Vacancy: National Statistician’s Advisory Panel on Migration Statistics members

The closing date for applications is 5 May 2025 at 23:55pm

To support him in his role, the National Statistician has created a set of advisory committees and panels to provide advice on a range of topics. In March 2025 the National Statistician recruited a Chair for the new Advisory Panel on Migration Statistics.

Roles and responsibilities

The Advisory Panel on international migration statistics will provide independent advice to the National Statistician on the quality and utility of long-term international migration estimates. We are seeking to appoint members of the committee. Through the committee these members will provide advice to the National Statistician on:

• The quality and accuracy of ONS migration statistics as we continue to develop and transform these through the Future Population and Migration Statistics Programme.
• The utility and usability of the breadth of long-term international migration statistics. The committee will consider, interpret and advise on the priority needs based on user feedback and policy context.

This will be achieved by arriving at a consensus based on reports received from other groups, the wide-range of knowledge and experience of the members and any additional information requested by the Chair.

Reporting and Governance

The Advisory Panel on international migration statistics will provide independent advice to the National Statistician – who is a member of the UK Statistics Authority Board – on the quality of statistics and user requirements for long-term international migration estimates.

The Advisory Panel will receive reports, as appropriate, from the Methodological Assurance Review Panel (MARP) and the newly established sub-group focusing specifically on the technical development of migration estimates. This technical panel will review methodology and changes in methods and provide information to the Advisory Panel to support its core function of providing advice.

Reports will also be provided, as appropriate, from the newly established Migration Statistics User Group to ensure that any relevant information and feedback on user needs is taken into account by the Advisory Panel.

Agendas and minutes of the meeting will be published on the UKSA website.

Secretariat

Staff from the Office for National Statistics provide dedicated secretariat support to the Chair and committee.

Person specification

General Competencies

The panel will consist of:

• The Chair
• 4 to 8 members
• 2 members will be representatives of the MARP international migration sub-group (see EOI for MARP sub-group)
• A small number of ex-officio members from other Government Departments.

The panel will benefit from drawing from a wide-range of experience, knowledge and backgrounds. Members of the Committee will have the following general competencies:

• A good understanding and knowledge of migration statistics, their uses and the wider context of migration in the UK
• Ability to provide high quality advice and active engagement
• 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
• Team working and collaboration skills, including an ability to work with other members and to participate in robust debate, demonstrating respectful views of all colleagues.

In addition, expressions of interest will be particularly welcomed from those with one or more of the following competencies (which are not mandatory criteria for applying):

• An understanding of the immigration system and associated processes
• Statistical knowledge of the importance of migration statistics to other areas such as population or economic statistics
• Communication or engagement expertise
• Knowledge of user needs, how migration statistics are used within Central Government, Local Government, academic research, the Third Sector or other organisations

The successful applicant will contribute sufficiently to Committee discussions and will be subject to follow a terms of reference, which are being developed by the Chair, and a non-disclosure agreement for official-sensitive information that may be shared.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Time commitment

The Advisory Panel on Migration Statistics will meet approximately quarterly, at least four times each year.

Timing of the appointments

The successful candidates will be appointed by 16 May, with the first meeting scheduled in June 2025. The other meeting dates for 2025 will be shared once approved by the new Chair.

Location

Meetings are usually virtual, although there is an expectation that the Advisory Panel will occasionally meet in-person.

Remuneration

These posts are non-remunerated. All reasonable travel and subsistence costs will be reimbursed.

Period of appointment

The appointment will be for an initial period of two years. The possibility of renewal for a further similar period will be available at the discretion of the Chair.

Conflicts of interest

Candidates should not have interests that would be likely to conflict with their responsibilities as a member of the National Statistician’s Advisory Panel on Migration Statistics. Please declare any potential conflict of interest as early as possible in the selection process and also disclose information or personal connections that might, if successful, be open to misperception.