About the job

Job summary

Ofqual is the independent qualifications regulator for England. We currently regulate 200+ awarding organisations, and approx. 11,600 certified qualifications. These include GCSEs, AS and A levels, and a broad range of vocational and technical qualifications. Regulating on behalf of students of all ages and apprentices is central to how we fulfil our statutory objectives.

For more information about the work we do please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofqual

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion throughout the organisation. We are proud of the action we are taking to support EDI and Wellbeing and welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds to support our ethos of creating a diverse culture that is reflective of both our employees and the learners we support.

Due to our continued commitment and focus in relation to EDI, our inclusion and fair treatment score based on the Civil Service 2022 annual people survey ranks us 4th out of 104 participating departments.

Ofqual is a rewarding, dynamic place to work. We offer employees the opportunity to develop within their role and progress through the organisation via a number of Learning and Development opportunities and activities.

We are in the top ten Civil Service departments for staff engagement which focuses on motivation and commitment to organisational goals and values. Based on the 2022 annual people survey Ofqual are ranked 9th out of 104 participating departments.

Job description

Each year, millions of people take qualifications that help them to progress in their lives – to the next stage of their studies, into employment or in their enjoyment of a leisure pursuit.  Now, more than ever, the work of Ofqual does on behalf of students and apprentices to secure quality and confidence in those qualifications is critical.

Ofqual has a key role to play in overseeing the current qualifications system and looking ahead to the future. That means we need to perform leading-edge research and analytics to enable us to regulate existing qualifications effectively and develop policy to influence the future.

As part of this, we perform quantitative research and produce reports and data sets, covering regulated qualifications, to help all stakeholders understand the qualifications and exams system.  This is complex work – but is also deeply engaging and stimulating.

The data and statistics we publish on GCSEs, AS/A levels, and vocational and technical qualifications provides the education system and wider public with a valuable lens into qualifications system. Ofqual’s analytics culture is strong, and we have developed a range of innovative approaches to reporting data, including interactive visualisations that are made available to the public.

We’re looking for an Associate Director to build on the strong platform we have in our Data & Analytics work.  That will require excellent analytical skills and equally, a well-developed ability to work closely with and support colleagues across the organisation in their work too. Many of the reports we produce are Official Statistics and the role of Associate Director Data Analytics & Research also acts as Head of Profession for Statistics, taking responsibility for the publication of these reports. 

You can read more about the role in the candidate pack but here is a flavour of who we are looking for.

• You’ll have expert analytical ability and be very comfortable with analysing and presenting both quantitative and qualitative data.
• An extensive track record of effective design and delivery of data solutions and statistical publications.
• Demonstrable experience of collecting, analysing and interpreting large data sets using computational statistical software tools such as R and/or Python.
• Experience in data privacy and data governance.
• You’ll be able to give authoritative advice to researchers: for example, on choice of statistical models and sample size requirements.
• You’ll be excited to innovate, develop new approaches and engage in analytical challenges.
• We need a strong communicator – with confidence to communicate clearly at all levels of seniority, including making technical work accessible to non-expert audiences.  
• You’ll be great at building relationships internally and externally. 
• You’ll enjoy leading a function that is there to equip, support and enable others in their work - able to lead experts in their field, adding value through your insight, challenge and support.
• Experienced in developing analytical and business intelligence applications using tools such as Power BI, SAS or Tableau.
• It is essential that the person in this role is a member of (or has the ability to become a member of) one of the Government Analyst Function professions Membership – Government Analysis Function (civilservice.gov.uk)

As part of our positive action commitment, if you are from an ethnic minority background and would like to discuss the role in more detail ahead of submitting your application, please email recruitment@ofqual.gov.uk and we will arrange for a call to take place with one of our senior team.

Person specification

Please refer to the job description for a full list of essential criteria to support your application.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £65,539, Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) contributes £17,659 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Please note that we regret that we do not offer sponsorship opportunities at this time.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the shortlisting panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a personal statement evidencing how you meet the essential criteria shown on the job description.

Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your personal statement, how you meet these requirements as this will form a key part of your evidence when the panel is scoring your application, against the requirements of the role.

Ofqual has adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel. You’ll be asked to remove all personal details from your CV when you apply.

During the interview process, this vacancy may include a short presentation and/or assessment. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates upon invitation to interview.

Please submit your application by 1st July 2024 at 23:55pm.

Interview dates – 15th July 2024 (subject to change).

Important information

If you are shortlisted and you are not a member of GSG, you will be asked to take part in a GSS online test. Only those that pass the test will be invited to interview.

If you are shortlisted and are already a member of the GSG, you are exempt from sitting the GSS online test. To prevent your application from being rejected, as soon as you submit an application to notify us, please ensure you email your membership number to recruitment@ofqual.gov.uk. 

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or at a lower grade than they applied for, we may extend an offer without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has comparable behaviours and essential criteria.

Ofqual works flexibly, with a hybrid office/home based working model. Employees will spend at least two to three days a week working from our office in Coventry. As Coventry will be your base location expenses for travel to the office will not be paid.

Hybrid working with 2-3 days per week in the Coventry office is the general pattern, but in August more office attendance may be required around the busy exam results times.

Final panel interviews will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided at invite to interview stage.

One of our resourcing colleagues will be on hand to answer any queries you may have throughout the process.

Please be aware that expenses incurred by candidates during the recruitment process will not be reimbursed.

A reserve list may be held for up to 6 months, which the Civil Service may use to fill future suitably similar vacancies across government for candidates who are considered appointable following interview.

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you require assistance or need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should tell us what changes or help you might need further in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. You should contact us at recruitment@ofqual.gov.uk to discuss your needs.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.