term Estates Strategy. Note the roles involve some travel to prisons for fieldwork, sometimes with overnight stays. 

New Prisons 

The New Prisons Programme will contribute six new prisons to the Prison Estate Expansion (three delivered, three yet-to-be delivered). This evaluation has been externally commissioned and consists of a process, quasi- experimental impact, and economic evaluation. Responsibilities include project management, research design, analysis, quality assurance of contractor outputs and GSR reporting processes. The evaluation within this team also involves quasi-experimental impact analysis on Proven Reoffending and Employment metrics which will be conducted in-house using R. This role will require cross-Portfolio working with the other two evaluation teams.   

Houseblocks & Refurbishments 

This team has responsibility for the evaluation of Category B and C prisons with new T60 houseblocks, new Small Secure Houseblocks, and refurbishments. All these different types of build utilise space on existing sites, either by bringing out of use cells back into use or adding state-of-the-art houseblocks and upgrading ancillary spaces like workshops and sports halls. We plan to conduct the refurbishments evaluation internally. This will consist of a process and light-touch, theory-based impact evaluation. The houseblocks evaluation will be contracted out, offering exposure to procurement and contract management. It will include a process, theory-based impact (also utilising quasi-experimental design where appropriate) and economic evaluation. Responsibilities include procurement, project and contract management, analysis of survey data and qualitative fieldwork.  

Rapid Deployment Cells & Category D Expansion 

The Category D Expansion Programme will build new, purpose-designed houseblocks in the open estate. We plan to conduct process, impact and economic evaluations internally, including a quasi-experimental impact design. Fieldwork will involve prison visits to deliver surveys and conduct interviews with prisoners and staff. Rapid Deployment Cells (RDCs) are modular, self-contained units delivered more quickly than traditional builds. A process evaluation was published last year, and further evaluation activity is now in the planning stage. Findings will directly inform the next phase of both programmes, including the scale of rollout and design of accommodation.

1. Who you are

The following experience and skills will be required:

• Knowledge and experience of using quantitative research and analytical skills to produce quantitative data and analysis as part of research/evaluation projects. 
• Experience working on evaluation projects including conducting experimental or quasi‑experimental impact evaluations and/or economic evaluations and applying appropriate evaluation and analytical techniques. 
• Experience in conducting social research including use of qualitative and quantitative research methods, tool development, fieldwork, and synthesising evidence from primary and secondary sources. 
• Strong communication skills with experience working collaboratively with stakeholders, and tailoring analysis to meet different user needs.  
• A proven ability to independently lead analytical projects in a fast-paced environment. 

The following experience and skills are desirable:

• Knowledge and experience of coding in R. 
• Previous experience working across the criminal justice system. 

1. How to apply

You’ll need to submit an anonymised work history and Statement of Suitability as part of your application. You will not be considered if you do not provide both.

Your work history should meet the following criteria: well structured, succinct, and written in clear language.

Your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 750 words and should give us examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. Consider giving examples that cover all the requirements in the ‘Who you are’ section and use work you have completed to demonstrate how you meet each one. 

5a. Selection Process

There will be an initial sift of applicants through comparing submitted evidence against the ‘Who you are’ bullets. This usually takes two weeks, depending on the number of applications.

Those who make it through the initial sift will be invited to a Civil Service Success Profile interview. In the Civil Service we use Success Profiles to help us find the right person for the job. We will be using a mixture of methods to assess your abilities, strengths, experience, technical skills, and behaviours. We highly recommend learning about Success Profiles and using the Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection (STARR) framework when structuring your answers.

The highest scoring candidates that pass the interview will be offered the roles. The whole process can take up to a month.

Behaviours

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework at interview stage:

• Managing a Quality Service 

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing  

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf 

For existing badged analysts from GSS, GORS, GSR professions, as well as the three civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on two sets of professional competencies at interview.

For external (non-Civil Service) candidates (and unbadged candidates within the Civil Service), as well as the three civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on your analytical knowledge, experience and abilities, and the impact of your analytical work.

Professional Competencies 

• Professional Competency (1) Knowledge & Skills
• GSS - Data Analysis. 
• GORS - Knowledge and application of OR Skills and Techniques.  
• GSR - Knowledge and application of GSR technical skills 
• Professional Competency (2) Influence & Impact
• GSS - Presenting and disseminating data effectively. 
• GORS - Achieving impact with analysis. 
• GSR - using and promoting social research

For more information regarding Professional Competency (2) please refer to the analytical profession internet links below. Please note that some aspect of the professional competency may overlap with the MoJ competencies listed above. We therefore recommend that in providing evidence for the professional competency, candidates focus on the technical and methodology aspects of the competencies that are specific to the profession. We will use evidence presented for the MoJ competencies in assessing the wider skills candidates have.

Government Statistician Group (GSG): Further information, including a user guide, can be found within the link below:  

GSG career framework – Government Analysis Function

Government Social Research Service (GSR): Further information can be found within the link below: 

GSR Competency Framework 2022

Government Operational Research Service (GORS): Further information can be found within the link below:  

GORS Competencies 

1. 
   Applicants invited for Interview 

You will be required to give a 5-minute presentation at interview. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for interview. 

1. Further Information

If you require any additional information about the role, please contact: kitty.yates@justice.gov.uk