JOB DESCRIPTION

About the Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) works to protect and advance the principles of justice. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society.

The justice system plays a crucial role in our success as a nation - keeping people safe, emphasising fairness, guaranteeing individual rights and giving businesses confidence to flourish.

The delivery of our three strategic outcomes are central to doing this:

• Punishment that cuts crime: to rebuild confidence in the criminal justice system by protecting the public and reducing reoffending with a sustainable and effective prison and probation service.

• Swifter justice for victims: to rebuild confidence in the criminal justice system by ensuring timely, just outcomes for victims and defendants through a modern and efficient criminal courts system.

• A beacon for justice and the rule of law: to uphold the rule of law at home and abroad; promote our world-leading legal services, which contribute to economic growth; and deliver accessible and timely civil, family and administrative justice.

• For more information on who we are and what we do, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice.

About Business Architecture and Transformation Directorate

Supporting both the People and Capability Group and the Chief Operating Officer Group the Business Architecture and Transformation (BAT) Directorate ensures the Ministry of Justice has an effective operating model, including the right people, structure, tools, and capabilities. BAT also sets a future organisational strategy that is ambitious, effective, and efficient, supporting the department in implementing this strategy.

About the People Analytics and Information Team

The People Analytics and Information (PA&I) team, which sits within the BAT directorate, is a high‑impact, multidisciplinary team at the heart of evidence‑based decision‑making within the People and Capability Group. We enable leaders to make better, more informed choices by transforming complex workforce data into clear, timely and actionable insight.

The team brings together expertise in analytics, management information, data engineering, information governance and digital design, combining rigorous analytical methods with modern data and automation practices. Our work spans the full analytical lifecycle - from data and infrastructure through to insight, communication and impact - ensuring evidence is trusted, accessible and genuinely useful to decision‑makers.

The PA&I team is focused on strengthening the quality, coherence and influence of people analysis across the Ministry of Justice, and is driving a step‑change in evidence‑based HR practice: unlocking previously inaccessible insights and presenting them in a way that is clear, engaging and directly applicable to real‑world decisions.

About the Roles

We are looking for a motivated analyst to work in a challenging and exciting environment within the team. We are looking for a candidate with a track record of delivering innovative data solutions that have a real impact, whilst working collaboratively with others to ensure the right analytical/statistical solution is delivered in an effective and efficient way.

The following roles are being recruited into, but please note that while the roles outlined reflect the team’s present work, successful candidates should expect to operate with agility. HEO People Analysts may be moved to other priorities as required.

Role 1 - This role will support both the Prison Recruitment MI and Probation Recruitment MI teams, providing operational, analytical and management information support for key HMPPS roles.

Role 2 - This role will be focused on applying advanced analytical techniques to support strategic people-focused decision-making.

The post holders will be:

• Use a range of appropriate statistical and analytical coding techniques to deliver a solution that meets user needs. Justify and explain those techniques clearly and succinctly, to customers and colleagues.

• Managing the delivery of HR data products and insights, using technical knowledge and data manipulation skills to produce one-off and regular. Where possible, streamline and automate the process.

• Supporting the development and implementation of high‑quality analytical practices in partnership with teams across the Analysis Directorate, Data Directorate and the People and Capability Group.

• Developing and assuring analytical products to ensure they are methodologically sound, fit for purpose and compliant with required quality assurance and governance standards.

• Tell the story of the data in plain language to aid understanding. Explore innovative data visualisation and presentation techniques to communicate data findings to users.

Essential Criteria

The ideal candidates for these positions should demonstrate: 

• Academic background/ Experience: A first or second class degree in an analytical, statistical or a social/behavioural science discipline where at least 40% of the grade achieved, was statistical or analytical; or equivalent experience. 

• Analysis: Experience applying statistical analysis techniques and an aptitude for interpreting data, identifying trends and correlations, and disseminating analytical findings.

• Data: Strong data manipulation and analytical skills, including the ability to derive insight from multiple data sources.

• Communication: Experience in communicating insights with a range of stakeholders.

• Team player: An adaptable team player, with experience of working collaboratively and confidently with others yet is comfortable using initiative when working alone.

• Personal effectiveness: Strong organisational skills and ability to plan and prioritise own work.

• Technical skills: Knowledge and experience of using SQL and R. 

• Technical skills: Knowledge and experience of using visualisation, such as Power BI.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in using innovative visualisation techniques such as R Shiny.

• Experience or exposure of working with personal and sensitive data including experience in designing and implementing data processes aligned with regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR). 

• Experience working within an HR environment.

• Experience in conducting statistical analysis on people-related data to deliver insights.

• A willingness to work towards achieving professional badging within the Government analytical disciplines.

How to apply 

Application Stage 

Behaviours 

We'll assess you against these behaviours during sift:

• Managing a Quality Service (Lead Behaviour)

• Delivering at Pace

• Changing and Improving

Please refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details, including by grade:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-civil-service-behaviours#why-we-assess-behaviours

You will be required to submit answers to two technical questions in 250 words -

• Please provide evidence and examples of your knowledge and experience of using R and SQL. 

• Please provide evidence and examples of your knowledge and experience of statistical techniques and data visualisation

Please submit: 

• An anonymised CV. Please ensure your CV is uploaded in plain text to prevent any formatting issues when it's downloaded or reviewed.  

Your CV should:  

• Be succinct and clear. 

• Be factually accurate - You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, is truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. 

• Include your qualifications, highlighting any modules or accreditation relevant to the role. 

• Include your relevant experience, providing dates. 

• Provide detail -we are interested in how your knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrate the capabilities we are looking for in this role. 

Statement of suitability demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria (up to 750 words). 

Your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 750 words and should give us real life examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. Consider addressing particular points in the person specification requirements and key responsibilities. We recommend following the STAR format. 

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. 

Please state your analytical profession within your technical skills as this will help ensure the interview panel is appropriate for your profession, should you be selected. You should give evidence of how you meet the requirements of the relevant professional competency framework. 

We will aim to sift all of the criteria but, in the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift may be conducted on the CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift will either: 

• progress to a full sift where all application assessment criteria is then assessed. 

• or progress straight to interview. 

Interview Stage 

If successful at sift, you will be invited to attend a remote interview, via Microsoft teams.

During your interview, you will be assessed against the following Civil Service Success Profiles

There will be two stages to the interview process. 

Stage One:

In the first stage, candidates will be assessed against the technical criteria. As part of this interview stage, you will be asked to complete a technical exercise using R.

Candidates will also be asked to give a short presentation on a technical piece of work that they have undertaken, details will be shared with the candidates who are successful at the sift. 

You will also be assessed using two technical questions.

Stage Two: 

In the second stage, candidates will be assessed on the three Behaviours (listed below), and strengths.  

• Managing a Quality Service (Lead Behaviour)

• Delivering at Pace

• Changing and Improving

Interviews will be held virtually via MS Teams. 

For any queries please contact Emma.Watson8@justice.gov.uk.