Principal Data Analyst

We are looking for a senior data leader to head our Indexing Team, delivering the trusted service at the heart of Scotland’s data linkage infrastructure.

This post involves leading our Indexing Team, which is based in Statistical Services in the National Records of Scotland (NRS). The team provides a trusted third-party indexing service that enables data to be de-identified for data linkage in Scotland.

As well as leading the team and ensuring that the team complies with the Information Governance and security controls, you will represent NRS in working with partner organisations on delivery and developments in data linkage for research in Scotland.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a trusted indexing service that enables de-identified data linkage in Scotland.
• Collaborate with partner organisations to develop and improve data linkage services for research in Scotland.
• Have good knowledge of the methods and tools necessary for data linkage and direct your more junior colleagues as required.
• Produce data management and governance policies, standards, and practices. Develop and oversee appropriate data management and governance policies, standards and practice.
• Be actively involved in the wider data community and influence / work with your peers to co-develop best practice.
• Allocate and develop resources as necessary.
• Can foresee areas that can generate data issues and proactively develop problem-solving capabilities.
• Apply advanced statistical, IT, and analytical expertise to innovate methodologies, mitigate data risks, and support best practice.

Responsibilities

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills:

• Applying statistical and analytical tools and techniques – Expert
• Communicating between the technical and non-technical – Expert
• Data ethics and privacy – Practitioner
• Data management – Expert
• Data preparation and linkage – Expert
• Managing a data project – Expert

You can find out more about the skills required, here: Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

Experience

• Demonstrated experience representing the strategic data and analytics perspective in complex discussions with senior stakeholders, enabling well-rounded decision-making that fully considers data and Information Governance impacts.

• Have led data related projects according to agreed requirements and standards for the delivery of quality digital services.

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Changing and improving

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

We will test your experience and these behaviours as part of the sift process, and if successful, you will be invited to a technical assessment and interview where we will test these again, along with the technical skills listed above. Full details of the selection process will be made available to shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed. The technical exercise and interview questions will be provided in advance to candidates who pass the sift.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (for example, presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

Assessments will be scheduled in October, avoiding the half-term holiday period (12-16 October).

This role is open to internal candidates and Common citizenship organisations only.

Sponsorship

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Recruitment Principles As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

Qualifications

About us

National Records of Scotland (NRS) is Scotland’s record keeper. Our purpose is to collect, preserve and produce information about Scotland's people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

NRS is a Non-Ministerial Department of the Scottish Government and our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week, we offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

In addition to the standard pre-employment checks, this vacancy will also require all candidates to obtain National Security Vetting (NSV) at Security Check (SC) clearance level. This type of check normally includes meeting a minimum UK residency period, which for SC level is 5 years.

Further information about NSV checks can be found on the UK Government website - National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK

If you have any questions about this, please contact ScottishGovernmentRecruitment@gov.scot

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. 

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

For further information about the role, please contact Esther Roughsedge at esther.roughsedge@nrscotland.gov.uk

Apply before: Sunday 20 September (23:59). This role is open to internal candidates and Common citizenship organisations only.