Statistician

Use your statistical skills to shape Scotland’s future - join us in leading statistical analysis that drives real change.

The Scottish Government works to make Scotland a more successful country and a better place to live. Having the right people producing and communicating powerful analysis is vital to helping us achieve this.

Our statistical positions are for you, if you're bright, motivated and creative and want to use your talents to help make a difference to the lives of the people of Scotland. In return, we'll offer you an incredible opportunity to work across the Scottish Government in areas like Health, Education and the Economy, informing important decisions with high profile analysis right from the start. 

You will be supported and encouraged to work right across the range of policy areas affecting people's lives.

Scottish Government Statisticians lead teams within Analytical Divisions/Units. They are usually responsible for overseeing the production and dissemination of statistics on a specific topic.

Please note that there are limited posts available in this campaign; however, we plan to use a reserve list from this campaign to fill any additional Statistician roles that may arise over the next 12 months.

Further information about Statistics group can be found on the Statistics Group Sharepoint page or the Statistics and Research page on the Scottish Government website. 

Responsibilities

Scottish Government Statisticians lead teams across Analytical Divisions/Units in Scottish Government and most agencies and non-ministerial offices (for example, National Records of Scotland) to:

• Lead on the efficient production of high quality relevant data, evidence and analysis in their area, managing resources appropriately.  
• Use knowledge of the needs of users of their teams’ statistics and subject area knowledge to shape the strategic direction of the statistics they produce. 
• Lead the work of their team in line with the aims and objectives of the Scottish Government statistics group, aligning with our strategic priorities for improving statistics. 
• Create a culture within their team where good practice in the production and dissemination of statistics is communicated and adhered to. 
• Oversee and quality assure the team’s data processing and analysis and offer suggestions and support to improve. 
• Clearly communicate what statistics mean to a range of users to bring insight. 
• Manage, support, coach and develop staff as appropriate. 

Qualifications

A minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate degree or a master’s degree or PhD, and applicants should either:

• Be a member of the Government Statistics Group (GSG), or;
• Demonstrate how their qualifications contain formal training on statistics or data, or;
• Have a minimum two years’ experience in a statistics or data related field.

If you have not yet completed your degree or relevant post graduate qualification, any job offer will be conditional on this.

Success profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. 

How we will use success profiles in the statistics profession in Scottish Government and the elements tested is published on the statistics sharepoint site.  This is as follows:

Technical / Professional Skills:

Assessed at Application  (see "how to apply" section below for more information)

• Data analysis - Grade 7
• Acquiring data and understanding customer needs - Grade 7

Assessed At Interview

• Data analysis - Grade 7
• Acquiring data and understanding customer needs - Grade 7
• Presenting and disseminating data effectively - Grade 7

 Behaviours: 

Assessed at Application (see "how to apply" section below for more information)

• Delivering at Pace - Level 7
• Changing and Improving - Level 7
• Seeing the Big Picture - Level 7

Assessed At Interview

• Changing and Improving - Level 7
• Seeing the Big Picture - Level 7
• Leadership - Level 7 

You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot
 How to apply

Apply online, attaching a CV (please ensure you clearly state how you meet the qualification element (GSG member details or qualification info) and provide a supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the following criteria (please note you do not need to cover the full success behaviour elements mentioned, just the mentioned criteria from the list below)

Experience

• 1. Ensure delivery of timely quality outcomes by successfully managing resources (Behaviours - Delivering at pace)
• 2. Lead on changes which add value and clearly articulate how changes will benefit service users. (Behaviours - changing and improving)
• 3. Demonstrating understanding of how work fits with and supports organisational objectives to benefit society more broadly. (Behaviours - seeing the bigger picture)
• 4. Lead on obtaining and using appropriate data, ensuring alignment with users and data providers. (Technical - acquiring data and understanding customer needs)
• 5. Using professional statistical and data expertise to deliver high quality analytical work (Technical - data analysis)

There is further information about how to approach writing the CV and supporting statement on the statistics sharepoint site.

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 (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. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.  Assessments are scheduled for mid-late November however this may be subject to change. 

Candidate Information Session

A candidate information session was held on Wednesday 3 September at 11:30 . If you were not able to attend this, the meeting has been recorded, please email statistics6@gov.scot for a copy.

The Session Covered

• Background to the campaign and what we are looking for
• An explanation of the application and assessment centre process 

Reserve List and Temporary Promotion

We intend to use a reserve list from this campaign to fill any further C1 Statistician roles that may arise over the next 12 months. Permanent posts will be offered in order of merit. Once all permanent positions have been filled, there may be opportunities for additional roles to be offered on a temporary promotion (TP) basis to candidates who successfully pass the assessment. Candidates appointed to a TP role will remain on the reserve list and will be appointed, again in order of merit for any further permanent vacancies that arise within the next 12 months. 

About usThe Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. 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 patternOur standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. Security checksSuccessful 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.  Equality statementWe 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 informationFind 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.

Apply before; 16th October (23:59) This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only