Location
Central London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£71,178 per annum

About the Role
The Farming Directorate is responsible for designing and managing Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes that support farmers to farm more sustainably. We are seeking a Team Lead to manage the Metrics and Reporting team within the Evidence and Analysis function. You will lead a small team of analysts responsible for reporting, statistics, and performance analysis, helping the directorate understand progress, make decisions, and meet reporting requirements.

Your responsibilities will include publishing Official Statistics on the Farming Investment Fund (FIF), developing statistics to demonstrate the directorate’s contribution to Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) outcomes, and enhancing how performance is measured and reported across the directorate.

Defra is committed to equal opportunities, flexible working, and supporting a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups and provide support for employees with disabilities and health conditions. We aim to create a respectful and inclusive team culture where everyone is valued.

Experience
- Proven experience managing analysts, statisticians, or a technical team
- Advanced technical skills in R and use of version control
- Experience developing and publishing official government statistics in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics
- Experience creating and managing reports and dashboards
- Ability to conduct high-quality analysis under competing demands and deadlines
- Experience working effectively with policy or strategy teams
- Knowledge of GDPR requirements and handling data securely

About you
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to create a supportive environment for learning and performance
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex findings clearly to non-specialists and senior colleagues
- Motivated to foster a respectful and inclusive team culture
- Committed to continuous professional development and quality assurance practices including code reviews

Qualifications
Candidates must meet one of the following minimum eligibility criteria for the Government Statistical Service:
- A first or second class honours degree in a numerate discipline, computer science, or a related field demonstrating core statistical skills
- A postgraduate qualification such as an MSc or PhD in data science, mathematics, statistics, physics, or a similar subject
- A level 6 apprenticeship
- At least 3 years of professional experience in statistics or data science supported by continuous professional development equivalent to a foundation degree or Higher National Diploma (level five)

If not currently a member of a Government analytical profession, candidates will be supported through the badging process at Grade 7 level.