Quality Specialist

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 UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution, and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime, and migration.

These posts sit in multi-disciplinary teams, or Hubs, working on the quality of the data we use, quality assurance of the work we do, and managing risks to quality within the ONS Quality Framework.

These teams are part of the Quality and Improvement Division in the Methodology and Quality Directorate. The Divisionstrives towards data and analysis in the ONS being aligned with the vision of the UK Statistics Authority, and of the National Data Strategy. Also, we ensure that quality standards and frameworks, such as the Government Data Quality Framework and the Code of Practice for Statistics, are known and followed. We are responsible for managing the tools ONS uses to manage risks to statistical quality, and for reporting on those risks. We apply innovative approaches to promote and embed good practice in quality across the ONS, including a focus on communicating the quality of statistics, analysis and data. We provide a forward-looking, efficient, professional, and accessible service.

Job description

To develop, establish and maintain our approaches to the quality of data, statistics and analysis across ONS and wider, while ensuring that knowledge and expertise are shared effectively.

You will be delivering expertise in the quality of data, statistics and analysis as part of delivering the ONS mission, strategic outcomes and objectives, in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics and Data Quality Management Policy.

The postholder for this role will work collaboratively with others in the division and in ONS to ensure that ONS has the right tools, capabilities, and guidance so that quality is managed in line with the organisation’s mission, strategic outcomes and objectives.

The role provides scope for a variety of work, including data analysis throughout the data lifecycle, managing projects, influencing and collaborating with colleagues at all levels and gaining a big picture view of the work in ONS.

In this role you will have opportunities for a variety of work such as:

• Collect, analyse and report on a variety of data to build a picture of ONS progress under our Quality Management Framework and risk exposure
• Develop, deliver and promote new products and services, for example guidance, dashboards, wiki pages, to support quality improvement.
• Build cross-ONS capability through the design, development and delivery of training and other information sharing mechanisms
• Undertake analysis and support errors management and assurance reviews of statistical outputs to support compliance with relevant standards.
• Contribute and support quality governance, including the ONS Design Authority, Quality Delivery Group and the Data Governance Committee
• Manage and develop quality knowledge-sharing networks.
• Provide organisational capability for monitoring and improving quality processes.
• Collect and analyse information to support senior leaders on quality management in ONS.

Key Responsibilities of the role include;

• Support setting direction in ONS on quality management of data, statistics and analysis, aligning to the strategic priorities of the UK Statistics Authority, the National Statistician, and the Quality Delivery Group.
• Manage the monitoring and delivery of ONS Quality Management Tools and Policies, such as the Quality Improvement Plans or Data Quality Management Policy, leading on the relationship with output areas.
• Engage with ONS collection and statistical output areas to ensure they receive the support they need and that best practice is consistently implemented.
• Support the reporting, assessing and understanding of quality management across ONS, including collecting and analysing relevant indicators for Quality
• Building quality capability and culture across ONS through the provision of products and services
• Expected to lead on a project such as developing new guidance or collecting data on quality initiatives. Includes independently managing and reporting on all stages of the project, managing others’ input into the work and seeking advice as appropriate.
• Independently representing your Hub on a cross-ONS project or piece of consultancy, referring back for advice, quality assurance and confirmation where a decision has wider potential consequences

Person specification

Essential

• Strong experience in data management, data analysis, or data engineering that can be applied to assessing and improving data quality.
• Strong communication and influencing skills. This includes the ability to present on technical subjects to a range of audiences, influence stakeholders, and clearly brief more senior management.
• Experience of working with different stakeholders from different parts of the organisation and with different roles, building positive collaborative working relationships.
• Actively seeks opportunities to improve services and ways of working, demonstrating innovation and adaptability, and delivering positive, measurable improvements to performance and outcomes.
• Experience of working with government data, and/or with official statistics in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

• Experience of working with government data, and/or with official statistics in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.
• Understanding the importance of managing and reporting on the quality of data and analysis.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,587, Office for National Statistics contributes £10,019 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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 an