Do you have the passion, values, and ability to help us solve the biggest problems of the justice system?

Head of Prison Safety Statistics and Analysis (G7), Prison Data, MoJ Analysis

We have 1 G7 role in the Prison Safety Statistics and Analysis team, within the Analysis Directorate.

Roles are open to:

1. Existing badged analysts from the GSS, either on level transfer or on promotion.
2. Other candidates that are not members of the GSS profession 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.

Please note: this opportunity is only open to individuals currently employed within the Civil Service.

Minimum requirements to apply

Candidates must be able to show the relevant experience and skills and must meet the criteria for entry:

Grade 7 – must meet all of the following:

• You have significant work experience evidencing use of data and/or analytical skills. Time spent on an analytical PhD can count towards this.
• You have significant experience of managing projects
• You have experience of leading or managing a team

We welcome applications from candidates based across the UK. 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: see this map for more details

Alternative locations may be available and will be discussed and agreed on the completion of background checks.

Interviews are likely to take place in October 2026 and will be held via MS TeamsWe will keep a merit list for a year for those who successfully pass the interview board but who are not offered a post.

About the Analysis Directorate

We are passionate about improving justice outcomes through innovative research, data and analysis. In the Analysis Directorate, we provide high quality data and 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 300 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 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 the Analysis Directorate?

In the Analysis Directorate, 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.

What we offer

• Flexible working arrangements and a focus on equality of opportunity – including welcoming part-time and/or job-share arrangements, compressed hours, working from home or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centres or Justice Satellite Office.
• Career development – regular development and promotion opportunities across a wide range of roles, career development support, with a generous individual learning and development budget.
• Range of new areas of work and new tools and techniques – we pride ourselves on our excellent deployment of well-established analytical methods, but also our progress to date. Progress such as our ambitious and innovative transformation programme to leverage departmental data and drive evidence-based decision-making using cutting-edge tools and techniques (for example: experimentation, personalisation, artificial intelligence).
• Analysis is at the centre of the Department’s decision making – our transformation programme is focused on maximising our impact on departmental outcomes. The Ministry of Justice’s Senior Team and our Ministerial Team want all decisions to be evidence driven – your analysis will be key in influencing decisions and real-world impact.
• Vibrant community – part of a multidisciplinary team that has a supportive culture and is looking to further develop the community with the help of everyone.
• See the frontline and what your work is influencing – regular opportunities to visit our front-line service providers, including courts, prisons, and probation to better understand the areas your analysis is affecting.

What you’ll do

Principal Statistician (Prison Safety Statistics and Analysis)

This is a challenging but rewarding post in a high-profile area where your analytical work will have real operational impact and shape decisions at the highest levels of the Ministry of Justice.

You will be a supportive leader for a high-performing, friendly team of analysts providing high-quality data, statistics, management information, analysis and subject matter expertise on prison safety and security. You will work with policy, analytical and operational colleagues to deliver fast-paced, impactful advice on a range of topics, as well as providing the data and insight needed for MoJ to make evidence-based decisions about areas of real need. This will include supporting frequent high-profile commissions (for example, improvements to releases in error data in response to the Owens review), cross-team working with colleagues across the business and reprioritising work at pace in response to Ministerial and operational requirements. You will also seek opportunities to further develop the work of the team in alignment with departmental objectives, MoJ’s Data Strategy and the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Who you are

The following experience and skills will be required

• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain complex data and analytical concepts to senior and non-technical stakeholders.
• Confidence in analysing data and presenting it appropriately, including leading others in analytical delivery.
• Experience of leading and developing others, prioritising and delegating tasks in line with organisational objectives.
• Effective stakeholder engagement, including: representing your team in discussions with partners, building relationships, managing partners’ expectations, dealing constructively with challenges and where appropriate adapting your work programme as requirements and circumstances change.
• Strong ability to plan, prioritise and lead a portfolio of analytical requests with challenging and competing timelines.
• Building and maintaining a culture of high-quality, robust analysis and continuous improvement

The following experience and skills are desirable

• Experience with Official Statistics and management information
• Knowledge of R and GitHub
• Professional knowledge and experience of working with the justice system, ideally prisons.

How to apply

You’ll need to submit an anonymised work history and evidence against the three Civil Service success profiles behaviours and one technical element listed below. You will not be considered if you do not provide all these elements.

Work History

Your work history 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.

Behaviours

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework at application stage, specifically against the behaviours of:

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

In the event there are a high number of applications, the lead behaviour, Leadership, may be used to conduct an initial sift and applications that do not meet the minimum requirement for this criterion will not progress to a full sift.

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade.

Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK

Technical Element

As well as the three civil service behaviours stated above, you are also asked to provide evidence of suitability for one technical element.

For GSS candidates, please provide evidence against the professional competency Data Analysis.

For non-GSS candidates within the Civil Service, please provide evidence of leading a piece of analytical work: you will be assessed on your analytical knowledge, experience and abilities, and the impact of your analytical work.

5a. Selection Process

There will be an initial sift of applicants through comparing submitted evidence against the behaviours and technical expectation specified above. 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 candidate that passes the interview will be offered the role. The whole process can take up to a month.

5b. Interview Process

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

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/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf

For existing analysts from the GSS, as well as the three civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on two sets of professional competencies at interview.

Professional Competencies

Professional Competency (1) Knowledge & Skills

• GSS - Data Analysis.

Professional Competency (2) Influence & Impact

• GSS - Presenting and disseminating data effectively.

For more information regarding Professional Competency (2) please refer to the link 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-reviewed-february-2023

For other candidates, 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.

Applicants invited for Interview

You will be required to give a carry out an analytical skills test 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 role, please contact:

David Dawson, Head of Prison Data, MoJ Analysis Directorate

by email – david.dawson@justice.gov.uk – or Teams.

In David’s absence, please contact: Arun Mehan, Head of Prison Safety Statistics and Analysis, via Arun.Mehan@justice.gov.uk

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Planand the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
• 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.