Please read before applying:

To apply for this role you will need to submit a CV and statement of suitability. These need to be merged into one document. When submitting your application Applied will ask you to upload a CV, when doing this you should upload your merged document of your CV and statement of suitability. There are further details in the Selection Process section further below in this advert.

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If those don't work please email scs@levellingup.gov.uk with your application and/or CV before the submission deadline. Any applications received after the deadline may not be considered.

Short Summary

The Office for Local Government (Oflog) is a new performance body for local government. It will provide authoritative and accessible data and analysis about the performance of local government, and support its improvement. Its strategic objectives are to:

• empower citizens with information about their local authority, enabling them to hold local leaders to account;

• increase local leaders’ and councils’ understanding of their relative performance, supporting them to improve and better innovate;

• increase central government’s understanding of local government performance, highlighting excellence and identifying risk of failure to facilitate timely and targeted support.

Job Description

The Chief Analyst of Oflog will ensure the integrity of Oflog’s analytical work; place Oflog at the leading edge of making performance data accessible and compelling; provide Oflog with an authoritative voice and ambassador in conversations with a wide range of stakeholders about its analytical and data work; and, as a core member of Oflog’s small Executive Team, will help shape the overall development of Oflog as a new, data-driven organisation. They will have responsibility for developing and delivering digital data tools – including the new Data Explorer – as well as leading an analytical work programme to meet Oflog’s objectives. They will lead and manage a team of 20-30 analytical and digital staff, and will play an important role in leadership of other staff.

The Chief Analyst will need to be visible, establishing and engaging across a broad network of stakeholders to inform and deliver the work of this new body. We are flexible on location and the successful candidate can be based out of our DLUHC offices in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Darlington or London. They will be required to attend our Wolverhampton office regularly, usually weekly, to fulfil their important leadership role.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that Oflog’s analytical and digital outputs meet the highest standards of quality, comply with requirements for publication, and are accessible and compelling for users;

• Act as an authoritative ambassador for Oflog’s analytical and data-presentation work on the measurement and improvement of local government performance – ensuring that Oflog is plugged into relevant discussions across local government, central government, statistical authorities, the private sector, think tanks and academia;

• Develop the vision and priorities for Oflog’s analytical, data and digital work programme, and agree them with Oflog’s wider Executive Team;

• Provide confident, inspiring and effective leadership and management of Oflog’s analytical and digital staff – including driving innovation and rigour, and ensuring tight project management;

• Ensure effective, timely delivery of Oflog’s digital products, and ensure they are compelling and accessible for users;

• Develop and maintain relationships with senior colleagues across central and local government to support delivery of Oflog’s analysis and data products;

• Make an active contribution to the analytical community across DLUHC and central government;

• As a member of Oflog’s small Executive Team, play an active role in leadership and management of the whole organisation, including providing senior analytical input to the overall strategic development of Oflog as a data-driven body;

• As a member of DLUHC’s Senior Civil Service, make an active corporate contribution to the department.

The person

You will have first-class analytical and data skills and a track record of leading teams to deliver excellent analytical products to tight schedules.

You will be a thought leader, able to influence wider intellectual debates well beyond your immediate organisation.

You will be able to oversee tight programme and project management of digital products (even if you are not yourself a digital expert).

You will be able to place Oflog at the leading edge of presenting data in compelling and accessible ways.

You will be an inspiring, confident and empowering leader, and a team player with a wide range of colleagues.

We particularly encourage applications from those of an ethnic minority background and those with disabilities, as well as those based in locations outside of London, who are underrepresented at this level in DLUHC.

As one of the Department’s senior leaders, you will also be a visible role model for the Civil Service leadership behaviours. These can be found in the Civil Service Leadership Statement which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-leadership-statement/civil-service-leadership-statement

Essential Criteria

• First-class analytical and data skills – including thought leadership in the use of data and analysis to drive performance improvements in public services

• A track record of leading teams to deliver high-quality, timely and influential analytical and data products

• Ability to lead project and programme management, sufficient to ensure effective delivery of high-quality products

• Ability to act as a credible thinker and influencer in discussions with a wider intellectual community

• Ability to lead, manage and grow a diverse team to perform well while ensuring well-being, learning and development

• Ability to work closely and collaboratively with policy, analytical and other colleagues to deliver better outcomes

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of delivering data projects through digital solutions

Selection process details

How to apply

Please provide the required information and complete your application through the Be Applied website by 23:55 on Sunday 17 September 2023.

You will be asked to enter some personal details, upload your CV and to provide your responses to the role’s advertised essential criteria.​

When prompted to upload your CV, please upload a single document consisting of: ​

• a CV (including the names of 2 referees and your current remuneration) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities, achievements and your relevant qualifications. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. ​

• a statement of suitability explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria provided in the person specification. (max. 2 pages)​

Please remember to save these two items in one document.​

Please note that only completed applications through the Be Applied route will be considered and that any further progress updates will be sent through Be Applied.

The selection panel will be made up of:

• Josh Goodman, Interim Chief Executive, Office for Local Government

• Stephen Aldridge, Director of Analysis and Data, DLUHC

• An appropriate senior member of one of analytical professions from another government department 

Selection process and assessments

Candidates that are shortlisted may be invited to attend a staff engagement panel. 

At DLUHC we hold staff engagement panels as an integral part of the recruitment process for Senior Civil Servants (SCS) – they are designed to help us build up a rounded picture of each candidate and give us an insight into how you might engage and interact with your team should you be successful. The purpose of the session is to help us assess your engagement and communication skills and is not about testing your subject knowledge or expertise for this particular role. Feedback from the session is passed onto the selection panel for consideration alongside the final interview.

Candidates may also be invited to a meeting with a Minister or the Secretary of State, and/or other senior stakeholders. This is not a formal part of the selection process but an informal chance for candidates to find out more about the role and the organisation.

Shortlisted candidates will also be invited to give a short presentation or complete an exercise at the beginning of their final interview. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates when invited to interview. 

All of the evidence presented as part of the process will be considered in the final assessment.

Government Analytical Professions

Entry Requirements:

Successful applicants for this role must be a full member of a Government Analytical profession or be prepared to become a member of the relevant profession.

Civil Servants who are currently a member of a Government Analytical Profession will retain their professional membership in this role. 

Applicants without a current affiliation will be considered for accreditation to the relevant profession as part of the recruitment process.

This means you must meet the academic entry requirements for your chosen profession.  This is usually a first- or second-class honours degree in a relevant subject.

Each analytical profession sets out the specific requirements in more details on their website.  Links to the entry requirements are below.

• Government Economic Service (GES)

• Government Operational Research Service (GORS)

• Government Social Research (GSR)

• Government Statistical Group (GSG)

• Note that the Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) profession does not set specific academic requirements.

Technical Competence Frameworks:

All applicants will need to demonstrate they have the competences listed in the technical framework for their relevant profession.

Applicants who are currently a member of a Government Analytical Profession and seeking promotion will be assessed for promotion within their profession as part of the selection process.  

Applicants without a current affiliation will be notified if there are other entry tests which need to be successfully completed to ensure compliance with their professional group's requirements.

Further information about competency/technical skill level requirements can be accessed via the links below.

All applicants should refer to the requirements of:

1 - Government Analysis Function SCS Capability Framework  

2 – The relevant profession-specific technical framework

• Government Economic Service (GES)

• Government Operational Research (GORS)

• Government Social Research (GSR)

• Government Statistical Service (GSS)

• Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) – Data Job Family

Security Clearance

All DLUHC colleagues must meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard. This is a series of basic security checks to confirm identity and employment history.

In addition to the BPSS, all staff based at our Marsham Street office in London (and some based in our other offices) must be cleared to at least Counter Terrorism Check level – this generally requires you to have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years. Please refer to the DLUHC Notes on Security Clearance section of our Candidate Pack for further information on Counter Terrorism Clearance (CTC). Thank you. 

Salary

For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. If appointed on temporary promotion you would get the higher of 10% uplift or the new minimum for Deputy Director.​​

Future pay awards will normally be made in line with current SCS performance-related pay arrangements.