About the job

Job summary

The Government People Group (GPG) exists to work with departments, professions, and functions to build a modern, effective Civil Service.

We support the government workforce with the right skills and capability. We are working with leaders to get the right people in the right jobs, with the right skills and continuous learning to excel in their roles.

We provide leadership, and in turn, create leaders with exceptional line management capability across departments, influencing partners in the wider public sector and beyond. This involves getting our retention and reward strategy right, to nurture specific skills, and create pride and resilience in our workforce.

Our role is also to provide system leadership across central government in pulling together back office services. Collectively, we help support the Cabinet Office’s priority to drive efficiencies, and reforms that will make government work better, to ultimately provide a better service to the public.

The role available sits within GPG Platforms, Data and Interoperability (PD&I) directorate. It  provides first-class platforms and services for over 400,000 civil servants, including recruitment, data analysis, skills, insight and learning solutions. We have a responsibility for the operation and modernisation of Civil Service digital and data platforms. You will be based within the Data and Insight team, who have developed a data platform and are the lead analytical unit in GPG. Across our newly created team we provide a range of insight and data services which drive value for a range of internal clients e.g. objective and high-quality data analytics, statistical reporting and operational research to support senior leaders. Our services enable users to understand and tackle complex problems, increase operational effectiveness and develop their organisational strategy

Job description

This role involves temporary cover until March 2025 to lead the analysis, research, and evaluation team, overseeing a group of statisticians, data scientists, social researchers, and economists. This is an exciting opportunity to get involved in a wide-range of high-profile analytical projects, which focuses on recruitment, skills and HR services within the Civil Service.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing and motivating the team, ensuring high-quality analytical outputs aligned with strategic objectives. They will champion knowledge-sharing, identify skills within the team, and provide guidance and support to team members. Additionally, they will be accountable for the team's work, ensuring adherence to internal and external data standards.

It is high-profile work, with fast-paced and cutting edge emerging technology in the stimulating environment of the Government People Group.

Person specification

Leadership of the analysis, research and evaluation team. This will involve:

• Lead and motivate a team of statisticians, data scientists, social researchers and economists to produce high-quality analysis that aligns with the analysis function’s strategic objectives. 
• Identify appropriate skills within the team to ensure the smooth running of all projects and to deliver the best possible results. 
• Directly managing between 5 and 6 team members, and taking overall responsibility for team productivity and culture. 
• Ensure that the analytical work produced by team members adheres to both internal and external data standards. 
• Provide the team with the skills and tools they need to produce the highest quality analysis, and facilitate discussions around expectations, progress and performance. 
• Build and maintain knowledge-sharing networks with colleagues across government, and identify and disseminate cutting-edge methods through continuous sector engagement. 
• Champion the team in external engagement.
• Provide final sign-off for all analytical outputs, taking accountability and responsibility for the team's work. 

Analysis, research, and evaluation strategy and approach. You will: 

• Ensure smooth application of analysis, research, and evaluation strategy through to the end of the 24/25 financial year. 
• Identify new workstreams and opportunities where appropriate, and champion the need for high-quality and robust evidence. Work with Senior Leaders across GPG to ensure proportionate evaluation is embedded in decision-making. 
• Collaborate with senior leaders in the directorate to ensure that the team strategy is aligned with the overall strategic objectives of the organisation. 
• Ensure that all research and analysis outputs are of the highest quality. Continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy, and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that it remains relevant and impactful. 

Leadership of GenAI/LLm projects. You will: 

• Lead the Generative AI workstream, working in an agile way to iteratively produce products that make use of Large Language Models to improve functions within GPG.
• Oversee the creation of products that will improve the productivity of the GPG by reducing staff time spent on process tasks, improving the quality of output, and helping inform strategic decision-making by aiding the utilisation of the best possible evidence. 
• Identify critical business problems that could be solved using Generative AI. 
• Continually iterate and scale Generative AI products, whilst listening to the needs of the clients.
• Work with digital platform leads to develop ways to integrate models with existing products and services. 
• Directly manage contingent labour resource for the projects, and identify innovative solutions to resourcing pressures.
• Strong Leadership skills and ability to motivate teams of data scientists, researchers, and analysts. To build a high-performing team and foster a collaborative culture.
• Experienced and advanced understanding of a wide range of research methods, including data science, AI (particularly Large Language Models), quantitative social research, statistics, impact evaluation methods, process evaluation methods, and qualitative social research.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with senior stakeholders and organisations in both the public and private sector
• Strong drive to keep abreast of emerging technology and analytical tooling and methods, as well as the emerging policy issues which these solutions can be applied to.
• A self-starter who works well independently with limited supervision.
• Strong project management skills to oversee multiple analytical projects and ensure they align to organisational objectives. 
• Ability to manage high workloads and competing priorities / deadlines.
• Comfortable working with a high degree of ambiguity and changing priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including influencing and negotiating.
• Strategic thinking and planning skills to develop comprehensive research and evaluation strategies tailored to organisational needs.]

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,700, Cabinet Office contributes £17,469 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.

Application process

Stage 1 - Application Stage

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. 
2. A Personal Statement against the essential and desirable criteria (maximum 750 words)

Your CV and Personal Statement are your opportunities to show us how your experience means that you meet the criteria for this role. Your CV should cover your skills, qualifications, job history, and achievements to date and your Personal Statement is the chance to further expand on this and give specific examples of where you have demonstrated the criteria. Giving examples rather than just saying you're experienced with a certain requirement will strengthen your statement and enable the sift panel to understand more about your suitability for the role.

Stage 2 - Video Interview

If successful at the application stage, candidates will be invited for an interview. During the interview, you will be assessed on the Behaviours for the role as stated below. You will be expected to give clear examples of previous experience relating to these Behaviours.  Interviews will be conducted virtually and further information about the interview process will be provided if you are selected for an interview, you may be required to deliver a presentation.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the CV.

Selection process
Candidates successful at the sift stage will be invited to interview.  Interviews will be held virtually and more information will be provided once you progress to the interview stage.  The success profiles to be assessed at the interview are listed in this advert.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – TBC
Expected interview date/s – TBC
Interview location - Online

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.


Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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.