Head of Data Policy Analysis Team

Job content

Location

Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham

Summary

About The Job

This is an incredibly exciting time to work in data policy. Data is the lifeblood of a modern, digital economy and society and one of the Government’s Ten Tech Priorities. Excellent data policy has the power to: underpin the protection of privacy; improve skills for the modern age, boost productivity and turbo-charge scientific progress. Managed, global flows of data help support the UK’s ambitions on growth and security while preserving individual’s rights.

The Government has now published a National Data Strategy to ensure we are being coherent and sufficiently ambitious on data as issue that is part of every aspect of digital policy-making. That Strategy seeks to promote responsible data use to stimulate growth and innovation and maintain the UK’s position as a world leader on digital policy-making.

Job Description

This Government sees data, and the use of data to drive growth, as one of its key priorities. The power of data in shaping real-world outcomes and the delivery of public services has only become more apparent through the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 9 September 2020 we published the National Data Strategy that sets out Government’s vision for data, and a series of actions and commitments to deliver that vision.

That Strategy, through its five priority Missions, now forms the implementation framework for our actions on this agenda. Evidence lies at the heart of our approach, whether through developing a methodology for more effectively valuing data, assessing and prioritising policy interventions, or monitoring and evaluating the success of our approach in delivering against the opportunities identified in the Strategy.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the analytical team which works across the Data Policy Directorate to provide insight and shape the data policy agenda. Drawing on a mixture of externally commissioned research and internal analysis, the team will play an integral part in supporting the delivery of the National Data Strategy. We are looking for someone who is passionate about this agenda and can bring their considerable analytical and leadership skills to addressing one of the most important challenges facing us today.

Some Of Your Responsibilities Will Include

Overall leadership of a team of ten analysts, incorporating line management of five members of staff - including setting a vision and priorities for the team, and acting as a member of the Senior Management Team;

Developing and implementing a long term evidence strategy for data policy, focussing in particular on assessing the progress of our objectives and ambitions under the National Data Strategy;

Liaising directly with the Directorate’s Senior Leadership Team to agree analytical priorities and research spend for the Directorate (including management of a c. £500k external research budget).

Engaging with senior stakeholders from across DCMS, government and external organisations to steer the department’s analytical work on data, to help us answer some of the most difficult policy questions of the day;

Supporting the team to deliver specific analytical projects, including development of a new methodology for valuing data and work to support our domestic and international policy agenda;

Working across the Directorate and beyond to communicate insights from analytical work, and ensure we are role-modelling an evidence-based approach to policy making.

Contributing to the DCMS Analytical Community (DAC) to raise the performance of the department’s analytical function.

Responsibilities

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Requirements

• Application of Knowledge (GES) - able to identify, scrutinise and deliver appropriate research methods and economic
  

techniques to address analytical and policy issues.

• Effective Communication (GES) - able to communicate analytical results effectively in non-technical language, including to
  

Ministers, and to advocate for the use of evidence at a strategic level.

• Leadership - able to build a team with clear purpose, objectives and roles. Proven ability to empower and develop others,
  

manage upwards and lead by example.

• Seeing the big picture - able to understand the wider context of the work, and align and evolve work plans according to wider
  

objectives of the organisation.

• Working Together - able to work across the Directorate and use Whitehall and external networks to gather information, make
  

connections and influence others.

• Delivering at pace - able to deliver in a dynamic environment, providing a quality service to ministers and stakeholders when
  

under pressure.

Desirable

Skills

• Membership of the Government Economic Service
• Experience or understanding of digital or data policy
• A sound grasp, and practical experience, of Programme and Project Management
  

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
  

Technical Skills

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

• Application of Knowledge (GES) - able to identify, scrutinise and deliver appropriate research methods and economic techniques to address analytical and policy issues.
• Effective Communication (GES) - able to communicate analytical results effectively in non-technical language, including to Ministers, and to advocate for the use of evidence at a strategic level.
  

Benefits

You’ll receive over 30% of your total compensation package in benefits:

Flexible working arrangements and Flexi-time

26.5 days annual leave on entry increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service.

Exceptional contributory pension scheme

5 days of paid leave for L&D

5 days of paid volunteering

Parental leave up to 9 months on FULL pay

Occupational sick pay

Brilliant and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, BAME, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Women’s Network.

Access to one of the world’s largest learning and development platforms

Masterclasses and talks through the DCMS Academy

Season ticket loan, Cycle to work scheme and much more!

SCS T&C’s will vary, please refer to the attached candidate information pack to find out more.

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security 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 basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

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

We encourage all candidates to apply for this role. To apply for this post, you will need to submit the following documentation to us. This should be completed no later than 23.55 on 23 June 2021 via the CS Jobs portal.

A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

A Statement of Suitability (max 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. Part of the application process will require you to complete diversity questionnaire, you will have the option to select ‘prefer not to say’ but this information is very important to the Civil Service.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with: dcms.recruitment@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you do not receive acknowledgement of your application within 48 hours, please contact the above email address.

Further details on how to apply can be found in the attached candidate pack.

Interviews are held remotely and successful candidates get to experience our bespoke remote on-boarding process. Although initially remotely, the role will be based at the location stated in this advert.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the candidate information pack.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home andhost department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

The expectation within DCMS is that staff will normally remain in post for a minimum of 12 months for band C, 18 months for band B and 24 months for band A/AU and will not apply for DCMS roles on level transfer during that time.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Any move to DCMS will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via DCMSRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

A reserve list will be held for 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the “Contact point for applicants”; section.

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

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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.