Principal Statistical Methodologist

Job Description

Details

Reference number

473264

Salary

£56,861

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

ONS – Statistical Methods and Research

Type of role

Analytical Statistics

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Homeworking, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

The locations for this role are Newport, Titchfield (Fareham), Manchester, London & Darlington. This role is aligned to ONS hybrid working principles, which are based on attending the office with purpose. The postholder will be expected to contribute to the organisation’s overall 40% office attendance, in line with business and role requirements. The induction process for the role will be conducted in person. Due to workforce controls you can only select Manchester, London & Darlington if you are an existing ONS employee contracted to that location. If you are not contracted at one of these sites, these options are not available to you. Applicants who select a location they are not eligible for will be removed from the recruitment process and will not be considered for alternative locations. Please refer to attachments for further terms and flexibilities.

About the job

Job summary

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the value of the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution, and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime, and migration.

Quality and Improvement Division provides support for ONS and across government on statistical methods and quality improvement. The Statistical Head of Profession office for the Government Statistical Group (GSG) also sits within this division. The division is focused on continuous improvement with a focus on understanding, improving and communicating quality through standards, guidance, methods development, assurance and advice.

Job description

Principal Statistical Methodologists in MQD are responsible for a variety of technical and branch-head roles across a range of specialist subject areas. As examples, areas of expertise which a Grade 7 might lead include, among others: Time Series, Statistical Disclosure Control, Sample Design or Data Linkage. This role will be based in the Integrated Data & Methods Hub and will have initial responsibility for data linkage and assurance, particularly in relation to Census.

Each Grade 7 is responsible for organising and delivering a programme of different projects for a variety of stakeholders, working with them to determine their needs, and supporting them pro-actively and often at short-notice with ad hoc requests; sound project management and organisational skills are required in these roles.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead a team aligned with the specialisms of Methodology & Quality.
• Lead the delivery of a range of methodological and analytical research projects.
• Apply your skills and knowledge to assure and improve the quality of methods used in the production of official statistics.
• Work closely with customers to establish their needs, agree delivery timelines, communicate your team’s findings, and manage your customers’ relationship with Methodology & Quality.
• Ensure the projects you lead contribute to the wider strategic objectives of the directorate and ONS as a whole.
• Support, develop, and coach Methodologists and Assistant Methodologists in technical and other competency areas.
• Safeguard the wellbeing of your team and those you manage.
• Support the wider technical development of the directorate through contributing to the leadership of a technical working group.
• Support the wider improvement of directorate working practices through contributing to the leadership of non-technical working groups.
• Principal Methodologists work with a wide variety of stakeholders at all levels within, and sometimes outside, the office too: collaboration with other government departments, national statistical institutes and academia at times is likely.
• Outside of the remit of their team or usual work, Principal Methodologists will be involved in the management and running of the Division, with opportunities to take the lead or contribute to a range of cross-cutting or strategic initiatives and may become involved in similar operations further afield too.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Experience in managing and delivering methodological/analytical research and development projects to a high quality.
• Excellent communication skills, including report writing, making presentations to a variety of audiences, delivering training, and explaining methodological work to non-specialist audiences at all levels.
• Experience in building relationships and supporting a diverse range of stakeholders, with strong interpersonal and collaborative skills.
• Excellent leadership skills in order to manage a small team of analysts, which includes, development, coaching and quality assurance in both technical and non-technical areas.

Qualifications

Qualifications – A 2:1 degree in a mathematical or statistical discipline, or other subject with substantial statistical content. Clearly demonstrated equivalent experience, knowledge or qualifications may also be considered.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Developing Self and Others
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Acquiring Data
• Analysis
• Dissemination

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,861, Office for National Statistics contributes £16,472 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .

The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our valued colleagues across the organisation.

Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that our careers site will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues, and our fantastic working culture.

Inclusion & Accessibility

At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a Disability Confident Leader we’re committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.

As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.

If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.

ONS are committed to flexible ways of working that support a healthy work-life balance. ONS has already considered how this job could be right sized for applicants working flexibly and we are happy to explore options with you about working part time, in a job share or flexibly, in line with our hybrid working policies.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Security Clearance

For ONS the requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying and the department will consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.

At the point of SC application, you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:

• Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
• UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
• Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
• Security Services records

Visa Sponsorship

ONS may be able to provide visa sponsorship where the role meets ONS sponsorship criteria and all relevant Home Office requirements. Applicants must hold, or be eligible to obtain, the right to work in the UK before employment commences.

At the point of SC application, you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:

• Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
• UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
• Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
• Security Services records

For full guidance in relation to the use of AI through the recruitment process, please read A candidate’s guide to artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment

Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.

Application Process

Number of Stages: 2 stage process

Stage 1: Application Stage 2: Interview

Stage 1 – Application The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your work history, skills, experience, CV, and personal statement. It is important that your application is tailored to highlight the skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role.

A personal statement is required at application stage, the maximum wordcount allowed is 1000, which should not be exceeded. You should provide evidence for each essential skill criterion listed in the person specification. As these criteria are scored, it is advisable to give clear examples for each one, including the impact of your actions, ideally utilising the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Please note that Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage of the application process.

When a high volume of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted. Candidates will be invited to interview based on their merit order, with those achieving the highest scores being prioritised. Applicants who score below the adjusted pass mark but still pass will be placed on hold and may be invited to interview at a later date.

Stage 2 – Interview If invited to interview, you will be assessed using techniques aligned with the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, covering all behaviours listed in the job advert and any required technical skills.

A presentation will be required at interview.

Interviews will be via Microsoft Teams.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.

The Sift will be conducted from 14th August 2026

Interviews will be conducted from 1st September 2026

For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see attachment.

Near Misses

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same behaviours and essential skills.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check . See our vetting charter .

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)
• 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

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 .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and 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 Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Rachel Skentelbery
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission