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

Lead Pay and Workforce Analyst (SEO), Analysis Directorate Ministry of Justice

1. Overview

We have one role in the Workforce Equalities and Statistics team, within the Analysis 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 to 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:

SEO grade:

• You possess a numerate degree or a degree that has an analytical, statistical or research element, with a 2:2 or above, or as a higher degree (e.g. MSc, PhD).

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

• Additionally, we are looking for someone with experience using code based tools for data manipulation and analysis, preferably in R

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.

2. About the Analysis Directorate

We are passionate about improving justice outcomes through innovative research, data and analysis. In the Analysis Directorate, we provide high quality data and analysis helping to ensure strategic, policy, finance, corporate and operational decisions are based on robust evidence.

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.

We are a multi-disciplinary team of around 650 staff that sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice providing analytical support across a diverse and exciting agenda. We work in a dynamic and fast-paced context and our skills are in heavy demand across the Ministry of Justice. Our collaborations beyond government are seen as ground-breaking. The 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 Analysis Directorate?
In the Analysis Directorate, 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.

3. What you’ll do

• Work with analytical colleagues and stakeholders across the business to provide insightful analysis and key management information data for a range of internal and external workforce-related outputs.

• Lead on the delivery of high-profile workforce related projects and publications such as the department’s Pay Gap reporting, covering analysis, interpretation of results, and collaboration with relevant diversity stakeholders to develop final reports and analytical deep dives into key trends.

• Support with the management and prioritisation of regular and adhoc reporting within the team to ensure analytical requests can be delivered at pace and to a high standard.

• Contribute to the development of existing and new products, including automation of processes, consideration of new metrics or approaches, and improving how data is disseminated and communicated

• Work with analysts and data engineers to support the implementation of a newly developed dimensional data model and recommend ways to use this new capability to improve the quality of our outputs.

4. Who you are

The following experience and skills will be required:

• Strong technical skills in R and GitHub, and familiarity with SQL

• Experience working with multiple large data sources to derive insight and answer analytical questions

• Ability to clearly and succinctly communicate key messages and complex analysis

• Experience of working across multiple ongoing projects, managing competing asks, and prioritising effectively to ensure key outputs are delivered

• Ability to plan, prioritise and lead an analytical project with challenging timelines

• Ability to work collaboratively with the wider team and various stakeholders to provide analytical support and manage expectations

The following experience and skills are desirable:

• Knowledge of or Experience working within a workforce, diversity, pay, or HR environment.

• Knowledge of or Experience working with dimensional data models

• Knowledge of or Experience of Power BI

5. 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 

• Changing and Improving 

• Delivering at Pace

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 analysts from all 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 

Government Economic Service (GES): Further information can be found within the link below: 

GES Professional Standards 2022 

6. Applicants invited for Interview  

You will be required to give a 5-minute presentation at interview. This presentation should cover the Knowledge and Skills element of the professional competencies.

7. Further Information 

If you require any additional information about the role, please contact:

Andrew Wilson: Andrew.Wilson2@justice.gov.uk