Principal Statistician

3-Month Contract (Potential Extension) £400-£800 per day, Inside IR35. Hybrid Working - Birmingham or London.

Morgan Hunt are delighted to be partnering with a national regulatory body to recruit a Principal Statistician to support the development of a new evidence-led approach to regulatory decision making. This is a unique opportunity to influence how a regulator uses statistical evidence to identify emerging risks, shape policy and improve decision making at a national level. Rather than focusing on building machine learning models or data pipelines, this role is centred around designing robust statistical methodologies, helping establish best practice and developing the long-term capability of the organisation's analytical function.

Opportunity

You’ll join a small team of specialist consultants responsible for delivering one of the organisation’s key strategic programmes. Working alongside economists, insight specialists and senior stakeholders, you’ll help define how statistical evidence should be gathered, interrogated and used to support regulatory activity. The role will play a significant part in shaping the future structure, capability and operating model of the organisation’s analytical function.

Key Responsibilities

• Design statistical methodologies to support evidence-based regulatory decision making.
• Develop frameworks for gathering, analysing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data.
• Lead one of the programme’s key strategic deliverables.
• Work with stakeholders to define complex research questions and determine the most appropriate statistical approaches.
• Design processes for identifying trends, risks and behavioural patterns across regulated sectors.
• Develop statistical standards, governance and best practice across the organisation.
• Work alongside economists, insight specialists and policy teams to solve complex regulatory challenges.
• Help shape the future operating model and long-term structure of the organisation’s analytical capability.
• Produce clear recommendations supported by robust statistical evidence.
• Communicate complex findings to senior stakeholders in an accessible and meaningful way.

About You

We’re looking for someone with a strong background in statistics who enjoys solving complex real-world problems. You’ll ideally have experience in several of the following:

• Designing statistical methodologies rather than simply analysing data.
• Applying statistical techniques to support policy, regulation or public sector decision making.
• Developing evidence frameworks and analytical standards.
• Working within Government, regulatory bodies, research organisations or think tanks.
• Designing research approaches to investigate behavioural, demographic or societal trends.
• Statistical inference and hypothesis testing.
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Translating complex statistical findings into practical recommendations.
• Influencing senior stakeholders through evidence-based insight.

Ideal Background

• Government departments
• Arm’s-Length Bodies
• Office for National Statistics (ONS)
• Regulators
• Research organisations
• Think tanks
• Public policy organisations
• Academic research environments

Qualifications

PhD in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Operational Research or another highly quantitative discipline or equivalent commercial experience.

Contract Details

3-month initial contract with the possibility of extension £400-£800 per day (dependent on experience) Inside IR35. Candidates may occasionally be required to attend offices in Birmingham or London. Flexibility around office attendance, although some travel should be expected.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to influence how a national regulator uses statistical evidence to make decisions that have a significant impact across an entire regulated sector. You’ll help build the foundations of a new analytical capability, designing methodologies, frameworks and processes that will shape the organisation for years to come.

Morgan Hunt is an equal opportunities employer.