About the job

Job summary

This position is based nationally

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

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

Data Analyst, SEO, Data & Analysis, Ministry of Justice 

Overview

We have 1 role in the Data Improvement team, within the Data & Analysis Directorate.

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. These are based at the following JCCs: Cardiff, Leeds, Nottingham, South Tyneside, Brighton, Ipswich , Jarrow and Liverpool, and the following JSOs: Ashford, Beverley, Caernarfon,  Cambridge, Chelmsford, Coventry,  Edinburgh, Glasgow, Haverfordwest, Hull, Merthyr Tydfil, Manchester, Newport, Northampton, Plymouth, Birmingham, Sheffield, North Shields, Bristol, Wolverhampton, Weston-Super-Mare, Weymouth Law Courts, Wrexham, Stafford, Truro, Winchester and Leeds.

Alternative locations may be available and will be discussed and agreed on the completion of background checks.

Interviews are likely to take place in March 2024 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.

About the Data Improvement Team

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is committed to using our data assets in an exemplary way to deliver for citizens and to change lives for the better. We’re investing in essential work to improve justice outcomes for millions of people through data-driven insight and innovation, ensure that data meets user needs and to build a culture that really values data as a strategic asset. 

To do this, MoJ has created the Data Improvement team within the Data & Analysis Directorate. We are a multidisciplinary team of around 50 staff that sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice. We work in a dynamic and fast-paced context and our skills are in heavy demand across the department. We have launched the data strategy for MoJ and are working on improvements across data governance, architecture, literacy, culture, dissemination and linking. You can read more about the Data Strategy in this blog post. Becoming a truly data-led justice system https://mojdigital.blog.gov.uk/2022/08/30/becoming-a-truly-data-led-justice-system/

Within MoJ, we are developing tools, approaches and solutions to improve the quality of our data, to make it easier to find and access the right data, and to build the data skills of people across the organisation from front line staff to senior decision-makers. By fixing these issues, we can better understand how our services are performing and take better-informed decisions to improve them – which will make a huge difference to the millions of people who interact with and rely on the justice system, whether that is frontline staff, senior leadership, citizens and more. 

The DIT vison to promote better data and skills to enable better decision-making is supported by the Self-Service Analytics Tools teams’ purpose to develop what we formally disseminate to whom, how, timelines, resources required, methodologies, culture change required for self-service, training and ongoing support across MoJ. 

The Data Improvement Team roadmap is preparing to enter Year 2 of our 3-year plan with a focus on developing our expertise through exemplars. The team successfully undertook a statistics review that included analytics on use, and users of statistics. Over the next year we aim to build on this to provide an improved approach to statistical publications and processes, part of which will be rolling out the new statistical publication approach based on the statistics review to further publications in MOJ. Another success for the team is the existing online data platform, Justice in Numbers that was launched in October 2022. Justice in Numbers, along with its associated pocketbook, gives staff and the public access to key data and statistics on the justice system.

In parallel, the MoJ in partnership with the Home Office are leading on a data improvement plan across the Criminal Justice System (CJS) to improve the way we link, share and use data, from Ministers and Permanent Secretary level, all the way down to operational users. This work will directly influence strategic, policy and operational decisions.  

Why work in Data and Analysis?
In Data and Analysis, 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.

What you’ll do

You will be joining at an exciting time for the Self-Service Analytical Tools workstream as we develop statistical dissemination practices across MOJ. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of leading significant, lasting and visible change across the department. You will champion robust data as a strategic asset, and support building a centre of excellence driving better strategic and operational decision-making to deliver meaningful change. A key part of the work will be as part of MOJ’s statistics development project, working with statistical publication teams to help them implement changes in publication practices to better meet the requirements of users and producers of statistics. As part of this, you will be core to the development of new statistics dissemination tools, harnessing digital capability to deliver modern methods for the publication of official statistics. You will also be responsible for helping maintain MOJ’s existing online data platform, Justice in Numbers.

The role involves working closely with colleagues across Data and Analysis in statistical publication teams, as well as MI producers, Data Engineering and Modelling teams, and Justice Digital in order to deliver improvements that span the breadth of work involved in producing and publishing statistics. You will also liaise with statistical publication teams to ensure that statistical publications are pre-announced in line with the requirements of the Statistics Code of Practice and maintain a central record of statistical publications and key contacts.

Key Responsibilities 

• Establish, lead and manage a number of pieces of analytical work for corporate, policy or operational partners,
• Take responsibility for balancing resources and for the quality and timeliness of outputs including ensuring adherence to professional standards.
• Identify and utilise appropriate methodologies in more complex projects, delivering quality outcomes to deadline and identifying risks.
• Work with partners to generate ideas and analytical options and to evaluate their relative merit,
• Manage partners’ expectations over time, dealing constructively with challenge and where appropriate adapting the analytical programme when requirements and circumstances change.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Have strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to explain complex technical data and analytical concepts and practices to non-technical stakeholders, including senior leaders and ministers.
• Strong analytical ability - in particular, robust data skills and good working knowledge of the main quantitative, qualitative and/or evaluative research methodologies of relevance in their field of expertise.
• Have experience of managing and developing others, prioritising and delegating tasks in line with organisational objectives.
• Line manage a small team with plans to expand later this year.
• Deputise for their Grade 7 managers on occasions.
• Work alongside publication statisticians to assure the data on Justice Data / JiN / Pocketbook

Who you are

We’re interested in people who have:

• Drive and determination required to deliver meaningful change.
• Effective communication, negotiating and influencing skills, to work effectively with a wide range of colleagues and specialisms.
• Good organisation and project management skills necessary to manage a series of workstreams across a broad range of areas.
• An ability to seek out and drive new initiatives to improve practices across the department.

The following experience and skills are desirable:

• Desirable to show an ability in using R/Python/SQL or similar tools on analytical projects.

Minimum requirements to apply:

Candidates must be able to show the relevant experience and skills and must meet the criteria for entry:

SEO grade:

• You have significant work experience (usually a minimum of three years) evidencing use of data and/or analytical skills. Time spent on an analytical PhD can count towards this.

How to apply

You’ll need to submit an anonymised CV and Statement of Suitability as part of your application. You will not be considered if you do not provide both.

Your CV should be no more than 2 pages long and should show us your work history and previous experience. It should be 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. 

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, , experience, 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.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and influencing
• Changing and Improving 
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Working Together

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 

Applicants invited for Interview 

If you are successful in reaching interview stage, you will be invited to attend a virtual interview assessing your experience in the above behaviours. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview. A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

Further Information

If you require any additional information about the role, please contact:

Amanda Pearson,  amanda.pearson@justice.gov.uk or Mark Roberts, mark.roberts1@justice.gov.uk.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,868, Ministry of Justice contributes £10,804 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 and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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.