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

HEO Performance Analysts (x2), Analysis Directorate, Ministry of Justice

1. Overview 

We have two HEO roles in the HMPPS Performance 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 or 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. 

Please note: this opportunity is only open to individuals currently employed within the Civil Service.

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:  

• HEO London: £1000  

• HEO National: £1500 

Minimum requirements to apply: 

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

HEO grade - must meet at least one of the following: 

1. 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). 

2. Alternatively, you have significant experience evidencing use of data and/or analytical skills (outside of a part-completed Civil Service degree apprenticeship). 

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 July 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 300 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

Cross Cutting Performance Analyst - A role is available in the Cross Cutting Performance Team. You will provide analysis and data on accommodation and employment outcomes for people in custody and those serving community sentences. These are key proxies for monitoring reoffending. You will maintain and develop the internal league tables to provide Ministers and other key stakeholders with insights and direction of travel towards achieving the Government’s ‘National Plan to End Homelessness’. You will provide expertise to policy and operational colleagues on the data, including definitions, scope and limitations. Additionally, the team are responsible for publishing sentence management data including that covering unpaid work delivery. You will work on the production of the annual Offender Accommodation Outcomes and Offender Employment Outcomes Official Statistics publications and the bi-annual Unpaid Work Management Information publication. You will have the opportunity to develop R skills to code analysis on the Analytical Platform to draw key data down. You will deputise for the SEO when required.

Prison Performance Analyst - A role is available in the Prison Performance Team. In this role, you will play a key part in delivering high-profile performance products that inform senior decision-making across HM Prison and Probation Service. You will support the delivery of the quarterly Prison Performance Tool Dashboard as well as lead on weekly internal dashboards and other visualisation tools. You will work closely with operational and policy colleagues, providing analysis and briefing to senior forums, including the Director-led Prison Performance Committee and Deputy Director-led Prison Performance Working Group, as well as to Ministers. The role also includes supporting the production of the Annual Prison Performance Ratings Official Statistics, including data updates and analytical quality assurance. There will also be opportunities to contribute to the ongoing development and refinement of performance measures, helping to shape the future of the prison performance framework. The role offers a great opportunity to develop coding skills in both R and Power BI, and to work directly with senior leaders across HMPPS.

4. Who you are

The following experience and skills will be required:

• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with both policy and operational stakeholders and partners to drive work forward.

• Excellent written and oral communication and with the ability to explain data and analytical concepts and practices to non-technical stakeholders, discussing analytical options and making recommendations.

• Strong analytical ability - in particular robust data skills and good working knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

• Good organisational skills, with the ability to plan your time out, deliver at pace, manage competing priorities, and ensure deadlines are met.

• Strong skills in using Microsoft Excel.

The following experience and skills are desirable:

• Coding and data visualisation experience, particularly in R, SQL and/or PowerBI.

• Knowledge of the statistics code of practice.

• Experience of presenting to stakeholders, preferably of analysis.

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.

5b. Interview Process

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace

• Communicating and Influencing

• Working Together

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-competency-framework-2021-reviewed-february-2023

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 

6. 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. 

7. Further Information 

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

Prison Performance Analyst - Julie Sullivan (Julie.sullivan@justice.gov.uk)

Cross Cutting Performance Analyst - Ed Stradling (ed.stradling@justice.gov.uk)