Smart Data Analyst

Job summary

The Analysis team consists of c.20 analysts, leading the Directorate’s research, appraisal and evaluation work, ensuring policy decisions are informed by robust analysis across the directorate. We work with policy teams to provide interesting, varied and insightful analysis to support competition policy, Smart Data, product safety policy, consumer policy and subsidy control. Analysis supports all stages of policy development from early problem identification to options assessment and policy evaluation.

Our past work has included:

- Economic research to assess the potential impact of future Smart Data schemes on economic welfare and growth: Potential economic impact of future Smart Data use cases - GOV.UK

- Research into the best design principles to ensure Smart Data schemes are inclusive as possible for all consumers: Design principles for inclusive smart data schemes research - GOV.UK

- Impact Assessment of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill: Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill - Impact Assessment Summary

- Assessing the case for government intervention into potential profiteering on essential goods during the Iran Conflict.

We work flexibly within the team to support each individual’s workload, non-work commitments and their learning and development goals. This means that there will be scope, if desired, for you to work on projects across the competition and consumer policy areas.

Job description

This is a brilliant opportunity to contribute to the development and implementation of Smart Data, an innovative cross-government policy with wide reaching opportunities for businesses and consumers.

Smart Data is the secure sharing of consumer data, with their consent, to third parties to provide innovative services. Open Banking is currently considered the only live example of an arrangement comparable to a Smart Data; it enables consumers to use third party services to securely move and manage their money. Open Banking services have over 19 million users in the UK and the ecosystem is worth more than £4 billion.

In March 2026, Government published the UK’s Smart Data Strategy, setting out the 10-year vision for Smart Data. The strategy committed to delivering 5+ Smart Data schemes by 2030; 20+ by 2035.​ BIST leads the delivery of the Strategy, in collaboration with departments such as HMT, DESNZ, MHCLG, DSIT, and DfT. You will work with the policy team to deliver the Strategy commitments, providing interesting, varied and insightful analysis to support the development of Smart Data policy. This analysis could support all stages of policy development from early problem identification to options assessment and policy evaluation. You will design, manage and deliver external and internal research projects that will advance the evidence base on Smart Data.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at application stage;

• The successful candidate will need to be (or become) a badged member of either the Government Economic Service or Government Social Research profession
• Analytical skills – Experience of using analysis to support sound policy development.
• Collaboration – Experience of collaborating with colleagues across professions and with different backgrounds to deliver shared outcomes.
• Communication – Experience of communicating analysis to a non-technical audience.
• Making Effective Decisions – Experience of making and communicating decisions effectively where information is limited or conflicting..

Government Economic Service

Economists must have:

• have a first or upper second-class honours degree in economics (or international equivalent), or a postgraduate degree in economics. If it is a joint degree, at least 50% of the course modules must be in economics.
• have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics.

Demonstration of skills, knowledge and experience to succeed as a Government Economist at the grade applied for or be an existing member of the Government Economic Service. Technical skills will be assessed against the grade requirement of the Government Economic Service (GES). Details can be found in the GES Framework. These will be assessed during the selection process, including at both sift of your written application and interview. Applicants who are civil servants but not members of the GES and anyone applying from outside government must be able to demonstrate you meet the requirements of the GES, as successful appointment will include membership of the GES.

For applicants applying after more than a couple of years after university, who are not an existing member of the GES relevant experience consists of experience working on economic analysis or research including for example in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team. To enter the GES through this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your economic experience and skills covering the three components of the GES technical framework.

All technical questions will be based on the grade specific skills and knowledge required for the GES profession set out in the GES Technical Framework – a copy which can be obtained from the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ges-technical-framework-2022

Government Social Research

To be eligible to apply you will need to hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2. The degree must contain substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken on the course) including quantitative research methods and at least three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research. OR hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2, in any subject, or a degree equivalent (e.g. an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), plus have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience. Social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team. To enter the GSR through this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills, which must include quantitative research methods and three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.

Demonstration of skills, knowledge and experience to succeed as a Government Social Researcher at the grade applied for or be an existing member of the Government Social Research (GSR). Technical skills will be assessed against the grade requirement of the GSR. Details can be found in the GSR Framework. These will be assessed during the selection process, including at both sift of your written application and interview. Applicants who are civil servants but not members of the GSR and anyone applying from outside government must be able to demonstrate you meet the requirements of the GSR, as successful appointment will include membership of the GSR.

Government Social Research (GSR) Techn