45,974 - 54,430
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
ESTYN - Corporate Services
Type of role
Statistics
Working pattern
Full-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
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Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
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Cardiff
About the job
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Job summary
We're looking for an analytical leader who enjoys turning complex data into meaningful insight that supports better decisions across Estyn. You'll bring strong technical capability, a careful and methodical approach to data quality, and a collaborative mindset that helps others understand and use evidence with confidence. This role is ideal for someone who values clarity, rigour, and innovation, particularly in how data is managed, analysed, and communicated. If you're motivated by public service and keen to shape high-quality statistical work that has real impact, we'd be pleased to hear from you.
Job description
You will lead Estyn's statistical function, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, timely, and insightful data analysis that supports strategic objectives and inspection programmes. You will oversee the collection, analysis, and presentation of data through tools such as SQL and Power BI, ensuring outputs are robust, accessible, and aligned with the needs of internal and external stakeholders. You will provide trusted statistical evidence that informs our decision-making, enhances the impact of research and inspection work, and drives continuous improvement in analytical practice across the organisation.
Key tasks include:
Lead on data extraction, transformation, and quality assurance processes using SQL and other analytical coding techniques.
Work proactively with the Welsh Government, Medr and other data suppliers and users to identify and access relevant datasets, ensuring ethical use and compliance with governance standards.
Collaborate with the Senior Research Officer to ensure statistical evidence complements qualitative findings and supports mixed-methods studies.
Promote and embed robust data management practices across the team.
Lead complex statistical analysis to meet stakeholder needs, applying appropriate methods and coding practices in SQL where necessary.
Develop reproducible and transparent analytical processes with strong quality assurance and version control.
Evaluate opportunities to use AI and machine learning techniques to improve efficiency and insight within statistical production.
Design and deliver interactive dashboards and data visualisations using Power BI, and other tools where appropriate, to communicate insights effectively.
Present analysis in clear and engaging ways, tailoring outputs to diverse audiences and maximising impact.
Provide expert advice on statistical interpretation to stakeholders, ensuring outputs inform decision-making.
Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Welsh Government, inspection staff, and other partners, ensuring analytical work is user-driven and aligned to policy priorities.
Translate complex analytical requirements into tangible projects that meet stakeholder needs in a timely manner.
Proactively seek feedback to ensure outputs remain relevant and accessible.
Line manage and mentor junior statisticians, fostering a culture of professional development and high analytical standards.
Champion innovation in statistical methods, visualisation, and dissemination, including exploring the role of AI in supporting Estyn's work.
Contribute to the wider Government Statistical Service (GSS) and Analysis Function community, sharing best practice and learning.
Manage and monitor allocated budgets, ensuring effective financial control, transparency, and value for money in the use of public funds. Contribute to financial planning and provide assurance that resources are deployed efficiently to achieve organisational priorities.
Person specification
It is essential that you have:
Strong experience in SQL for data manipulation, extraction, and transformation
Knowledge of data ethics, GDPR, and secure handling of sensitive data
Proven track record of delivering interactive dashboards and visualisations in Power BI
Experience of applying a wide range of statistical techniques and coding practices to deliver reproducible, high-quality analysis
Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to translate analytical requirements into clear, actionable outputs
Proven ability to communicate complex statistical concepts clearly and accessibly to non-technical audiences
Awareness of AI and machine learning techniques, and an understanding of their potential application to improve analytical processes
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills
An undergraduate degree in a numerate discipline (e.g. statistics, mathematics, economics, social science with statistics, or data science).
It is desirable that you have:
Experience of working with large administrative datasets and/or education-related data within the public sector.
Familiarity with statistical programming languages.
Ability to work through the medium of Welsh.
The Competency framework for the Government Statistician Group (GSG) defines the standards of professional expertise (technical skills and using and promoting social research) required for Statistical Officers. Further information and example of these behaviours are detailed in the Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours at Grade SEO.
Qualifications
An undergraduate degree in a numerate discipline (e.g. statistics, mathematics, economics, social science with statistics, or data science).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Communicating and Influencing
Changing and Improving
Delivering at Pace
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
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Alongside your salary of 45,974, ESTYN contributes 13,318 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Competitive salary and incremental points meaning that you will normally reach the maximum of the pay scale within two/three years of joining us.
Generous holiday entitlement - 41 days away from work each year (made up of 31 days of annual leave, plus 10 public/privilege holidays (pro-rated for those who work part-time).
Flexible working - We operate a flexi-time system, giving you the freedom to shape your working day in a way that suits you and meets business needs.
Support for your wellbeing - We provide an hour of wellbeing time per week (pro-rated) for staff. We also provide an employee assistance programme, free annual health checks, seasonal flu jabs, a free eye care scheme and access to Health Insurance Plans through Civil Service Healthcare.
Support for your family life - generous family friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption leave.
Tax-free savings - Access to a cycle to work scheme.
Special offers and discounts - Access to a range of discounts and exclusive offers through the Civil Service Social Club - Sports and Leisure, the Civil Service Motoring Association, the Civil Service Insurance Society and the Charity for Civil Servants.
Things you need to know
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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, Ability and Experience.
The selection process includes:
A sift of applications:
The panel will consider all complete applications. The information you give us in your application is important in deciding whether we will invite you to the next selection stage. Candidates will be assessed at sift on all essential criteria as per the person specification. Desirable criteria will be assessed at sift where there is a strong field of candidates as a second stage after essential criteria have been considered.
Assessment and Interview:
Candidates invited to assessment/presentation and interview will again be assessed on their skills, experience and behaviours in relation to the person specification. In addition, you will also be asked competency style questions on the GSG Technicalcompetencies. During which you will be expected to demonstrate understanding of two statistical techniques. You may find this guide to GSS statistical techniques and tools helpful in choosing which statistical techniques to talk about.
Before the interview you will be given 40 minutes to sit a short test, which will form a presentation to be delivered to the panel at the beginning of the interview. The presentation should last no more than 5 minutes. If you are already a member of the Government Statistician Group, you are exempt from sitting this test. This will take place on 15 January in Cardiff.
After the interview, you will be asked to complete a 45-minute multiple choice test designed to test your numeracy and statistical knowledge.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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
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Contact point for applicants
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Job contact :
Name : Rhidian Dafydd
Email : rhidian.dafydd@estyn.gov.wales
Telephone : 02920 446336
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