Lead Analyst for Digital and Transformation Group

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Department for Work and Pensions is seeking a Lead Analyst to steer the analytical work behind major digital transformation programmes. You will champion quality analysis to influence policy, delivery, and strategy across the Digital Analytics Directorate and the Transformation Group.

As a senior analytical leader, you will collaborate with ministers and executives to drive evidence-led decisions, develop measurement frameworks, and strengthen the evidence base across transformation projects

Qualifications

• Experience leading analytical programmes and teams.
• Ability to advise executives and ministers.
• Strong collaboration with stakeholders across government.
• Champions data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Setting a clear vision for the programme of analytical work in the Digital Analytics Directorate and Transformation Group, aligning with strategy.
• Providing strategic challenge and analytical assurance to executive leaders, programme boards and Ministers.
• Collaborating with stakeholders across DWP and government to establish high-impact evaluation and analysis programmes.
• Leading the development of transformation measurement frameworks, including benefits realisation.
• Ensuring quality and governance of evidence across the Lead Analyst area.
• Leading and representing the analytical function within the Senior Civil Service leadership team.
• Championing use of customer and colleague insight to inform service transformation.
• Managing analytical risk and ensuring publication standards and best practice.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Data analysis

Strategic thinking

Job description

Could you be the next Lead Analyst in DWP? Lead the insight behind major digital transformation programmes and help shape services that millions of people rely on every day.

The Digital & Transformation Group (D&T) in DWP designs and transforms services around user needs, delivering major change programmes supported by Data and Insight. These programmes include Service Modernisation, and initiatives addressing Fraud, Error and Debt. The focus is on helping citizens access the financial support they need, reducing fraud and error, supporting progression, and lowering the cost of service delivery.

This role is also embedded within DWP’s Analytical Community (AC) which has over 900 analysts made up of Economists, Operational Researchers, Social Researchers, Statisticians and Data Analysts. Analysts are grouped into 20 Lead Analyst areas, embedded across the Department. Our services are in high demand from ministers, senior leaders and policy and operational stakeholders.

As Lead Analyst you will be responsible for:

• Setting a clear overall vision for the programme of analytical work in the Digital Analytics Directorate and the wider Transformation Group in collaboration with the Director and other Deputy Directors – championing the use of quality analysis so that it has maximum influence over the work of the directorate and across Digital and transformation, whilst maintaining alignment with the DWP data strategy and Department Priorities
• Strong personal leadership, setting a clear vision and objectives for the division, building capability, pride and staff engagement whilst effectively managing performance, continuing to push the boundaries in building a collaborative culture and harnessing expertise from all professions and individuals.
• Collaborating with stakeholders across DWP and wider government and externally to establish a high impact evaluation, research and analysis programme that drives continuous improvement in the way DWP digitises and transforms its services.
• Acting as the senior analytical adviser for major transformation programmes, providing strategic challenge, analytical assurance and insight to executive leaders, programme boards and Ministers.
• Championing the use of customer and colleague insight and evidence to inform Operational Delivery, Policy Development and service transformation to improve outcomes for customers.
• Leading the development of transformation measurement frameworks, including performance metrics, benefits realisation and value-for-money assessments. Championing innovative approaches where appropriate.
• Strengthening the evidence base and developing evidence narratives to support transformation activities. While ensuring decision makers understand both the strengths and limitations of evidence used to support policy, operational and transformation decisions.
• Acting as the accountable senior analytical leader for the quality, integrity and use of evidence across the Lead Analyst area, ensuring appropriate quality assurance, governance, publication standards and adherence to professional best practice. Managing analytical and reputational risk associated with the interpretation and use of analysis, research and data.
• As a member of the Senior Civil Service and Senior Analytical Leadership Team, the Lead Analyst has wider leadership responsibilities across the DWP, visibly leading on activities that support improved diversity and inclusion, talent and capability growth.

Join the Virtual Engagement Session

Date: Friday 16th October 2026

Time: 11:10 – 12:10

This virtual session is an opportunity for you to find out more about the Lead Analyst role, working for DWP and what it's like leading the Digital Transformation Group.

Deadline for applications: 12 noon on Monday 26th October 2026, via Civil Service Jobs.