Economist (Senior Executive Officer – 1 role available), Data & Analysis, Ministry of Justice (Ref: 82462)

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

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

Economist, Senior Executive Officer, Data & Analysis, Ministry of Justice

Overview

We have one role in the Access to Justice Evaluation team, within the Data & Analysis Directorate.

Roles are open to: 

1. Existing analysts from all professions (GORS/GSS/GSR/GES) either on level transfer or on promotion.
2. Other candidates that are not members of GSS, GORS, GSR, GES professions 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.

Specialist allowance

Due to the role(s) being analytical, those successful in recruitment will be eligible for a specialist allowance following an analytical interview based on the following values: 

• SEO London: £500  
• SEO National: £1500 

Minimum requirements to apply:

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

SEO grade:

• You have significant work experience (usually a minimum of three years) evidencing use of data and/or analytical skills. Time spent on an analytical PhD can count towards this.

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. These are based at the following JCCs: Cardiff, Leeds, Nottingham, South Tyneside, Brighton, Ipswich and Liverpool, and the following JSOs: Ashford, Beverley, Haverfordwest, Hull, Merthyr Tydfil, Manchester, Newport, Birmingham, Sheffield, North Shields, Bristol, Wolverhampton, Weston-Super-Mare, Stafford, Truro, Winchester and Leeds.

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

Interviews are likely to take place in February 2024 and will be held via MS Teams. We will keep a merit list for a year for those who successfully pass the interview board but who are not offered a post.

About Data & Analysis

We are passionate about improving justice outcomes through innovative research, data and analysis. In Data and Analysis, 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 650 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 Data and 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 Data and Analysis?
In Data and Analysis, 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

This role is in the Access to Justice Evaluation team and is a policy facing analytical role. Dispute Resolution (DR) is a flagship policy programme with ambitions to streamline and improve DR across multiple jurisdictions. It will review how disputes are routed into and through the justice system, including ways that alternatives to court (such as mediation) could be mainstreamed. It includes a range of new research and economic analysis to build the evidence base which covers core questions about what people want from a justice system and the costs and benefits of increasing take up of alternatives to resolving disputes through court.

The post holder will be working in an existing analytical team and will be well supported with a full programme of job-based and professional development. There will also be opportunities to work independently, take ownership of the work and develop the role over time. 

Key responsibilities 

• Conducting Economic research and understanding existing Economic theory to establish which methods and techniques are the best ones to use in economic analysis.
• Conducting cost benefit analysis to support policy making in Dispute Resolution.
• Leading on preparing Impact Assessments in support of new policy in Dispute Resolution.
• Working closely with analysts from across Data and Analysis and Policy Directorate. Explaining complex economic principals and analysis to non-Economists.
• Working with other analysts and policy colleagues to identify and fill evidence gaps using Economic appraisal and data analysis.
• Working very closely with analysts in HMCTS to identify data requirements for analysis in Dispute Resolution and to gain access to the necessary data to provide the evidence base for policy making in Dispute Resolution.
• Analysing data in support of quantitative research and impact, process and value for money evaluations.
• Working very closely with OGD’s that are involved in the Cross Whitehall Dispute Resolution Working Group, such as Dept. For Education, Department of Health, DLUCH etc.
• Supporting discussions with senior stakeholders up to a DG level to understand the impacts of Economic analysis.

Who you are

The following experience and skills will be required:

• Knowledge and application of core economics and analytical skills.
• Experience of applying economic and analytical skills in a policy or project delivery context (for example, business case development, cost-benefit analysis in line with the HMT Green Book, evaluation in line with the HMT Magenta Book).
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, experience of producing analysis using large datasets and dealing with complex spreadsheets. 
• The ability to communicate complex technical analysis clearly and concisely to non-technical audiences, both verbally and non-verbally.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a range of individuals from different backgrounds to build relationships.

The following experience and skills are desirable:

• Effective stakeholder engagement and the ability to manage contracts for external research and analysis.
• A proven ability to independently lead analytical projects in a fast-paced environment, applying project management techniques.

How to apply

You’ll need to submit an anonymised CV and Statement of Suitability as part of your application. You will not be considered if you do not provide both.

Your CV 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.

Your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 750 words and should give us examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. Consider giving examples that cover all the requirements in the ‘Who you are’ section and use work you have completed to demonstrate how you meet each one. 

Selection Process

There will be an initial sift of applicants through comparing submitted evidence against the ‘Who you are’ bullets. 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 candidates that pass the interview will be offered the roles. The whole process can take up to a month.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing  
• Managing a Quality Service 
• Changing and Improving 
• Seeing the Bigger Picture

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 all professions, as well as the three civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on two sets of professional competencies at interview.

For external (non-Civil Service) candidates (and unbadged candidates within the Civil Service), 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. 

Professional Competencies 

Professional Competency (1) Knowledge & Skills

• GES – Analysis of Data. 

Professional Competency (2) Influence & Impact

• GES – Effective communication. 

For more information regarding Professional Competency (2) please refer to the analytical profession internet links 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

Government Social Research Service (GSR): Further information can be found within the link below: 

GSR Competency Framework 2022

Government Operational Research Service (GORS): Further information can be found within the link below:  

GORS Competencies  

Government Economic Service (GES): Further information can be found within the link below: 

GES Professional Standards 2022 

Applicants invited for Interview 

You will be required to give a 5-minute presentation 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:

Elaine.Wedlock@justice.gov.uk

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
• Telephone : 0845 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com