About the job

Job summary

Join our Data Infrastructure team as a Data Analyst and help us transform DBT into an insight-driven organisation that tell compelling stories with its data. You will be based alongside the multidisciplinary team responsible for developing our ground-breaking data and insight platform, Data Workspace. The service gives our staff access to a catalogue of key trade data and a suite of powerful tools with which to analyse and explore it. 

As Data Analyst you will use high quality datasets held inside and outside DBT including data and management information, commercial and business data. The department has a relationship with international datasets from Org. for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Bank and UN Comtrade; statistical micro-data and large datasets from Office of National Statistics and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. You will analyse and facilitate the analysis of these datasets, working independently on projects to help DBT get insight from them. 

This role is available in seven UK locations and can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting. DBT employees work in a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro-rata) in the office on average. Changes to these working arrangements are available in certain circumstances but must be agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role and can only be discussed with successful candidates. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DBT, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

 Find out about life at DBT, our benefits and meet the team by watching our recruitment video, visiting our website or reading our blog!

Job description

Responsibilities    

You will be an experienced Data Analyst who can:

• Work in an Agile team and work independently to deliver data analysis projects. During projects, collaborate with colleagues across the business to understand the data insights that would add the most value in their area and work out the best way to meet those needs.
• Apply tools and techniques for data analysis and data visualisation, working across a broad range of areas such as business intelligence, data assurance and quality.
• Produce compelling analysis and visualisation of data (e.g. dashboards) to provide actionable insights to technical, policy and operational colleagues.
• Develop a deep understanding of the systems we use to organise and store data, identifying and assessing new data sources, and investigating and resolving problems as they occur. Use these to manage and maintain data, ensuring it aligns to DBT’s data standards, is protected and used in line with established governance.
• Have enthusiasm for helping colleagues to get the maximum value from data. To enable this, you will take a proactive approach to developing your skills and sharing them with others. As part of this you will design and facilitate training for other across the department in the usage of our data analysis tools.

Person specification

Essential Skills and Experience  

You will need to have demonstrable skills and experience of:

• Experience using a computer programming language (e.g. SQL, Python or R) to bring data together from different sources and get them ready for analysis using cleaning and preparation techniques.
• A good understanding, and experience, of data visualisation; you should understand how to tell compelling and actionable stories that are relevant to business goals.
• Good communication skills, to communicate accurate information to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

 Desirable Skills and Experience 

These are not necessary but would be ideal if you:

• Experience using a dashboarding/BI tool (e.g. Tableau, PowerBI, QuickSight, Google Data Studio).
• Knowledge of project management techniques and an understanding of how they can be applied in different environments.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

How to Apply 

Unless otherwise specified, all interviews are currently being held online. Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

Sift will take place week commencing: Monday 11th March

Interviews will take place week commencing: Monday 18th March

Please notes these dates are indicative and may be subject to change.

As part of the application process you will be asked to upload a CV and complete a personal statement outlining your experience, skills and fit for the role.

At the sift stage for this role, we will assess your CV and personal statement against the essential skills and experience listed above, so please ensure these documents evidence these criteria. Your personal statement must be a maximum of 750 words. You can use bullet points and subheadings if you prefer. As well as evidencing the criteria you should also touch upon why you're interested in DBT and in this role. 

If we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct a ‘short sift’ and read one element of your application. For this campaign a short sift would be conducted based on the first essential criterion 'Experience using a computer programming language to bring data together from different sources'. Successful applicants at this stage may then be progressed to a full sift on the remaining criteria or be progressed straight to the interview stage.

How We Interview

At the interview stage for this role, you will be asked to demonstrate relevant Technical Skills and Behaviours from the Success Profiles framework. A role-specific list of these can be found below.

Applicants successful to interview stage will be asked to complete a series of SQL problems based on queries during it. You will be sent the relevant material shortly before your interview to allow you to prepare.

There will be a technical element within the interview where you will be asked questions about your specific professional skills and knowledge relating directly to the job role.

We will assess you against these Technical Skills during this process:

• Statistical methods and data analysis
• Project management
• Data visualisation
• Data quality assurance, validation and linkage
• Communication

Detailed explanations of each Technical Skill can be found on the DDaT Framework.

We will also assess you against the following Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

Reserve List

Appointments may be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences. Candidates who pass the bar at interview but are not the highest scoring will be held on a 12-month reserve list for future appointments. Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised.

Security Clearance Details 

All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.

Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.

Checks will be made against:

• Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records).
• UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records.
• Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency.
• Security Services record.
• Location Details.

Further Information  

The Department for Business and Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Click through to apply and find out more.  

Reasonable adjustment

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 need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the DBT Recruitment team before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Our recruitment process is underpinned by appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: ddat.recruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. Click here to download a PDF about the Civil Service Commission/Complaints.   

Recording of interviews is not permitted except by prior agreement and where it is necessary as an evidenced reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010.

If you make a recording of our employees without agreement, you should be aware that in collecting such personal data you would be deemed a 'data controller' under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and are therefore required to comply with all relevant data protection requirements. You would also be susceptible to enforcement action by the regulator and potential legal action. 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.