Job summary

Thank you for your interest in joining the Statistics and Data Division in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). This is a great place to work � people are enabled and supported to perform to their best and the culture is energetic, collaborative, kind and inclusive with excellent flexible working.��

We are the UK government department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. The Analysis Group exists to make better policy and to ensure that Ministers and DBT�s leadership can make informed policy and operational decisions, based on the best possible analysis.�

The Trade Production Statistics team, within the Trade Statistics Unit, is responsible for producing high quality, trusted, Official Statistics and briefing on trade and investment.�

The team are a centre of expertise within DBT for trade statistics. We support colleagues across the department in finding and using suitable data and statistics. We maintain the Trade and investment country factsheets, the UK trade in numbers, and the Trade and Investment Core Statistics Book. These products are established, high-quality, and high-profile statistics that contribute to DBT�s �single version of the truth�.��

The team leads on trade and investment statistics briefings for Ministers and senior officials across the department. Producing regular high quality summaries of the latest key statistics releases.�

We are a team that�s dedicated to producing high-quality analysis and deploys advanced coding skills in our statistic production processes. There are opportunities to develop different areas of expertise, and you will be exposed to a wide range of colleagues throughout the department and within government.

Job description

This role provides ample opportunity for development. The successful candidate will lead on:�

The production of outputs, quality assurance, and publication of our Official Statistics (Trade and Investment Factsheets, UK trade in numbers, and the Trade and Investment Core Statistics book).� Maintaining and developing the high-quality and rigour of our Official Statistics. This will include implementing improvements to R scripts and the reproducible analytical pipelines, fixing issues and adding new features, as part of the team�s ongoing development work.� Regular statistics briefings for Ministers and senior officials across the department. Summarising key messages and telling the story from the latest trade and investment statistics; ensuring the figures are communicated in a way that is clear and easy to understand for a non-technical audience. Responding to ad-hoc queries related to the Official Statistics, including summarising and presenting trade data for colleagues and ensuring analysis is put into context with all necessary caveats. This can include inputting into ministerial briefings, parliamentary questions, and responding to media queries.� Working flexibly across different directorates and with non-analytical colleagues that utilise our statistics to support them with any analytical projects and analysis.� Providing guidance to team members and other colleagues on a range of UK and international trade data sources and their appropriate use. This includes working with the central statistics teams and other analytical DBT teams in promoting the �single version of the truth�, ensuring that data are interpreted and used correctly.��

Additional responsibilities�

�Line management of a junior analyst, delegating tasks and supporting them to develop their skills and lead on pieces of analytical work. �

Person specification

Skills and Experience

Essential Criteria

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

Strong analytical experience, with the ability to analyse large and multiple data sets. The skills to explain complex statistics in an easy-to-understand manner, and a good eye for detail and accuracy. The ability to independently lead analytical projects in a complex environment. The ability to use forward planning and good judgement to identify risks and issues and where to make trade-offs to address them. Experience of programming with R (or a similar programming language) or being prepared to pick up the basics quickly. Experience in communicating analysis to a range of non-analytical colleagues.�

Desirable Criteria�

Experience and knowledge of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Knowledge of macroeconomic trends/ understanding of macroeconomic data. Experience with Rmarkdown and Shiny.

Qualifications

Candidates applying for the Government Statistical Group (GSG) should have one of the following:

A first or second class honours degree in a numerate subject containing at least 25% taught statistical content ( Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography or similar).

A higher degree, an MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training ( Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography or similar).

Have worked in a statistical/data science field and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development (via a CPD Log Book) in statistics or data science at the same level as a foundation degree/HND (Level 5).

Have achieved or on track to achieve a level 4 apprenticeship including at least two years in a statistical or data analysis field in government and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development in statistics or data analysis (via a CPD logbook signed off by a manager or mentor who are members of the statistical profession).
Please note candidates may apply in their final year of study while they are still awaiting their qualification result. But formal contracts can only be offered upon confirmation of the achievement of the relevant qualification. In the case of an apprenticeship, this includes completing two years� work experience in a statistical or data analysis field in government as part of attaining the qualification.

Memberships

Candidate must be a badged member of the Government Statistical Group (GSG) or be willing to become a badged member as part of the application process.

Applicants who are not already members of the Government Statistician Group (GSG) will be required to do an online statistical test as part of the application process to join the GSG and a presentation on a pre-prepared question at interview.

Once you have submitted your application and the application has closed, you will be emailed during standard working hours inviting you to complete the GSS online multiple-choice test. This is a timed test and must be completed within 48 hours for you to be considered for the next stage of the process. You are encouraged to try the test attached to the advert before attempting the real test. Please ensure you inform us ahead of the test if you require any reasonable adjustments to be considered.

Please note: If you are already a member of the GSG, you are exempt from sitting the online test. To prevent your application being rejected please email as soon as you apply to notify us. Once confirmed you will be moved onto the next stage by our recruitment team.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Delivering at Pace Changing and Improving Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

Acquiring Data and Understanding Customer Needs Data Analysis Presenting and Disseminating Data Effectively

Benefits

Alongside your salary of �39,384, Department for Business and Trade contributes �11,409 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Learning and development tailored to your roleAn environment with flexible working optionsA culture encouraging inclusion and diversityA with an employer contribution of

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) 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.

Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.