Overview

Deputy Director, Social Surveys Central Services — Office for National Statistics. Join to apply for the Deputy Director, Social Surveys Central Services role at Office for National Statistics.

Location & Working pattern

Location: The locations for this role are Newport, Titchfield (Fareham) and Manchester.

We operate a flexible hybrid working model across the UK, with colleagues linked to one of our contractual locations and working between office and remote throughout the week. As part of the hybrid working arrangement there is a 40% minimum office attendance requirement.

Working Patterns: All our vacancies are offered as a flexible option of Full time, Part time, Flexible working, Job Share

Closing Date: Apply before 11:55pm on Sunday 28th September 2025

Responsibilities

• Social Surveys Central Services brings together four cross-cutting enabling services integral to the success of both the directorate’s core data collection operation and its portfolio of significant continuous improvement and transformation. You will be responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the following services:
• Programme and Project Management Office
• Social Survey Technology
• Business Change
• Business Support, Finance and Planning

You will establish appropriate governance and assurance, monitor progress, ensure the effective management of risks and issues, and ensure business readiness for change.

To do this, you will need to develop a clear vision on how these services contribute to and support the challenges faced by Social Surveys directorate whilst remaining aligned to the ONS Survey Strategy and the Social Surveys Improvement and Enhancement Plan. You will be required to take a proactive approach to enhance and evolve governance, assurance, planning etc which will in turn resolve some of the challenges and identify and implement opportunities for future evolution.

What we are looking for

• A visible, inclusive leader with excellent leadership skills who is able to provide clear strategic direction to an immediate division and wider directorate.
• Experience of successfully leading complex projects, programmes and business change across a large operation and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to operate effectively at a senior level, building strong, collaborative relationships and effectively influencing across a complex stakeholder landscape.
• Strong communication skills with an ability to engage effectively with staff at all levels and embed a culture that values the voice of the employee.
• Recognised ability to lead business area technology infrastructure and ensure that there is a strategic relationship with our technology community to build, test and maintain the technical capability required to operate Social Surveys.
• A practiced business support professional, experienced in strategic business and workforce planning, financial and resource management and with a strong understanding of governance frameworks and assurance processes.

For a full job description and details of the skills & experience we are looking for, please click the APPLY button to see our full advert on Civil Service Jobs.

Benefits

• Hybrid working and flexi-time so you can work around your life, not the other way around!
• A market leading pension scheme - our employer contribution rate is around 29%
• A choice of working patterns for every role: full-time, part-time, job-share.
• Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of 26 weeks full pay (subject to qualifying criteria)
• Opportunities to learn new technology & skills on the job, utilising protected Learning Time and the support of Communities of Practice
• Employee Assistance Programmes
• Diversity Network Groups
• Mental Health Allies
• Civil Service Sports and Social club
• Generous holiday allowance – 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years service in addition to 9 public holidays

For more information about this role, a full application pack, and to apply, please hit APPLY to be taken to Civil Service Jobs.

Details

• Seniority level: Director
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Management
• Industries: Government Administration

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