Head of Census Service Delivery and Operations
Join to apply for the Head of Census Service Delivery and Operations role at Office for National Statistics
Location: Newport and Titchfield (Fareham).
We operate a flexible hybrid working model across the UK, with colleagues linked to one of our contractual locations and working between office and remote throughout the week. As part of the hybrid working arrangement there is a 40% minimum office attendance requirement.
Salary: £81,000 - dependent on experience and Civil Service pay guidelines
Closing Date: Apply before 11:55pm on Monday 27th October 2025
Are you ready to be part of something that shapes the future of our nation?
Do you thrive on variety, enjoy working with lots of teams, and want to make a real difference?
If so, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for.
Census 2031 represents our most ambitious data collection project yet – a once-in-a-decade opportunity to capture a complete picture of everyone living in England and Wales. Building on the digital success of 2021, we're pioneering new ways to reach every household and community, ensuring no one is left uncounted. This vital work will provide the foundation for policy decisions, resource allocation, and community planning for the next decade.
Your work will support delivery of this transformational project that will shape how we understand and support our nation's future. You’ll be part of a team that ensures everyone is counted—and every voice is heard. We're building a culture that values collaboration, fresh thinking, and respect for diverse expertise. Whether you're a seasoned professional or bringing new perspectives, you'll be part of a team that welcomes bold ideas, works transparently, and thrives on solving complex challenges together.
As a senior leader within the Census 2031 programme, you will have the opportunity to drive strategic change at the highest level of government, leading one of the nation's most critical data collection operations. This is a rare chance to shape public policy infrastructure that will influence decision-making across every level of government for the next decade.
Key Responsibilities
* End to end Operational Design and Readiness
* Supply Chain and Commercial Oversight
* Working as a cohesive Leadership team
What are we looking for?
* Proven experience delivering a large-scale operation from design and build through to operate and run.
* Skilled in setting strategic direction, aligning cross-functional teams, and managing inter dependencies across services and devolved administrations.
* Strong commercial acumen, including contract negotiation, supplier performance management, and life cycle oversight of outsourced services.
* Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
* Proven ability to think and operate strategically, making quick decisions in high-pressure environments.
* Extensive leadership experience and the ability to build high performing teams.
Experience with census, public sector transformation and/or service design & transition principles would be beneficial too, but are not strictly required.
For full details, benefits pack and to apply to the role, click the "APPLY" button to be taken to Civil Service Jobs
Seniority level
* Director
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Management
Industries
* Government Administration
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