About the job

Job summary

We recognise the challenges that people with protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.  

Do you have experience of defining data requirements and developing new business products?

Can you identify and apply the most appropriate analytical techniques to bring different sources together to tell a story?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Job description

We are looking for a SEO analyst to lead on the development of the analytical and data insight work in the Aviation Security International Operations (ASIO) division. The ASIO unit lead on high profile work to implement and improve the transport sector’s aviation security regimes as well as working with international partners to raise global standards and build capability. As the national security threats to aviation evolve, we are working across DfT to ensure that these issues are reflected in the Department’s work to ensure that we balance prosperity with security objectives.

The ideal candidate is passionate about how data can be used to drive improvements in senior decision making and unit performance. We are a new and forward-thinking team, looking to push the department forward in the analytical space and embed novel approaches to utilising our data assets including text analytics, machine learning and other data science techniques. While experience in coding and advanced analytics is desired, we would welcome applicants who do not have this experience but are ambitious and keen to learn.

The Insight analyst role will be responsible for the development of stakeholder data products to inform decision making as well as analysis of data to identify patterns, themes and relationships. Following this, a key role for the team is turning these insights into clear data stories for senior leaders to act on. This role will be the ‘tip-of-the-spear’ in providing actionable insights to key decision makers – insights generated by will you influence Ministers and senior policy officials and help to chart our course with our partners and interlocutors overseas.

The role is an analytical role, under the analytical profession and will report directly to badged GSG Heads of Performance Assurance, and Insight Products. The post holder will also work closely with Aviation, Maritime and Borders Analysis (AMBA), a multi-disciplinary analytical division of around 65 analysts from different professions and will be responsible for ensuring ASIO and AMBA data sets are utilised in combination to generate new and interesting insights.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Take a structured analytical approach to extracting insight and analysis from multiple data sources. Analyse data sets to produce insights which give a clear, accessible narrative, informing ASIO’s decision-making around security risk in the international aviation environment. Examples could include predictive and prescriptive analytics that enable us to be more targeted in our security assessments and interventions.
• Work closely with stakeholders across ASIO to define how we measure the effectiveness of our intervention activities and measure our impact in reducing the risk to aviation security within Host States. Use this understanding of stakeholder requirements to develop innovative tools to disseminate aviation statistics.
• Build the evidence base and provide analysis and advice relating to aviation security, identifying, and addressing key trends.
• Opportunities to leverage text analytics to produce valuable insight for our customers.
• Improve and modernise the team’s processes through coding.
• Work to help the unit manage its performance through setting up data pipelines for KPIs and producing MI reports for use across the unit.

For more information, please see the attached Role Profile.

Person specification

About you

To thrive in this role, you will have a strong understanding of data visualization standards and techniques and have the ability to tailor and interpret for different audiences.

You can confidently demonstrate your analysis skills using a range of data tools such as Power Bi, Python and R to find stories in data and be able to translate this for non-technical colleagues.

You will bring expertise in Power Bi/Power Query ad Dax or have transferable skills from using similar tools.

We are looking for you to be passionate about how data can be used to drive improvements in senior decision making and unit performance and be ambitious and keen to learn.

Additional information

A minimum of 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. 

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance. 

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a CV and Personal Statement (750 words). Please tailor your CV to suit the role. For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• A strong understanding of data visualization standards and techniques for the graphical presentation of statistical data and the ability to tailor and interpret for different audiences.
• Experience in designing, and developing visualisations (e.g., Power Bi, R, Python etc.).
• Experience in analysing and interpreting written and numerical data to identify trends and issues.

The sift is due to take place 14th February 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from week commencing 26th February 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. 

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include: 

• A data exercise and an interview

This interview will be conducted online via Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.  

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. 

Technical skills will be assessed using the Government Statistical Group competency framework, However, we welcome applications from wider candidates.

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. 

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website. 

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

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

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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.

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.