Data and Policy Analyst

at  Ministry of Justice

Salary
The national salary range is £39,868 - £43,535, London salary range is £45,824 - £50,039. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Number of jobs available
1
Detail of reserve list
12 Months
Region
London, Northern Ireland
City/Town
Belfast , London
Building/Site
MOJ NIO Erskine House, BT1 4GF, NIO 1 HORSE GUARDS ROAD, LONDON, SW1A 2HQ, SW1A 2HQ
Grade

SEO

Post Type
Permanent
Working Pattern
Full Time
Role Type
Operational Delivery
Will the successful applicant have line manager responsibilities?
No
Job description
Department: Northern Ireland Office
Post Vacant: Data and Policy Analyst (SEO) - Research and Insights Team, External Relations
Location: Belfast (Erskine House) or London (1 Horse Guards). Occasional travel will be required between NIO locations.
Duration: Permanent position (subject to successful completion of a six month probation period)
Salary: Salary scale: Inner London £45,824-£50,039 and National £39,868-£43,535
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band advertised for the respective locations of the role.

WHAT WE DO:

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) supports the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in delivering the Government’s strategic priorities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State’s vision is to make Northern Ireland a better place to live, work and invest and in working towards this, the NIO has identified four priority outcomes which are:

• Level up the NI economy and Champion Northern Ireland’s economic growth across Whitehall
• Support greater reconciliation and integration in Northern Ireland;
• Contribute to a safer Northern Ireland; where terrorist and paramilitary groups are less able to cause harm of communities
• Ensure that governance in Northern Ireland is responsive, transparent, and able to deliver effective public services

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

We will also be assessing your suitability against the following technical skills at interview

Knowledge of research methods, techniques, & application of these

• Identifying research needs, designing & specifying research
• Undertaking analysis and providing insight through strong communication skills (including data visualisation).

(We will assess this at Level 3 of the Government Analysis Career Framework)
Please note that in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift on the lead Behaviours “Communicating and Influencing”.

APPLICATIONS

You can apply for this post through the Civil Service website at: civilservice.gov.uk. Once logged onto the site go to the civil service jobs page and then search for jobs in the Northern Ireland Office where the application form can be found.
Additional information received after the closing date will not be considered. Failure to provide sufficient information in support of an application prior to the closing date will not be considered as grounds for an appeal if an applicant is not shortlisted for interview.
HCS applicants who, because of disability, need assistance in completing the application form should contact MoJ Shared Services on 0845 010 3512.
All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.
This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT US

We are a small and friendly department of approximately 180 staff. Our small size and diverse portfolio create a stimulating, fast-paced and challenging working environment, with regular engagement with a range of Ministers and senior officials. We support flexible working and have a modern, flexible IT system which helps enable this.
The Northern Ireland Office is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, as they are under-represented within (department/business area) at this level.
The Northern Ireland Office is recognised by its staff and externally as being an employer where Diversity and Inclusion are valued. We hold a Diversity & Inclusion Charter Mark and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader organisation. We also have an active Diversity and Inclusion network supporting colleagues through Diversity and Inclusion Advocates.
We want all our people to feel valued for who they are and we are confident that you will find the NIO a warm, welcoming and inclusive place to work.

The NIO offers a pleasant, modern work environment which allows consideration of a range of flexible working arrangements which support a good work / life balance. Depending on the role, these may include flexible / alternative working patterns, part-time and job-share options. Benefits include:

• Interest-free season ticket and bicycle loans
• Reward & Recognition scheme

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Research and Insights Team is responsible for gathering and analysing data to inform departmental strategy, decision making and delivery. The team contains two positions, the Data and Policy Analyst (this role) who supports (and reports to) the Head of Performance Management. Based within the wider External Relations Team, the Research and Insights Team works with teams across the department to bring better evidence and data to the heart of what the department does and, in particular, to:

• Examine and understand the context of Northern Ireland, including ongoing social, economic, security and political trends and stakeholder relationships, to horizon scan and inform strategy and policy.
• Monitor implementation to assess delivery and inform better operational performance
• Evaluate and assess outcomes against departmental strategic objectives

As the jobholder, you will support the Head of the Team in working to build capability and best practice in data analysis across the department by working across teams, in a range of policy areas to help them make better use of data, demonstrate the value of robust evidence and enhance capacity in performance management. You will also work closely with a strong and extensive network of stakeholders in the Cabinet Office, other Territorial Offices, other UK government departments as well as with colleagues in the NI devolved government and other external delivery partners. Opportunity also exists to participate in, as relevant, the Government Economic or Social Research Membership.
While the role is centred on policy analysis and grounded in knowledge of research methods and evaluation as well as data analysis, all badged and non-badged analysts are welcome to apply given the broad nature of the role and work of the team.
We are looking for someone with a strong track record in collection, collation and analysis of data, using a range of research methods, as well as experience in communicating the findings from data to assess outcomes and inform the development of strategy and policy interventions. Practical experience in developing and implementing appropriate performance (or analytical) frameworks will be important for this position.
As different teams will have different pressures, priorities and development paths regarding data, evidence and performance management, good communication skills and the ability to provide confident persuasive advice will also be critical. The post holder will also require the ability to grasp new ideas and topics quickly and have a willingness to take on new challenges with enthusiasm and commitment. A strong political antenna is not essential but desirable.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Specific responsibilities are likely to include:

• Collecting, analysing, interpreting and presenting data and other forms of evidence to assess progress of departmental initiatives, evaluate outcomes, and to help inform new policy proposals and approaches.
• Developing data collection, evaluation and performance reporting mechanisms, including routine reporting such as KPIs and conducting a deep dive analysis of particular issues, to assess the department’s priority outcomes.
• Helping design new areas of research enquiry to gather insights on Northern Ireland regarding social, political, security and economic trends.
• Supporting a range of policy teams in the thoughtful, challenging and constructive analysis of data and evidence (within the wider policy and strategic context) to develop and test hypotheses relating to policy interventions.
• Working with a variety of qualitative and quantitative data, ensuring data and analysis is of high quality and accuracy.
• Communicating and sharing monitoring and evaluation findings, knowledge and expertise.
• Helping stakeholders to translate evidence, monitoring and evaluation results into practice.
• Building and maintaining strong, constructive relationships with NIO policy teams, as well as external partners, to scope data and evidence requirements, and build and manage a shared departmental data repository.
• Contributing to a continuous review of processes in order to ensure consistency and efficiency of data collection and reporting, which continues to meet the requirements of the department.

The NIO offers a pleasant, modern work environment which allows consideration of a range of flexible working arrangements which support a good work / life balance. Depending on the role, these may include flexible / alternative working patterns, part-time and job-share options. Benefits include:

• Interest-free season ticket and bicycle loans
• Reward & Recognition schem