Rail Statistics - Higher Statistical Officer

Rail Statistics - Higher Statistical Officer

Department for Transport

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 3rd May 2026

Location: Birmingham, Leeds, London (This role is suitable for hybrid working)

Salary: National salary - £35,663, London salary - £39,533
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

️ Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

️ Available Positions: 1

As Higher Statistical Officer, you will use official statistics, management information and big data to steer and develop policy and operational activities. You will directly influence key decisions, tackle real-world challenges, and play a pivotal part in shaping the future of our organisation.

You will also develop and maintain data tools for various customers, working with multiple teams across the Department, other public sector rail entities both internally and externally, and the Office of Rail and Road and Great British Railways.

Top Responsibilities

* Deliver high quality statistical advice including supporting drafting of ministerial briefings and statistical advice to Ministers, telling the story of the data in plain language to aid understanding.

* Extract and manipulate data from multiple existing data sources to enable complex new analysis, advising other analysts on suitability of data and best practice usage.

* Producing the rail passenger crowding statistical release (includes analysis, preparation of key facts, commentary, quality report, charts and tables, and layout work).

* Perform and document quality checks on familiar and new data sources and innovate new quality assurance processes to improve the quality of the team's data sources. Evaluate whether a data source is fit for purpose by making professional judgments on its suitability and relevance, ensuring quality issues and their implications are communicated to end users.

* Build and maintain working relationships with train operating companies (TOCs) to encourage the submission of high-quality data to the Department. Actively engage with TOCs to understand data collection processes and challenges, using influence to improve data quality by advocating best practice and empowering them to take ownership of data quality improvements.

Benefits

* Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here.

* 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).

* 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.

* Access to the staff discount portal.

* Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.

* Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.

* 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.

* Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

* Demonstrate exceptional communication skills, quickly building strong, constructive working relationships across teams and stakeholders.

* Demonstrable experience in transforming diverse evidence into clear, compelling, and actionable narratives.

* Skilled in using data visualization to highlight key messages and engage audiences effectively.

* Will have experience of at least one coding language (the ability to develop skills in R if this is not already known) and familiarity with best practices in reproducible analytical pipelines to ensure robust and efficient workflows.

* Be experienced in applying quality assurance processes proportionately to ensure all outputs are fit for purpose. Uphold quality standards for yourself and your team, adhering to the Code of Practice for Statistics, Aqua Book, and other relevant guidance. for purpose and uphold quality standards for yourself and your team.

Additional Information

You must be a member of the Government Statistical Group (GSG) or meet the eligibility requirements to join the GSG.

If not already part of the Government Statistical Group, the successful candidate will be supported to gain professional membership once in post.

How to Apply

Read the full description and apply at CS Jobs using the link provided.

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Sunday 3rd May 2026