Senior Analyst (3 roles) Data First, Data Directorate, Ministry of Justice

Location: National

Interviews: Interview to take place week commencing 8^th September 2025

Grade: SEO

(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)

Salary: The national salary range is £41,463 - £45,276, London salary range is £47,657 - £52,040. Your salary will be dependent on your base location

Contract Type: Permanent

*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP

The Role

We’re recruiting for a Senior Analyst here at the Ministry of Justice, to be part of our warm and collaborative Data First: Research, Academic Engagement and Communications team.

Overview of role

Data First is MoJ’s pioneering data-linking, academic engagement and research programme which is unlocking the potential of administrative data collected across the justice system and beyond. The programme represents ADR UK’s (Administrative Data Research UK) most substantial investment across Whitehall.

Since 2019, the Data First team have linked data from across the criminal, civil and family justice systems (including the courts, prisons and probation services) to build a holistic and comprehensive picture of our users and their outcomes across the system. It is enabling new opportunities for analysis that have not been possible before, providing powerful new insights to understand what works, shape policymaking and improve outcomes.

ADR UK is an investment by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) which aims to facilitate the linking of data held by different parts of government and enable safe and secure access for accredited researchers, enabling more nuanced and insightful research to informing public policy. 

Overall, the aims of Data First are to:

·         Improve administrative data flows, creating a robust data-linking pipeline through the justice system

·         Accelerate data-sharing and linking with other government departments

·         Enhance analytical insights to inform policy and operational decisions

·         Strengthen evidence against MoJ research priorities by facilitating academic access to deidentified datasets in a secure and ethical way

Data First is delivered by a multi-disciplinary team (comprising social researchers, statisticians, data scientists and data engineers) across Data and Analysis.

Roles are open to: 

1.    Existing analysts from all professions (GORS/GSS/GSR/GES) either on level transfer or on promotion. We hope to be able to offer a badging exercise during the interview and will confirm this at the point of being invited for interview.

2.    Other candidates that are not members of GSS, GORS, GSR, GES 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(s) being analytical, those successful in recruitment will be eligible for a specialist allowance following an analytical interview based on the following values: 

Key Responsibilities:

This is an exciting role with the opportunity to shape the direction and impact of a successful, high-profile and innovative programme of work. You will:

·         Carry out novel analysis of linked administrative data on the Analytical Platform in R, Python or SQL; exploring data quality and structure; producing descriptive statistics and analysing user pathways through the justice system.

·         Work with our embedded Academic Lead and HEO & SEO analysts to shape and deliver social research publications and statistical outputs for publication on GOV.UK. 

·         Collaborate with teams across Data and Analysis, and external stakeholders, to understand the data landscape and assess what administrative data should be shared for access by external researchers; including new outputs based on OASys, Civil Legal Aid and Tribunals datasets.

·         Work alongside our embedded Academic Lead and our funder ADR UK, to oversee our rolling Research Fellowship programme, ensuring Fellowship projects are based on MoJ priorities and findings are disseminated appropriately to maximise policy impact.

·         Support activities to build the UK research community’s skills and capability to work with linked administrative data, including developing resources and training for researchers using justice datasets.

·         Find innovative ways of collaborating with academic researchers to identify and address priority evidence gaps in line with MoJ’s Areas of Research Interest (2020).

·         Oversee external research applications to use our data; developing and streamlining existing application and approval processes.

·         Promote and champion Data First at academic conferences and stakeholder events.

If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!

Benefits

●     Some offices may have a subsidised onsite Gym.

Person Specification

Essential

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria:

(i)      Strong analytical skills

You will have experience in designing effective research questions and using quantitative methods to address them, as well as the ability to direct the work of analytical team members. You will need to ensure that processes meet high analytical standards and quality assure outputs. Experience of analysis in R, Python or SQL.

(ii)     Strong communication and collaboration skills

You will need to establish good working relationships with a range of stakeholders, including ADR UK, ONS, HMCTS, academics, and analytical colleagues across Data & Analysis. You will need good communication skills that enable you to engage and collaborate with others, including the ability to translate data sources and analysis for non-analysts.

(iii)    Good project management skills

Experience of managing analytical projects. You will need to work with key internal and external stakeholders to set priorities, goals, objectives and timescales.

Desirable skills:

Willingness to be assessed against  the requirements for BPSS clearance

We would encourage all applicants to apply even if they don’t meet every requirement.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

How to Apply

Candidates must submit a current CV as well as a Personal Statement of up to 750 words outlining how you meet the requirements set out in the Person Specification above.

We are recruiting using a combination of the Professional Competencies and Success Profiles Frameworks. We will assess your Experience, Technical Skills and the following Behaviours during the assessment process:

• Changing & Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

For existing analysts from all professions, in addition to the three Civil Service behaviours listed above, you will be assessed on two sets of professional competencies at interview. 

For external (non-Civil Service) candidates and unbadged Civil Service candidates, in addition to the three Civil Service behaviours listed above, you will be assessed on your analytical knowledge, experience, and abilities, as well as 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. 

·         GES - Analysis of Data.  

·         GSR - Knowledge and application of GSR technical skills  

Professional Competency (2) Influence & Impact  

·         GSS - Presenting and disseminating data effectively.  

·         GORS - Achieving impact with analysis.  

·         GES - Effective communication.  

·         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 

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  

A diverse panel will review your application against the Person Specification above.

Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a 1-hour panel interview held via video conference. 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.

Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application.

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.

Terms & Conditions

Please review our Terms & Conditions which set out how we recruit and provide further information related to the role and salary arrangements.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact

datarecruitment@justice.gov.uk