Census 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 an enthusiastic and talented Geospatial Analyst, to help us drive forward our ambitions, bring creativity and new ways of thinking. We want to build teams with a range of skills, where the team-members’ strengths complement each other. If you have strong technical skills and interpersonal skills, and you are interested in using your geospatial analytical skills to help transform the way we use data across government, then we are interested in your application.

Job description

A Geospatial Analyst applies expertise in geography and spatial/location data to deliver high‑quality analysis and geographical products across the office. They lead and support research and analytical projects where location data is central, while actively exploring innovative technologies to improve efficiency and enhance outputs in line with evolving organisational needs.

As the successful candidate, you will work on a broad range of geospatial projects—from creating new geographies to processing spatial/location datasets to generate insights and indicators. You will help advance geospatial analytical methods, introducing new approaches to data processing and interpretation.

You will collaborate closely with colleagues and receive guidance from senior team members, contributing to a supportive and knowledge‑sharing environment. Continuous professional development is encouraged, and you will be expected to stay up‑to‑date with emerging geospatial technologies, datasets, and analytical techniques.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will undertake activities such as:

• Work on specific project alone or with support from team members.
• Use appropriate tools and techniques and/or approaches to meet stakeholder requirements
• Apply a mixture of GIS, coding, analytical and statistical methodologies to produce the necessary outputs
• Collect, collate and prepare datasets for analytical inputs.
• Review and assess new data sources
• Explore and evaluate new datasets, technologies and techniques to maintain and update training packages.
• Quality assess and peer review colleagues outputs to ensure a quality service
• Work with academic and commercial experts on new methods and analysis tasks to improve existing or create new outputs
• Support in the production of training/teaching material for internal and external stakeholders
• Engage in activities to support 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 Working Level – Applies knowledge and experience of the skill, including tools and techniques, adopting those most appropriate for the environment.

(GGP) Geographic knowledge

The understanding of geographic processes and how they shape the physical and human world at different scales, and its application i.e. the analysis, storage, visualisation, and management of geographic data

(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) 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 an undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, with relevance to the job description OR at least 1 years’ experience in a role/study relevant to the job description.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• (GGP) Geospatial Software and Systems - The use of desktop and online tools for managing, analysing and displaying geospatial data, interactively or in workflows
• (GGP) Geospatial Coding - 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 £35,144, Office for National Statistics contributes £10,181 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 c