Location
: The locations for this role are Newport, Titchfield (Fareham), Darlington, London and Manchester.
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 60% minimum office attendance requirement.
Salary
: £125,000
Working Patterns
: All our vacancies are offered as a flexible option of Full time, Part time, Flexible working, Job Share
Closing Date:
Apply before 11:55 pm on
Thursday 9th October 2025
Job Summary
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK's largest independent producer of official statistics and is the recognised National Statistical Institute.
The UK Statistics Authority wants to enable official statistics to support sound policy decisions and a firm evidence base for decision-making both inside and outside of government. Being highly influential places a responsibility on us to set and maintain standards and deliver statistics that are easy to use and meet the wider public good as well as the needs of government.
The Chief Methodology and Statistics Advisor is a newly created role to bring deep expertise in the development and application of well established and novel statistical methods to offer expert advice and strategic guidance to the UK statistical system, influencing and improving in this domain. The role may be subject to a shift in focus as the role evolves under the new scope of the National Statistician.
This director (SCS2) level role, directly supports the UK National Statistician and the wider statistical community. The role will report to the National Statistician (currently Acting National Statistician, Emma Rourke) and, as such, will be a UK Statistics Authority position, working very closely with methodology colleagues in the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK's largest independent producer of official statistics and is the recognised National Statistical Institute (NSI).
Job description
This role offers the right candidate an exciting opportunity to showcase the art of the possible, working collaboratively across government and academia, to promote the best use of statistical methods across our portfolio.
Additionally, the role holder will be responsible for independent quality assurance across the range of statistical outputs ONS produces, largely in the form of reviews. In line with the Orange Book, the CSMA will lead the monitoring of effective quality risk management practices in ONS and report to the National Statistician adequate risk-related information associated with the production of high-quality statistics.
Key Responsibilities
* Leadership in Statistical Methodology: Lead the strategic development of expert statistical methods, ensuring they are robust, fit for purpose, relevant, internationally comparable, ethical and enhance the quality of ONS and GSS outputs. Work in close partnership with ONS and GSS leadership in the implementation and operationalisation of these methods. Offer ad hoc expert advice to the Government Statistical Service on methods development.
* Strategic Direction and Innovation: Set the vision and guide the strategic direction of statistical methodologies at ONS, fostering innovation and adapting to evolving data landscapes, for example, the strategic solution to survey response rates. Guide the research strategy for the UK Statistics Authority and maintain the Research Integrity Statement.
* Collaboration and Partnership: Work collaboratively with internal GSS teams, academic institutions, and industry partners to advance statistical methodologies.
* Capacity Building: Identify current and future domain skills and, strengthen the methodological expertise within ONS, enhancing skills and knowledge through training, mentorship, fellowships and recruitment of top talent.
* Policy Influence and Advice: Provide expert advice on methodological issues, ensuring that ONS policies and practices are underpinned by the most advanced statistical techniques. Work closely with the ONS' Methodological Assurance Review Panel (MARP) to ensure the highest quality review and assurance.
* External Representation, Partnerships and Advocacy: Act as an ambassador for the UK Statistics Authority methodologies, promoting excellence in statistical practices both nationally and internationally, build partnerships with academia and relevant institutions.
* Research and Development: Lead and encourage methodological research and work with ONS leadership to evaluate the impact of methods development activities, bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application in government statistics.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
* Expertise and Experience
: Experience of developing and innovating statistical methodology and effective statistical quality assurance processes and recognised as a credible leader in statistics, with a track record of significant contributions to the field, applicable to academia, public sector and/or industry.
* Strategic and Innovative Thinking
: Ability to envision and implement forward-looking methodological strategies that address current and future statistical challenges. Anticipating areas where statistical quality issues may arise before they have taken place so that they can be managed will be crucial.
* Adaptability and Problem-Solving
: Adept at navigating and resolving complex methodological challenges in a dynamic data environment.
* Leadership and Management
:
* Leadership and Capability Building: Demonstrated experience in leading teams and projects, with the ability to mentor and develop methodological expertise within an organisation.
* Communication and Influence: Excellent skills in communicating complex methodological concepts to a range of audiences, with an ethical approach, ability to build trust with a range of stakeholders, and to influence decision-making at the highest levels.
* Collaborative Approach: Proven experience in fostering collaboration across various disciplines and sectors, including academia, industry, and government.
For a full job description and details of the skills & experience we are looking for, please click the APPLY button to see our full advert on Civil Service Jobs.
In return we offer you:
A market leading pension scheme - our employer contribution rate is around 29%
A choice of working patterns: full-time, part-time, job-share.
Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of 26 weeks full pay (subject to qualifying criteria)
Employee Assistance Programmes
Diversity Network Groups
Mental Health Allies
Civil Service Sports and Social club
Generous holiday allowance – 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years service in addition to 9 public holidays
For more information about this role, a full application pack, and to apply, please hit APPLY to be taken to Civil Service Jobs.