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Short summary

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is setting up the Office for Local Government (Oflog) – a new body that was announced in the Levelling Up White Paper earlier this year. Oflog will initially bring together, analyse and publish existing data to understand local government performance. It will: 

• be a ‘single source of authoritative information’ that will support local leaders in their decision-making and support self-improvement;  

• allow central government to better understand LA performance; and  

• help local people better understand what is happening in their area. 

The establishment of this body will be delivered through an ambitious new programme delivered by a multi-disciplinary team made of policy, operational, analytical, data and digital professionals, working in partnership with government, the LG sector and citizens. To support delivery of the programme, part of the team will be located within the new body and part of the team will be located within the DLUHC, but all will be working towards the successful establishment of this new organisation. With strong Ministerial and sector interest, this is a high-profile programme. These are evolving and stretching roles which offer a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the delivery of a key government priority objectives. 

The analytical team of around 13 analysts will be led by a G6 analyst reporting to a Policy/Operational DD. The team will bring together data sources relevant to local government, develop and maintain data tools to provide users with easy access to data and insights, run data collections for specific additional data needs and provide analysis to support Oflog body in its role. 

Job description

This role will see the successful candidate leading the analysis team, which will deliver all the data analysis required by Oflog. It involves working with senior stakeholders from across Government and DLUHC, working closely with policy, strategy, and senior officials/Ministers, to determine the key insights and analysis required to progress the work of the body. 

This role involves assessing the metrics collated by other parts of the wider Oflog analytical team, ensuring there is consensus across Government and the sector, creating a holistic view of Local Government performance.  This may include highlighting elements of strong performance and identifying areas at risk of low performance. 

The post holder will be responsible for conducting a range of types of analysis, including ‘deep dives’ into specific thematic areas, and providing insight into the messaging which the analysis shows.  the team will prepare analytical reports for publication to promote transparency.  

Responsibilities

• Leading a small team to analyse and assess metrics and deliver associated analysis required by Oflog, 

• Determining the scope of any research projects and analysis required by the chair and/or senior officials. 

• Lead the analytical team in determining what good Local Government performance looks like in practise. 

• Organise the team to ensure urgent and important analysis is delivered to time and scale, and to high quality. 

• Working in a collaborative team, demonstrating effective diversity and inclusive programme management within their team and the wider department, including welfare and pastoral care of the team. 

• Communicating complex analysis clearly and concisely to Ministers and senior leaders to shape policy-making, and to the public to aid its understanding of LG services. 

• The ability to show flexibility and adaptability under pressure. 

Essential 

• Experience in conducting economic and value for money analysis. 

• Experience in working across Government and the sector to build consensus for the analysis. 

• Experience in delivering analysis for publication. 

• Practical experience in data manipulation and working with big data to solve a series of complex problems. 

• Excellent oral and written briefing skills including the ability to communicate detailed analysis succinctly and clearly. 

• Ability to see the big picture and identify key strategic trends to present to senior officials and Ministers. 

• Ability to demonstrate inclusive and effective leadership with experience of planning, managing, and reviewing activities to engage a team to deliver outcomes, alongside providing pastoral and development support to team members. 

• Strong organisational and management skills. 

• Either an existing member of one of the government analytical professions with the skills, experience, and ability to demonstrate the required competencies at Grade 7 level in your profession, or a proven analyst with the required skills, experience and ability to become a member of one of the government analytical professions, please see requirements below. 

Desirable 

• Experience of working on high profile and fast paced issues, preferably in the local government space. 

• Experience in econometrics, and practical application of this. 

In order to apply for this position, you must either be a badged member of an analytical profession (GES) OR be eligible to become a member of the relevant profession. Please note, in order to be eligible to become a member of the relevant profession, you will need to meet the eligibility criteria set out on page 6 of the 'Guide for Analytical candidates'

Offered benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role

• An environment with flexible working options

• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Selection process details

We are for everyone 

At DLUHC we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We promote equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment and a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation. 

We would strongly recommend that applicants get in touch with the vacancy manager to find out more information about this role. 

We are for everyone 

DLUHC want to bring in and bring on a diverse workforce at all levels.  

Our application system is designed to remove as much bias as possible from the recruitment system – this means that a hiring manager does not know your name, your details, see your whole application in one go (or have your CV at review stage unless stated otherwise).  

Your answers are randomised and chunked up. This means that each assessor views sets of responses to questions for example all candidates’ responses to ‘Seeing the Big Picture’ rather than seeing a candidate’s full application. The science behind this is that recruitment can be subject to ordering and fatigue effects and we want to reduce this as much as possible.  

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors. 

When writing your application, remember: 

• that the assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially.  

• do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers.  

If talking about something in your first answer, make sure that write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!) 

At sift, we will be assessing: 

Technical (Lead Criteria): Please provide an assessment of your experience and skills as a member of one of the analytical professions, including experience relevant to this role, referring to the competencies relevant to your chosen profession. 

Behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture

Behaviour: Leadership

Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing

Behaviour: Delivering at Pace

There is a 250 word limit per question. 

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

We do not consider direct CV applications – you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs: 

Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign  

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of behaviour, technical and strength based questions as listed in the advert. The strength based questions will require natural responses from the candidates. 

Candidates invited to interview will be expected to complete an oral briefing exercise as part of the interview process.  The oral-briefing exercise is designed to simulate aspects of the job to be performed and provide a second basis for assessing the behaviours and competencies required in the job.

The oral briefing is usually part of the professional requirements as the government analytical professions require an oral briefing as part of the entry or promotion process.  The briefing will take one of the following forms:

1. A prepared on the day presentation to the interview panel which will be followed by questions from the panel.  You will be provided with all the information to use for your presentation on the day of your interview.  You will be given up to 45 minutes to read this information and prepare your presentation.

OR

      2. You will be provided with a question in advance of the interview and asked to prepare a presentation of a specific length addressing this question.  This presentation will be followed by questions from the panel.

Candidates invited to interview will be given full instructions on the presentation being used.

The presentation will be followed by a 45 minute competency based interview.

Candidates who are not members of a government analytical profession may also need to pass an entry test for their profession as part of the selection process.

Competencies

You will need to address the technical competences for your profession in the application and at interview.

Economic competences

Economics: Application of knowledge

Economics: Analysis of data

Economics: Effective communication

In full the campaign will test the below Success Profile Elements: 

Behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace

Technical: Yes

Strength: Yes

Grade 7 salary 

• The salary for this role is £48,197 (National). 

• For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. 

• In addition, subject to membership of the appropriate professional body, a non-consolidated analysts allowance of £4,500 pa will be paid.

BENEFITS: 

Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018: 

Any move to DLUHC from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at 

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk 

For further information about the benefits available to DLUHC employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack. 

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: 

• Darlington

• Wolverhampton 

SIFT AND INTERVIEW DATES: 

Sifting is envisaged to take place W/C 22nd August 2022 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. 

RESERVE LIST: 

Candidates who meet the requirements but are not offered a post at this time will be retained on a reserve list for a maximum of twelve months and may be offered alternative posts as they become available.

If you narrowly miss out on passing the interview for this post, you may be offered an alternative analytical role or a post at a lower grade.  This opportunity will allow you to develop your skills and experience to progress your career within DLUHC.

Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@communities.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list. 

CTC (Counter-terrorism Clearance): 

Important note 

 
Successful candidates for roles based in our 2 Marsham Street building must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check and the process can take up to 8 weeks to complete. 

 
Please note that successful candidates will need to pass the CTC security checks – this 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. 
 

Candidates should also note that with effect from 1st August 2018 the department will also check all applicants who are successful at interview, against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) held by the Cabinet Office. In accordance with the Civil Service Internal Fraud Policy, any applicant who is included on the IFD will be refused employment by DLUHC. Please see the Candidate Pack for further information on the Internal Fraud Database.

TERMS & CONDITIONS STATEMENT: 

• Please note that existing DLUHC staff currently within their probation period would still need to complete their probation should they be successful for the role

Analysts in DLUHC must be affiliated to a Government analytical profession.  This is usually one of the following:

• Government Economic Service (GES)

Stage 1 : Filter and eligibility questions, entry tests

Candidates who successfully pass the initial filter and eligibility questions will be asked to confirm which of the analytical professions they belong to or are applying to be part of.  This information will be used to progress successful applications to the appropriate professional checks element of the process.

Existing civil servants who are currently a member of one of these professions will retain their professional membership in this role.  Applicants on promotion will be assessed for promotion within their profession as part of the selection process.  Please make any current affiliation clear in your application.

External candidates or civil servants without a current profession affiliation may be considered for accreditation to one of the professions as part of the recruitment process.  If you are not currently a member of a government analytical profession you will be put through the membership process for your chosen profession as part of this application.  You must pass the membership process for your application to be successful.  If you do not pass the relevant profession entry test your application will not be taken further.

See the Guide for Analytical Candidates document for more details of the membership process for the relevant profession.

Before starting your application it’s very important to make sure that you are eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. All candidates are expected to read the information provided in the DLUHC candidate pack regarding nationality requirements and rules 

ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS

Government Economic Service (GES):

To possess or expected to have a first or upper second class honours degree with at least 50% of the modules in economics, or have a masters in economics.  Modules must have covered both micro and macroeconomics to qualify.

If you graduated more than five years ago then you must have examples of how you have maintained your economic knowledge on the competency section of the application form.

Candidate Pack Information 

Please see attached Candidate pack for further information. 

Internal Fraud Database 

The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned.The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to DLUHC as a participating government organisations. DLUHC then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented.  

For more information please see - Internal Fraud Register