The ONS operates a flexible hybrid working model across the UK, with colleagues linked to one of our contractual locations working between office and remote throughout the week. The locations for this role are Newport (South Wales), Fareham, Darlington & Manchester (England)
All colleagues are required to work from their contractually allocated site for at least 40% of their working time. Due to current capacity constraints there is currently an exception for colleagues based at the Darlington Economic Campus, this is expected to move to 40% attendance in for Darlington.
The induction process for the role will be conducted in person.
Job Summary
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK's largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the value of the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution, and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime, and migration.
We are transforming how we use data to better understand and measure the UK's economy and society, to drive better decision making, and to improve the lives of citizens. A core part of this work is the development of our Geospatial Strategy and capability - driving the effective use of geospatial methods across the organisation to add maximum value to ONS statistics.
ONS Geography, in the Data Architecture, Location and Integration (DALI) division, is a small but dynamic team who provides geospatial expertise and guidance to ONS and across government. The team is dynamic and undertakes a mixture of work aimed at improving the use and integration of geospatial data with statistics. You will have the opportunity to work with teams across the office, engage with other government departments and international bodies to share your knowledge and experience to make a real difference in our continued drive to improve how geospatial data are used in the office. However, we also recognise the importance of your own personal development, and you will also be encouraged to upskill and seek opportunities that align the goals of the team.
We're looking for an enthusiastic and talented Geospatial Analyst, to help us drive forward our ambitions, bring creativity and new ways of thinking. We want to build teams with a range of skills, where the team-members' strengths complement each other. If you have strong technical skills and/or interpersonal skills and you are interested in using your geospatial analytical skills to help transform the way we use data across government, then we are interested in your application.
Job Description
A Geospatial Analyst applies expertise in geography and spatial/location data to deliver high‑quality analysis and geographical products across the office. They lead and support research and analytical projects where location data is central, while actively exploring innovative technologies to improve efficiency and enhance outputs in line with evolving organisational needs.
As the successful candidate, you will work on a broad range of geospatial projects—from creating new geographies to processing spatial/location datasets to generate insights and indicators. You will help advance geospatial analytical methods, introducing new approaches to data processing and interpretation.
You will collaborate closely with colleagues and receive guidance from senior team members, contributing to a supportive and knowledge‑sharing environment. Continuous professional development is encouraged, and you will be expected to stay up‑to‑date with emerging geospatial technologies, datasets, and analytical techniques.
Key Responsibilities
The Successful Candidate Will Undertake Activities Such As:
Work on specific project alone or with support from team members.
Use appropriate tools and techniques and/or approaches to meet stakeholder requirements
Apply a mixture of GIS, coding, analytical and statistical methodologies to produce the necessary outputs
Collect, collate and prepare datasets for analytical inputs.
Review and assess new data sources
Explore and evaluate new datasets, technologies and techniques to maintain and update training packages.
Quality assess and peer review colleagues outputs to ensure a quality service
Work with academic and commercial experts on new methods and analysis tasks to improve existing or create new outputs
Support in the production of training/teaching material for internal and external stakeholders
Engage in activities to support the geography community across ONS and Government (e.g. GGP)
A Geospatial Analyst applies expertise in geography and spatial/location data to deliver high‑quality analysis and geographical products across the office. They lead and support research and analytical projects where location data is central, while actively exploring innovative technologies to improve efficiency and enhance outputs in line with evolving organisational needs.
As the successful candidate, you will work on a broad range of geospatial projects—from creating new geographies to processing spatial/location datasets to generate insights and indicators. You will help advance geospatial analytical methods, introducing new approaches to data processing and interpretation.
You will collaborate closely with colleagues and receive guidance from senior team members, contributing to a supportive and knowledge‑sharing environment. Continuous professional development is encouraged, and you will be expected to stay up‑to‑date with emerging geospatial technologies, datasets, and analytical techniques.
Key Responsibilities
The Successful Candidate Will Undertake Activities Such As:
Work on specific project alone or with support from team members.
Use appropriate tools and techniques and/or approaches to meet stakeholder requirements
Apply a mixture of GIS, coding, analytical and statistical methodologies to produce the necessary outputs
Collect, collate and prepare datasets for analytical inputs.
Review and assess new data sources
Explore and evaluate new datasets, technologies and techniques to maintain and update training packages.
Quality assess and peer review colleagues outputs to ensure a quality service
Work with academic and commercial experts on new methods and analysis tasks to improve existing or create new outputs
Support in the production of training/teaching material for internal and external stakeholders
Engage in activities to support the geography community across ONS and Government (e.g. GGP)
Person specification
Essential Skill Criteria:
Candidates should demonstrate experience for the following skills at the Working Level – Applies knowledge and experience of the skill, including tools and techniques, adopting those most appropriate for the environment.
(GGP) Geographic knowledge
The understanding of geographic processes and how they shape the physical and human world at different scales, and its application i.e. the analysis, storage, visualisation, and management of geographic data
(GGP) Geospatial analysis & problem solving
The use of appropriate techniques to analyse spatial and non-spatial data in order to solve data problems, including based on spatial relationships. Able to manipulate, integrate and aggregate data based on its spatial reference.
(GGP) Geographic compliance
Understand and comply with relevant national and international geospatial frameworks and best practice (e.g. statutory requirements, standards, etc.) impacting and related to the specific discipline. Legal and ethical issues related to geospatial data including rights, liability, privacy and access.
(GGP) Quality Assurance and Control
The ability to review and assessment of own and others' quality of work through the maintenance of a desired level of quality in outputs and ensuring precision and accuracy of datasets and methods used
(DDAT) Data Preparation and Linkage
The ability to conduct data preparation and linkage which involved cleansing, modelling, transforming and assuring the quality of data so that it is usable and reproducible [as well as aiding the creation of a more informative product]
Qualifications
At least either an undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, with relevance to the job description OR at least 1 years' experience in a role/study relevant to the job description.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Changing and Improving
Working Together
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
(GGP) Geospatial Software and Systems - The use of desktop and online tools for managing, analysing and displaying geospatial data, interactively or in workflows
(GGP) Geospatial Coding - Use of coding libraries in the analysis of geospatial data or the automation of geospatial processes and application of relevant optimisation techniques.
Alongside your salary of £35,144, Office for National Statistics contributes £10,181 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our valued colleagues across the organisation.
Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that our careers site will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues, and our fantastic working culture.
Inclusion & Accessibility
At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a Disability Confident Leader we're committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.
If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.
Artificial intelligence
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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Security Clearance
For ONS the requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying and the department will consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.
If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please read the information available on on this link, or contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss, as failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.
At the point of SC application, you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:
Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
Security Services records
Application Process
Number of Stages: 2 stage process
Stage 1: Application
Stage 2: Interview
Stage 1 – Application
The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your CV, personal statement and Technical Skills. It is important that your application is tailored to highlight the skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role.
A 1250 word personal statement is required at application stage, which should not be exceeded. Where it is a requirement to make a personal statement, you should provide evidence for each essential skill criterion listed in the person specification. As these criteria are scored, it is advisable to give clear examples for each one, including the impact of your actions, ideally utilising the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Specific Technical Skills will be assessed at sift, where you will have an additional 250 words to evidence each of the technical skills (GGP) Geospatial Software and Systems and (GGP) Geospatial Coding .
Please note that Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage of the application process.
When a high volume of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted. Candidates will be invited to interview based on their merit order, with those achieving the highest scores being prioritised. Applicants who score below the adjusted pass mark but still pass will be placed on hold and may be invited to interview at a later date.
Stage 2 – Interview
If invited to interview, you will be assessed using techniques aligned with the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, covering all behaviours and technical skills listed in the job advert.
You will be required to provide a presentation at interview. The presentation topic will be emailed to candidates who have passed the initial online application stage, 1 week prior to interview. This presentation will assess candidates against the technical skills outlined in the advert.
Interviews will be via Microsoft Teams.
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.
Our main locations are Newport (South Wales), Fareham, Manchester & Darlington (England).
Important dates
The Sift will be conducted w/c 9th March
Interviews are expected to be conducted from w/c 23rd March
Dates maybe subject to change.
For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see attachment.
Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
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)
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)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
Name : Ella Goodman
Email :
Recruitment team
Email :
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission