Social Housing Lettings - Data Collection and Analysis Role

In this role, you'll have the opportunity to develop your analytical, technical and stakeholder engagement skills while working on data and statistics that support some of the Government's most important housing priorities.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

We're looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• The ability to communicate analytical findings and insights clearly and accurately, both verbally and in writing, tailoring messages for non-technical audiences.
• Effective obtainment and use of data, including assuring its quality and understanding how it can be improved to meet the needs of a variety of users.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with colleagues, data providers and a range of data users.
• The ability to work independently, use sound judgement to solve problems, and manage competing priorities to deliver high-quality work.
• Strong organisational skills, with the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and work across a varied portfolio of activities.
• An aptitude for learning and applying analytical and coding tools to support data analysis and statistical production.

Experience of analytical tools such as SQL, Python, R or Power BI would be beneficial. However, we're equally interested in candidates who can demonstrate the ability and enthusiasm to develop these skills and apply them in a data and analytical environment.

Analysts in MHCLG must be affiliated to a government analytical profession. This is usually one of the following:

• Government Economic Service (GES)
• Government Operational Research Service (GORS)
• Government Social Research Service (GSR)
• Government Statistical Service (GSS)

Stage 1: Filter and Eligibility Questions, Entry Tests

Candidates who successfully pass the initial filter and eligibility questions will be asked to confirm which of the analytical professions they belong to or are applying to be part of. This information will be used to progress successful applications to the appropriate professional checks element of the process.

Existing civil servants who are currently a member of one of these professions will retain their professional membership in this role. Applicants on promotion will be assessed for promotion within their profession as part of the selection process. Please make any current affiliation clear in your application.

External candidates or civil servants without a current profession affiliation may be considered for accreditation to one of the professions as part of the recruitment process. If you are not currently a member of a government analytical profession you will be put through the membership process for your chosen profession as part of this application. You must pass the membership process for your application to be successful. If you do not pass the relevant profession entry test your application will not be taken further. See the Guide for Analytical Candidates document for more details of the membership process for the relevant profession.

You will need to address the technical competences for your profession in the application and at interview.

Please refer to the Guide for Analytical Candidates which provides:

1. the technical competences for each analytical profession – GES, GORS, GSR and GSS
2. details of the entry requirements to each analytical profession
3. details of the entry process for each analytical profession

Entry Qualifications

The entry qualifications are listed below. Please list FULL details of your degree in your application form.

Government Economic Service (GES)

• Hold, or be expected to achieve, a first or upper second class honours degree with at least 50% of modules in economics, or hold a Master’s degree in economics. Modules must include both microeconomics and macroeconomics;
• If you graduated more than five years ago, you must provide evidence within your application of how you have maintained your economic knowledge.

Government Operational Research Service (GORS)

• Hold a 2:1 degree in a numerate subject (as a guide, at least 50% of modules should have a mathematical content);
• Applicants with a 2:2 degree may be considered where they can demonstrate wider skills and experience relevant to Government Operational Research. For example, a Master’s qualification in Operational Research would be considered sufficient evidence of this.

Government Social Research (GSR)

You must meet one of the following routes:

Degree route

• Hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1 or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree, in a social science subject.

A Qualifying Social Science Subject Must Include Substantial Social Research Methods Training (comprising Around One Third Of Modules Taken In The Course). This Must Include

• Quantitative methods (mandatory), including research design, data collection (e.g. questionnaire design, sampling, weighting) and data analysis (e.g. statistical analysis); and

• At Least Three Of The Following

  • Systematic or literature reviews
  • Qualitative methods, including research design, data collection (e.g. interviewing, focus groups, ethnography) and analysis (e.g. thematic analysis).
  • Interpretation of data (qualitative and quantitative), presentation of results, and development of recommendations or conclusions.
  • Study design, hypothesis formation, testing and evaluation.
  • Application of ethics to research.

Relevant degree subjects in the social sciences can be varied. You will need to demonstrate the substantial social research methods training you have undertaken, not just the subject of your degree.

Professional Experience route

• Hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree, in any subject (or a degree equivalent, such as an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), and have at least four years’ social research practice experience.

For Main Stream applicants, the degree requirement is an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2, with no requirement for a postgraduate degree.

Social research practice experience typically includes work in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team.

Skills

To enter GSR through this route, you must clearly demonstrate the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills. This must include quantitative research methods and at least three of the following:

• Systematic or literature reviews.
• Qualitative methods.
• Interpretation of data and presentation of results.
• Study design and hypothesis testing.
• Application of ethics to research.

Government Statistical Service (GSS)

You must meet one of the following criteria:

• Hold a first or second class honours degree in a numerate subject (2:1 minimum for Assistant Statistician and 2:2 minimum for Statistical Officer), containing at least 25% taught statistical content (e.g. statistics, mathematics, economics, sciences, business studies, psychology, geography or similar);