Vacancy – Chair to the Committee (NSCASE)

“High quality data and analysis to inform the UK, improve lives and build the future.”

Official statistics are for the benefit of society and the economy generally. They allow the formulation of better public policy and the effective measurement of those policies; they inform the direction of economic and commercial activities; they provide valuable information for analysts, researchers, public  and voluntary bodies; and they enable the public to hold to account all organisations that spend public money, thus informing democratic debate.

Please read the our strategies to find out more.

Remuneration: £500 per day
Closing date: 05/01/2022

Objective

The National Statistician’s Committee for the Advice on Standards for Economic Statistics will support  the UK by ensuring its processes for influencing and adopting international statistical standards are world-leading. We are seeking to appoint an independent Chair to provide strategic leadership to the Committee and deliver advice to the National Statistician.

Outputs

In this role, you will work closely with your members, senior leaders across the statistical system, and key users of economic data.

Upon your appointment you will work in partnership with the National Statistician to finalise the Committee Terms of Reference, and to appoint members to the Committee. On an ongoing basis, you will be responsible for overseeing the Committee’s advice to the National Statistician with regard to:

• the suitability of current standards across the ONS’s suite of economic data;
• how the UK can and should influence the development of future standards;
• which standards the UK should adopt in future, to meet the specific measurement needs of the UK economy, while ensuring international comparability

Individuals must be able to commit to provide up to 25 days per year and are expected to attend four meetings each year.

The appointment will be for an initial period of three years. The possibility of renewal for a further similar period will be available. Once appointed, for payment purposes you will be required to engage with one of our recruitment partners. ONS will provide you with the necessary information to do that and if you have any questions in the meantime, please email is us on: scs.recruitment@ons.gov.uk.

The successful candidate must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is ‘Security Clearance’.

• A background working with international statistical bodies and/or on international statistical guidance on standards for and/ or the production, of economic and fiscal statistics;
• Strong leadership skills, with evidence of having provided visible leadership to a comparable organisation or committee;
• Strategic skills, including the ability to analyse complex issues and to think clearly, strategically and laterally, extracting the essence of an argument from papers or presented evidence;
• Influencing and communication skills, including an ability to develop and maintain relationships with groups with disparate views and agendas; and
• Team working and collaboration skills, including an ability to work with other members and to participate in robust debate, challenging constructively the opinions of others, and working to achieve a shared consensus.

The candidate could be based anywhere in the UK although there would be an expectation to travel to meetings when necessary.

Meetings are likely to be held in our office locations in Newport (South Wales), Titchfield (Hampshire), Darlington or London.

• Vacancy live – Thursday 25th November
• Closing date – 5th January 2022
• Shortlisting meeting – 6th January 2022
• Informal discussions – Week commencing 10th January 2022