23421 - Office of the Sentencing Council Principal Statistician

Job description

Office of the Sentencing Council – Principal Statistician (Grade 7) role

Job title: Principal Statistician (Grade 7)

Duration: Permanent

Location: The successful candidate will be based at the Royal Courts of Justice, the Strand, London. Working arrangements will be in accordance with the MoJ guidance on office attendance.

Eligibility: The role is open to substantive Grade 7 statisticians (Band A) and other eligible staff on promotion. The post-holder must be a member of the Government Statistician Group (GSG) to apply.

Deadline for applications: Wednesday 4th November 2026. Interviews are likely to take place early November and will be held via MS Teams.

Overview

The Sentencing Council

The Sentencing Council is an independent, non-departmental public body of the Ministry of Justice, responsible for developing and evaluating sentencing guidelines which are used in all criminal courts.

The Council is chaired by Lady Justice May, supported by seven judicial members and six non-judicial members, including the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Chief Constable of Surrey Police, and a Professor of Criminal Justice at Birkbeck, University of London.

The Office of the Sentencing Council is a multi-disciplinary team that supports the work of the Council. The team includes policy makers, lawyers, communications specialists, researchers/analysts and support staff.

The Analysis and Research team is currently ten people: five statisticians and five social researchers, who all work closely together.

Within this team, there are two Principal Statistician roles. One leads the Statistics team by coordinating the Council's statistics work. The other (the focus of this job description) will jointly lead the Statistics team, while also leading a relatively new body of work for the Council on data improvement and new analytical ways of working (including the potential use of AI).

Both Principal Statisticians are line managed by the Head of Analysis and Research, a Band A (Grade 6) analyst (currently a social researcher).

The role

This is a business-critical role for a Grade 7 Analyst (Principal Statistician) in the Office of the Sentencing Council, working as part of a small team with responsibility for ensuring that high-quality statistical data collection and analysis, supports the production and evaluation of sentencing guidelines. The post holder will jointly head up the statistical team with another existing Grade 7 statistician.

The post-holder will cover two key areas of work for the Council:

- Jointly leading the team on the development and evaluation of offence specific guidelines such as terrorism, immigration, public order, assault, and drug offences: acquiring data to meet the needs of the Council, and coordinating analysis and publication, while complying with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

- Leading on a relatively new body of work for the Council to improve the data we draw upon and its timeliness, to source new data where possible, and to embed new approaches within the team (in particular to explore the potential use of AI).

The post-holder will also work collaboratively with colleagues across the policy, legal and communications professions as part of a busy, multidisciplinary team. They will contribute directly to the organisation’s delivery of its statutory duties and will assist in taking forward the analytical team’s role in implementing its 2027-2030 strategy which is currently out for consultation.

This post offers a great opportunity to work in a fast-paced Arm’s Length Body that works closely with policy makers and the senior judiciary, and to have a very direct influence on the direction of policy.

Duties include:

- Joint team leader for the Sentencing Council's Statistics team, acting as a primary contact for all related issues;

- Leading on acquiring and analysing data to support the development and evaluation of Sentencing Council guidelines and the production of resource assessments;

- Assessing the impact of the sentencing guidelines on prison, probation and youth justice resources;

- Leading a programme of data development, exploring innovative methodologies, new data sources and analytical approaches to improve the quality, depth, timeliness and usability of the data underpinning the Council's work; this will include developing and implementing a sentencing data dashboard;

- Leading work to identify whether and how AI may have a role in the Council’s work. This may include procuring an external contract to assist with aspects of this;

- Facilitating and monitoring the use of data sharing agreements and other methods of sharing data where necessary and ensuring compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics where applicable;

- Potential line management of a Band B statistician (tbc);

- Regularly presenting to senior leaders, including members of the judiciary, e.g. at Sentencing Council meetings

- Liaison with other analysts and policy colleagues in MoJ, HMCTS and other government departments.

Person Specification: Essential

- Strong analytical ability - in particular robust data skills and good working knowledge of methodologies and of using R;

- Knowledge and experience of acquiring data to meet customer needs, statistical methods, presentation of findings, quality assurance and publication/dissemination of analysis, ensuring that analysis is conducted and disseminated in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics and wider Government Statistical Service professional standards ;

- Ability to demonstrate leadership, communication and team working skills, and be able to manage a high workload consisting of numerous projects running concurrently and to competing timelines;

- Have strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to explain complex technical data and analytical concepts and practices to non-technical stakeholders, including senior leaders and judges;

- Ability to manage stakeholders’ expectations over time, dealing constructively with challenges, and adapting the analytical programme when requirements and circumstances change.

Person Specification: Desirable

- Knowledge of sentencing and relevant data in this area;

- Experience with using Power BI to create dashboards;

- Knowledge of applying AI to analytical work and the necessary considerations and safeguards that are required;

- Experience of applying evaluation techniques;

- Staff management experience.

Selection process

This vacancy is using the Civil service success profiles framework and in particular Experience and Technical through an application, interview, and presentation.

To apply for the post, candidates will be required address the following Civil Service behaviours:

- Seeing the Bigger Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Leadership

Candidates will also need to provide evidence in relation to the following GSG strands (see Competency framework for the Government Statistician Group (GSG) – Government Analysis Function for more information)

- Statistical Strand 1: Acquiring data and understanding customer needs
- Statistical Strand 2: Data analysis

Further information

For further information on the job role or the Office of the Sentencing Council, please contact Emma Marshall on [email protected]

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map . All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www. www.GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/tax-free-childcare) or Childcare Choices (https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/) . You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles . Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

- To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ( [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/) )

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos .

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families (https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fsettled-status-eu-citizens-families&data=05%7C01%7Cchristopher.jeffery%40soprasteria.com%7C8a2293860362402c15da08dbf4cff146%7C8b87af7d86474dc78df45f69a2011bb5%7C0%7C0%7C638372946312587803%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=s%2BxUsev%2BGeeK%2FLgTUjpjfTJu%2FjpKQZ%2BQPJXNduvik3Q%3D&reserved=0)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]

Please quote the job reference 23421

HMPPS:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]

Please quote the job reference 23421

A sift based on the lead behaviour, Leadership, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.