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.

SEO Evaluation Analyst (3 roles available), Data & Analysis, Ministry of Justice

Overview

We have three roles available split between the Justice Data Lab (JDL) and the Evaluation & Prototyping Hub (EPH). These two teams are centres of evaluation expertise within the Ministry of Justice’s Data & Analysis Directorate. They both conduct impact evaluations to understand what works in the justice system alongside supporting other analytical teams working on a wide range of priority evaluations.

Roles in both teams are open to: 

• Existing analysts from all professions (GSS/GORS/GSR/GES) either on level transfer or on promotion.
• Other candidates who 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: 

• SEO London: £500  
• SEO National: £1500 

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.

We welcome applications from candidates based across the UK. For some posts, 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 and Liverpool, and the following JSOs: Ashford, Beverley, Haverfordwest, Hull, Merthyr Tydfil, Manchester, Newport, Birmingham, Sheffield, North Shields, Bristol, Wolverhampton, Weston-Super-Mare, 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 June 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.

What you’ll do

These roles represent a genuine opportunity to help understand what works in the justice system, explore creative ways to solve evaluation challenges, deepen technical knowledge, and build analytical leadership competencies. In both teams you will have the opportunity to shape the role to your interests and development needs. Candidates will be able to express an interest in a specific role at interview.

Justice Data Lab (1 role)

The Justice Data Lab (JDL) helps provide evidence on what works to achieve reducing reoffending, a key priority of the MoJ. You’ll lead impact evaluations of rehabilitative interventions to assess whether they significantly reduce reoffending among participants, in comparison to a control group. You will undertake a lead analytical role, using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to produce high quality impact evaluations to assess the effectiveness, or otherwise, of the interventions provided to offenders, including a suite of MoJ offender behaviour programmes. Since 2013 there have been over 182 JDL publications, all of which are published as Official Statistics on gov.uk.

Evaluation & Prototyping Hub (up to 2 roles)

The Evaluation and Prototyping Hub was established in 2021 to help understand what works across the Justice system.  Our ambition is to improve outcomes by providing timely, proportionate and quality evidence to inform decisions. We achieve this by leading evaluations from within the Hub, including Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT) and other quasi-experimental designs. We also provide methodological support to over 20 evaluations led by other teams across the MoJ, advising on different counterfactual impact evaluation methodologies. Finally, the Hub works closely with partners across the MoJ and government to deliver the recommendations outlined in the Evaluation & Prototyping Strategy and embed a culture of evidence-based decision making.

A particular focus of these roles is to build capability in a broader range of statistical techniques that can be used in counterfactual impact evaluations across the MoJ. This includes exploring the potential of interrupted time series design, synthetic controls, and difference-in-difference approaches.

About Data & Analysis

We are passionate about improving justice outcomes through innovative research and analysis. In Data and Analysis, we provide high quality 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 650 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 Data and 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 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.

Who you are

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

• Designing, developing, and delivering impact evaluations to understand the impact of various policies and programmes in collaboration with key analytical, policy and operational stakeholders. This requires regular manipulation of large datasets, data linking, and significance testing, using R.
• Making improvements and developments to the current methodology, with focus on Propensity Score Matching (Justice Data Lab) and other quasi-experimental approaches (Evaluation & Prototyping Hub).
• Providing technical and statistical advice and guidance to colleagues across Data and Analysis, remaining up-to-date with the latest methodological developments as well as established techniques (e.g., experimental designs, propensity score matching).
• Working closely with team members, as well as operational, policy and analytical colleagues across the department to support delivery of the evaluations.
• Effectively communicate complex analysis to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

The following experience and skills will be required:

• Strong analytical skills. You will have robust data skills and good working knowledge of the main quantitative, qualitative and/ or evaluation research methodologies of relevance in your field of expertise. You will be adept at identifying and utilising appropriate methodologies in projects, delivering quality outcomes to a deadline and identifying risks (lead sift criteria)
• Experience in analysing large administrative datasets and using statistical techniques to understand and analyse these datasets, ideally in R.
• Self-motivated and action orientated. You will be experienced in independently managing own workload, flexibly moving between multiple projects, taking initiative and critically assessing use of data.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills. You will need to maintain effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders within and outside the Ministry of Justice. You will need good written and oral communication, with strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to explain analytical concepts and practices to non-technical stakeholders. 
• Good project management skills. You will be experienced in managing analytical projects, directing your own work and liaising with stakeholders to set priorities, goals, objectives and timescales. You will be adept at identifying risks to enable delivery, managing customers’ expectations and adapting the analytical programme when requirements and circumstances change.

The following experience and skills are desirable:

• Experience of using statistical techniques and conducting statistical analysis using R.
• Experience using experimental and quasi-experimental methods in impact evaluations, such as Propensity Score Matching, Randomised Controlled Trials, Difference-in-Difference, and other approaches.
• Experience of publishing analysis, such as official statistics or research reports.

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. If there are a high number of applications, we will sift on strong analytical skills as the lead criterion.

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.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing  
• Managing a quality service
• 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/fil,e/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. 
• 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 

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. 

Further Information 

If you require any additional information about the roles, please contact: Annie Sorbie (annie.sorbie@justice.gov.uk) or Lyndon Clews (lyndon.clews@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, Experience and Technical skills.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.