Higher Analytical Officer

Higher Analytical Officer – Ofsted

Employer: Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted)
Salary: £38,744 – £39,225 per annum (rising to £39,225 after successful completion of probation)
Location: Birmingham or Bristol
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time, hybrid
Job Grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO), B2
Vacancies: 1
Reference: 488449
Closing Date: 23 November 2026, at 11:55 pm
Visa Sponsorship: Not stated in the job advert. Applicants must meet the Civil Service nationality and right-to-work requirements.

Job Overview

The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) is recruiting a Higher Analytical Officer to join its Data and Insights team.

This is an opportunity for an analytical professional to work with complex datasets, produce high-quality analytical outputs and support evidence-based decision-making across the organisation.

The successful candidate will extract, quality-assure and analyse data, identify trends and communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

You will also develop specialist knowledge in one of Ofsted’s key areas, including schools, further education and skills, early years or social care.

The role offers opportunities to work with experienced professionals in a supportive environment, with access to flexible working arrangements and professional development.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse complex datasets from different sources to identify trends, issues and risks.
• Extract, process and quality-assure data to produce accurate analytical outputs.
• Translate data and research findings into meaningful insights.
• Present analysis in accessible formats for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Support evidence-based decision-making and organisational priorities.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Deliver high-quality analytical products within agreed deadlines.
• Develop specialist expertise in an assigned area of Ofsted’s work.

Skills and Experience Required

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience analysing information from different sources and identifying key issues and risks.
• Ability to interpret data and communicate findings effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to present complex information clearly to different audiences.

Technical skills and desirable experience:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Experience using SQL, R or Python is desirable.
• Knowledge of presenting and disseminating data effectively.
• Ability to acquire data and understand customer needs.

Civil Service Behaviours

Candidates will be assessed against the following behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Salary and Benefits

Successful candidates will receive:

• Annual salary of £38,744, increasing to £39,225 after successful completion of probation.
• Civil Service Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• 32.5 days of annual leave.
• Eight additional public holidays.
• Hybrid working arrangements, including the option to work from home for part of the week.
• Flexible working hours.
• Professional and personal development opportunities.
• Access to counselling and employee wellbeing services.

Working Locations

The position is available at either of the following locations:

• 23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham.
• 2 Rivergate, Bristol.

Application and Selection Process

The vacancy uses the Civil Service Success Profiles recruitment framework, assessing candidates on behaviours, experience and technical skills.

Application and shortlisting:

Applications will be assessed against the essential criteria in the job specification.

Applicants must provide evidence of their analytical experience and ability to present findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action and Result) is recommended when preparing application examples.

Candidates must also complete the Employer/Activity History section of the application form, providing details of their career history.

Interview and assessment:

Shortlisted candidates who meet the required benchmark will be invited to an assessment and interview.

The interview will assess relevant Civil Service behaviours, technical skills and experience.

Interviews are scheduled for the week commencing 14 December 2026 and will take place remotely via Microsoft Teams.

Eligibility and Security Checks

The vacancy is broadly open to eligible UK nationals, Irish nationals, qualifying Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK and other nationalities meeting the Civil Service nationality requirements.

Successful candidates must undergo a standard criminal record check and Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.

Ofsted is a Disability Confident Leader and welcomes applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Contact Information

Recruitment Team: Ofsted People Services Delivery Team
Email: jobs@ofsted.gov.uk
Telephone: 03000 131 487

How to Apply

Interested candidates should review the full job description and person specification before submitting an application through the official Civil Service Jobs website.

Application Deadline: 23 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.