Senior Quantitative Analyst (Nature Recovery)

Environmental Standards Scotland’s (ESS) role is to monitor, investigate and secure public authorities’ compliance with environmental law in Scotland. We also scrutinise the effectiveness of environmental law and policy in Scotland and how it is implemented and applied. In our investigative and analytical reports, we may also identify instances where we consider there to be gaps in environmental protection legislation.

ESS is an independent non-ministerial office, accountable to the Scottish Parliament and overseen by a non-executive board. It is part of the Scottish Administration and its employees are civil servants. Full details are available on the ESS website.

Our Strategy 2026-2031 sets out how we will work as an organisation to deliver our vision that ‘by holding public authorities to account, we will ensure that Scotland’s people and nature benefit from a high-quality, healthy environment through improved compliance with and better implementation of effective environmental law’.

ESS’ role is expanding to take on two new roles:

• scrutinising the Scottish Government’s delivery against the new statutory biodiversity and nature restoration targets which will be set under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026
• scrutinising local authorities’ reporting against climate change duties as set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009

To deliver these duties and to manage this significant organisational change, ESS will be recruiting new posts over the next twelve months to establish a new team within the organisation to lead the development of work to deliver these roles, alongside related corporate services requirements.

Benefits

ESS is an independent public body focused on ensuring Scotland achieves the highest environmental standards. We seek skilled individuals who have a passion for improving environmental standards through public service, who can work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

In return, we offer a competitive employment package including:

• enrolment in the civil service pension scheme
• a range of flexible working arrangements as well as flexitime to ensure a working pattern that meets both your needs as well as those of the organisation
• 25 days annual leave with an increase to 30 days after two years of reckonable service, plus 11.5 days of public and privilege holidays
• six months full pay for maternity, adoption or shared parental leave, five weeks full pay for paternity leave and paid leave for any antenatal appointments
• a range of paid special leave including leave for carers and bereavement leave
• a strong commitment to investing in the personal and professional development of all staff
• dedicated wellbeing support and services for all staff including access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• exceptional workplace adjustment support to remove barriers to enable staff to achieve their full potential

We are building a culture that encourages inclusion and diversity and we particularly encourage applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds. We also offer access to a range of network groups to support equality, diversity and inclusion.

While this is not currently a Government Statistical Service badged post, the postholder will receive professional support and mentoring from a badged statistician and, where appropriate, will be supported to pursue badging through the Scottish Government badging board, subject to Scottish Government recruitment schedules and availability of badging opportunities.

The post allows flexible working and is open to full time or, by agreement, other working patterns including part-time, job share or compressed hours with a minimum requirement of 28 hours per week.

Job Description

We are recruiting a Senior Quantitative Analyst to support the development of our new scrutiny function for the statutory biodiversity and nature restoration targets which will be set under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026.

This post will be managed by the new Principal Scrutiny Officer (nature recovery) and will play a crucial role in development of a new area of work for ESS. Professional guidance and support will be provided by the Head of Data and Quantitative Analysis.

Key responsibilities include:

The post holder will support the new Principal Scrutiny Officer and the Head of Data and Quantitative Analysis by:

• developing our organisational understanding of proposed indicators and the data underpinning them for the biodiversity and nature restoration targets to be set under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026
• support the new Principal Scrutiny Officer (Nature Recovery) to build effective relationships with analysts and statisticians in public authorities and NGOs within the new department’s remit, to ensure that ESS is abreast of, and able to access, the latest data and evidence
• undertake policy-facing statistical work, including ad hoc analysis and interpretation of Scottish environmental data, independent analysis of progress towards the biodiversity and nature restoration targets and preparing briefing for senior officials and the ESS’ Chair and Board
• work with the existing data team (C1 Head of Data and Quantitative Analysis and B3 Senior Analyst) to embed good analytical practices across the organisation, including strong processes for quality assurance, data management and intelligent transparency
• be an active advocate for ESS’ Voluntary Application of the Code of Practice for Statistics by guiding others in appropriate practices for preparing, managing and using data
• engage with stakeholders and share statistical and analytical techniques to increase understanding and trust in ESS’ scrutiny work
• identify opportunities to develop statistical insights and reports that support wider organisational objectives

Person specification

• excellent statistical and analytical skills. Experience in delivering high-quality quantitative analysis and ensuring that evidence is at the heart of decision making. This should include proven experience of:
  • acquiring appropriate data from a range of sources, quality assurance of data sources and analysis, appropriate data management, performing high quality analysis appropriate to the analytical task, and ensuring conclusions are trustworthy and credible
  • using statistical packages including R (or equivalent)
• excellent communications skills to align statistical analysis with policy needs. Ability to clearly present (including data visualisation) and explain the outcomes, strengths and limitations of data and analysis
• excellent networking and influencing skills with the ability to establish strong working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• excellent organisational and prioritisation skills with the ability to work independently to deliver at pace, without sacrificing quality

Essential criteria

• excellent statistical and analytical skills. Delivery of high-quality quantitative analysis and ability to ensure that evidence is at the heart of decision making
• strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to work on projects independently or as part of a multi-disciplinary team, manage workloads and competing priorities and clearly identify policy needs.
• excellent communications skills to align statistical analysis with policy needs and clearly present (including data visualisation) and explain the outcomes, strengths and limitations of data and analysis
• ability to build strong relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders

Desirable criteria

• experience of working with environmental data
• experience and skills utilising scientific and data analysis to inform policy development and delivery

Qualifications/experience required

Applicants should either:

• a degree or post-graduate qualification containing formal training on statistics or data, or
• have a minimum three years’ experience in a statistics or data-related field

The behaviours required for this role are shown below. You will be assessed against these behaviours during the selection process:

• making effective decisions
• communicating and influencing
• changing and improving
• working together

Technical and quantitative skills

The relevant statistical and technical experience for this role are listed below:

• understanding and interpretation of data (including data quality)
• data analysis (e.g. descriptive statistics and regression)
• presenting and disseminating data effectively (including data visualisation)
• experience of using at least one data manipulation and analysis software (e.g. R, Python, QGIS or SAS)

You will be assessed on your technical skills with an assessment alongside the interview if selected. Details of the assessment will be sent out in advance.

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant’s experience, skills, and potential fit within our organisation. This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your behaviours, strengths and experience.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Short stage application form

Please complete the first stage short application form, which includes your personal details, eligibility to apply and any reasonable adjustments required.

Stage 2: Written application and sift

As part of the application process, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Behaviours – you will be asked to provide a 250-word statement on each of the following Behaviours:

• making effective decisions

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (800-word count). Your personal statement should explain why you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for this role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.

You should read each of the essential criteria, and think about a time, or an example, that can help demonstrate your knowledge/skills. Remember, this must be evidence based and your answers should be clear, concise and reflect what actions you undertook. You may want to use the STAR(R) approach to respond to each criterion. Please read and understand the key criteria thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against.

ESS uses the Scottish Government Civil Service Success Profile framework which is made up of three elements: Behaviours, Experience and Technical. ESS strongly recommends you have a look at the Success Profiles candidate guide to enable you to make the best application possible. When writing behaviours at application stage or presenting behaviours in interview, ESS recommends you use the STAR format to present your answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Technical experience statement

You will be asked to provide a 200-word statement on your experience in each of the following areas:

• understanding and interpretation of data (including data quality)
• data analysis (e.g. descriptive statistics and regression)
• presenting and disseminating data effectively (including data visualisation)
• experience of using at least one data manipulation and analysis software (e.g. R, Python, QGIS or SAS)

Sift

After the closing date, your application will be reviewed and marked.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Success Profile element, making effective decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The sift is expected to take place from 6 July 2026.

Once the sift has been completed, applicants will be notified of the outcome. Please note that feedback will not be given to applicants at sift stage.

Stage 3: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• behaviours – making effective decisions, communicating and influencing, changing and improving, working together
• experience

You will also be required to do a technical assessment which will involve interpretation of data and presenting findings. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews are expected to take place week commencing 10 August.

Preparing for the interview

The interview will take approximately one hour and will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions. A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation offering a more inclusive approach. The behaviour and strength-based questioning explores what you, the candidate, can and have done, but also your potential.

Please note: you will receive the interview questions approximately 12 hours in advance of your interview.

Behaviours

You will be assessed against the behaviours mentioned above.

It may be helpful to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the STAR model to explain:

STAR – What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?

Strengths

It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strength questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this.

If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed further.

Stage 4: Offer

Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first.

The successful candidate will be notified of a start date following successful pre-employment checks, which can take a number of weeks to complete.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.