Census Senior Geospatial Analyst

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.

We are transforming how we use data to better understand and measure the UK’s economy and society, to drive better decision making, and to improve the lives of citizens. A core part of this work is the development of our Geospatial Strategy and capability - driving the effective use of geospatial methods across the organisation to add maximum value to ONS statistics.

In July 2025, HM Government commissioned ONS to conduct a mandatory, questionnaire-based, whole-population census of England and Wales in 2031. We have started to prepare for Census 2031, with a Census Taskforce scoping plans and building on the experience of Census 2021. We are preparing for an inclusive, digital-first census, working with devolved governments to support coherent UK outputs and maximising the benefits from our work with administrative data to date. ONS’ Data Products, Services and Governance (DPSG) Directorate provides many of the data products and services that are a vital part of the infrastructure of Census and wider ONS. Team specialisms include data architecture, various engineering functions, acquisition and governance, and data linkage. DPSG also includes a small but dynamic team of geospatial specialists, providing essential geospatial data products, infrastructure, expertise and guidance to ONS business areas and across wider government.

We’re looking for enthusiastic and talented Senior Geospatial Analysts to lead small teams working within Census Location Services, driving forward our ambitions, bringing creativity and new ways of thinking. If you have strong technical and interpersonal skills and you are interested in these to help lead the way we use data within Census and across government, then we are interested in your application.

Job description

As the successful candidate, you will be the lead analyst managing a team of geospatial analysts. You will be managing the team's day-to-day activities, reporting on progress and milestones. You will lead on the development of your team members, through supporting their technical work and skills and identifying the team’s training needs.

You will lead on meeting Census requirements for your area and manage a range of geospatial research/analysis projects to improve and develop methods and analytic pipelines utilised. You will nurture innovative thinking and inspire your colleagues to push in geospatial analysis and bringing forward new and exciting ways of processing and deriving insights from geospatial data.

You will be working collaboratively and build positive relationships with all relevant stakeholders associated with the projects you own.

We believe in continuous development, and you will be expected to develop your skills relevant to the post, through keeping abreast of new geospatial technologies, datasets, and analytical methodologies.

Key Responsibilities

The following responsibilities cover the types of activities which can or will be carried out by the successful candidate:

• Manage the day-to day tasks that can support the development of policy, methodology and products that assist the use of geospatial data in the Census collection and dissemination processes
• Coach / Quality Assess and peer review teams methodologies and outputs to ensure a quality service
• Work with other business areas in ONS (including Census Statistical Design, Field Collections, Digital Services and Methodology teams) to help them meet objectives through providing them geographic advice, products, systems or services as required
• Work with academic and commercial experts on new research / analytical methods to improve existing or create new pipelines and/or outputs
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to build relationships and understand requirements
• Support in the production of geography training/teaching materials for internal and external stakeholders
• Support and engage the geography community across ONS and Government (e.g. GGP)

Person specification

Essential Skill Criteria:

Candidates should demonstrate experience for the following skills at the Practitioner Level (applies and shares knowledge and experience of the skill, including tools and techniques, adopting those most appropriate for the environment)

(GGP) Geospatial analysis & problem solving

The use of appropriate techniques to analyse spatial and non-spatial data in order to solve data problems, including based on spatial relationships. Able to manipulate, integrate and aggregate data based on its spatial reference.

(GGP) Geographic compliance

Understand and comply with relevant national and international geospatial frameworks and best practice (e.g. statutory requirements, standards, etc.) impacting and related to the specific discipline. Legal and ethical issues related to geospatial data including rights, liability, privacy and access.

(GGP) Spatial (and non-spatial) statistics

The ability to apply statistical concepts and methods to data that have a spatial location attached to them, whilst being cognisant of other applied mathematics and statistical methods, including exploratory data analysis, visualisation, and statistical testing to help make accurate recommendations

(GGP) Quality Assurance and Control

The ability to review and assessment of own and others’ quality of work through the maintenance of a desired level of quality in outputs and ensuring precision and accuracy of datasets and methods used.

(DDAT) Data Preparation and Linkage

The ability to conduct data preparation and linkage which involved cleansing, modelling, transforming and assuring the quality of data so that it is usable and reproducible as well as aiding the creation of a more informative product.

Qualifications

At least either a masters degree, or equivalent, with relevance to the job description OR at least 2 years’ experience in a role/study relevant to the job description.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• (GGP) Geospatial Software and Systems (Practitioner Level) - Demonstrable use of desktop and online tools for managing, analysing and displaying geospatial data, interactively or in workflows.
• (GGP) Geospatial Coding (Practitioner Level) - Demonstrable Use of coding libraries in the analysis of geospatial data or the automation of geospatial processes and application of relevant optimisation techniques.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,644, Office for National Statistics contributes £12,643 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