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

Criminal Justice System Modelling Analyst HEO: Cross System Modelling Team

1. Overview  

We have 1 analyst role in the Criminal Justice Policy Modelling team, within the Analysis Directorate.  

Roles are open to:  

1. Existing badged 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.  

Specialist allowance  

Due to the role 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 September 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  

The Criminal Justice Policy Modelling team sit within Justice System Modelling and lead on:

• modelling to support development of criminal court policy aimed at addressing backlogs and delays.

• assess the impact of these policies, and other planned changes in the courts, on Courts caseloads and the wider CJS.
  
  

This is an area of significant ministerial and external stakeholder interest. The team led on modelling that informed the Government's response to Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of Criminal Courts (Part 1). The team continue to provide analytical support to the Bill’s passage through parliament, and support the department in planning and preparation for these and wider changes in the courts. Directly supporting the Government’s aims to reduce the Crown Court backlogs and deliver swifter justice for victims.

The post holder will support the department in its understanding and preparing for impacts of court interventions, and contribute to estimating impacts on Court caseloads, and for prison and probation services. The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities: 

• Scenario analysis, testing the impacts of intervention modelling on courts, prisons and the probation service.

• Build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders, working together to evidence and agree modelling assumptions. 

• Innovate and improve existing modelling. 

• Seek opportunities to harness new insights and evidence from data.  

• Actively contribute to analytical quality assurance work across the wider team. 

• Disseminate modelling results, providing clear insights which are tailored to stakeholder needs and used appropriately in any onward analysis. 

• Be an active team member across the wider team to provide support when business need arises.

4.  Who you are 

The following experience and skills will be required: 

• Ability to analyse, synthesize and interpret a wide range of data.

• A understanding of analytical modelling and limitations of various approaches, and interest in understanding wider implications of change.

• An ability to distil complex analysis into clear messages for technical and non-technical audiences.

• Strong organisational skills e.g. ability to plan your time successfully, deliver to tight deadlines and manage competing priorities.

• A commitment to applying AQA best practice.

• Experience in R or advanced Excel to deliver analysis.

• Able to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, lead discussions and gather insights.

  The following experience and skills are desirable: 

• A prior knowledge of the criminal justice system and the issues it currently faces.

• Experience with Github

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.  

Behaviours  

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

• Working together

• Communicating and influencing

• Managing a quality service

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

Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK   

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: 

• Managing a Quality Service  

• Making Effective Decisions

• 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-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: 

Ben.finch@justice.gov.uk