Statistician / Data Analyst

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

Appointees from this campaign will join a professional team of Statisticians/Data Analysts. They can expect to work on any element of statistical production in the CSO from data collection and processing to data analysis and dissemination.

Statisticians/Data Analysts can also be expected to manage and lead teams involved in the statistical production life cycle.

The role involves a wide range of functions, including:

• Producing Official Statistics using analytical and statistical techniques; whilst upholding the core values of the CSO in all aspects of the work, namely professional independence, objectivity, and confidentiality.
• Identifying, analysing, interpreting, and communicating trends or patterns in complex datasets.
• Acquiring data from primary or secondary data sources and maintaining databases/data systems.
• Working with other data sources such as unstructured data – social media, big data etc.
• Working with users of statistics to determine their current and future data needs.
• Working with respondents to understand their perspective and ensure that the burden of compliance is minimised.
• Providing policy makers with evidence and insight to frame policy on topics such as employment and social conditions, the economy, and the environment.
• Extracting key messages from single or multiple data sources and presenting them in an appropriate format to the relevant audience.
• Exploiting geospatial data to enhance statistical processes.
• Developing and implementing data collection and processing systems and other strategies to optimise statistical efficiency and data quality; thinking creatively and critically about how to improve and add value to existing processes and outputs and following through to implementation.
• Leading and managing a team of support staff and, where opportunities arise, engaging with corporate priorities and objectives and providing the necessary leadership within your team and across the organisation.
• Managing the implementation of a variety of aspects of the statistical lifecycle such as data collection, data processing, data analysis and dissemination, in line with best statistical practice and within specified timeframes.
• Actively representing the organisation in formal settings including participating in national and international meetings relating to the work of the CSO.
• Preparing reports and recommendations for senior management in the CSO, demonstrating awareness of strategic issues relating to Official Statistics.
• Contributing effectively to and taking responsibility for the achievement and implementation in your respective area of responsibility of the corporate objectives set out in various strategic frameworks associated with the CSO long term strategy, Vision 2030, and contributing to the implementation of reforms under the Civil Service Renewal Plan.

ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE AND CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON ELIGIBILITY

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

(b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

(c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

(d) A non-EEA citizen who has a Stamp 4 permission or a Stamp 5 permission.

Please note that a 50 TEU visa, which is a replacement for Stamp 4EUFAM after Brexit, is acceptable as a Stamp 4 equivalent.

To qualify, candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer.

If your visa expires, this may result in your being stepped down from your employment until such time as you have regularised your permission to work in the State.

ESSENTIAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The successful candidate must have on or before 11th August 2026:

• Minimum Level 8 primary degree (2H1 or higher) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) (or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the CSO) in a discipline with a significant numerate component such as Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Data Science/Data Analytics, Physics etc.
• Other Level 8 primary degree courses (where a candidate has achieved a grade of 2H1 or above) involving a high level of numeracy may be considered eligible, for example but not limited to certain Level 8 qualifications in Accounting, Engineering, Behavioural/Psychology/Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences. In this case, please specify all quantitative modules, grades and where applicable, their ECTS values.

Please Note:

• In the absence of a primary degree with a significant numerate component as set out above, postgraduate short courses such as Diplomas or Higher Certificate programmes are not acceptable for eligibility purposes.
• In the absence of a primary degree with a significant numerate component, taught Masters level programmes with a significant numerate component may be acceptable for eligibility purposes. If you believe that you possess a qualifying Masters qualification in the absence of an eligible primary degree, it is imperative that you include a listing of all quantitative modules, their corresponding ECTS values, where applicable, and grade obtained in your application. If you wish to discuss the eligibility of your Masters level course before application, please contact CSO Recruitment & Selection team at competitions_statistician@cso.ie.

AND

The successful candidate must also be able to demonstrate:

• Technical statistical skills e.g., knowledge or experience in sampling and survey design, data linkage and integration, data processing, data modelling, geographic information systems (GIS), handling large datasets and statistical quality assurance.
• Proficiency in using programming/scripting languages associated with statistical computing environments such as R, SAS, SPSS or equivalent, and the capability to learn statistical software packages.
• Combining various data processing techniques to achieve a given analytical task.
• Evidence of keeping up to date in their field of expertise and openness to continuous professional development.
• Strong analytical skills to collect, organise, analyse, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy, and the ability to extract key messages and underlying trends.
• Ability to work effectively on own initiative, as part of a team, and as a leader of a group.
• Ability to look at data and statistics in the broader context, taking the "bigger picture" into consideration.
• Strong focus on meeting the needs of customers.
• Ability to manage resources and progress multiple projects and work activities successfully under the pressure of competing deadlines.
• Strong communication, report writing and presentation skills.
• Capability in building and maintaining good working relationships with a wide range of people, both at national and international level.

Applicants must demonstrate, by reference to specific achievements in their career to date, that they possess or have the capacity to acquire those qualities, skills and knowledge required for the role of Statistician/Data Analyst as identified by the CSO. A description of the competencies is set out in Appendix 1.

Therefore, it is in all applicants' interests to provide a detailed and accurate account of eligible qualifications and skills, in particular highlighting evidence of numeracy and statistical skills/experience on the application form.

SHORTLISTING

If the number applying for the position is such that it would not be practical to interview everyone, the CSO may decide that only a certain number will be called to interview. In this respect a short-listing board will examine the application forms and assess them against pre-determined criteria based on the requirements of the position.

The short-listing board(s) will examine the information put forward under the qualifications and Specialist Knowledge areas only.

This is not to suggest that other candidates are necessarily unsuitable or incapable of undertaking the job, rather that there are some candidates who are prima facie better qualified and/or have more relevant experience or, based on their application, appear to be better qualified and/or have more relevant experience.

The office reserves the right to make a decision on the appropriate format once the application deadline has passed.

Therefore, it is in the applicant's own interests to provide a detailed and accurate account of their qualifications/specialist knowledge on the application form.

INTERVIEW STAGE

At interview, candidates will be required to provide specific and detailed examples of past or current experiences which demonstrate the skills and capabilities required for the role of Statistician/Data Analyst. These skills and competencies will be thoroughly and systematically explored at interview, in order to determine suitability for the role.

The stage will consist of an interview covering the applicant's career to date, with a view to eliciting evidence from the following competencies:

• Specialist Knowledge, Expertise & Self Development
• Leadership Potential
• Analysis & Decision Making
• Delivery of Results
• Interpersonal & Communication Skills

The interview board will consider the candidate's behaviours, skills, strengths, knowledge, values, motivation and interests as well as experience, suitability and readiness for the role of Statistician/Data Analyst in the Central Statistics Office.

Interviews will be conducted in person.

AVAILABILITY AND ADMISSION

During the selection process, the onus is on all applicants to make themselves available on the date(s) specified by the CSO and to make whatever arrangements are necessary to ensure that they receive communications sent to them at the contact details specified on the CSO Careers Portal.

The CSO will not be responsible for refunding any expenses incurred by candidates.

The admission of a person to a campaign, or invitation to attend interview, is not to be taken as implying that the CSO is satisfied that such person fulfils the requirements of the campaign or is not disqualified by law from holding the position and does not carry a guarantee that your application will receive further consideration.

It is important, therefore, for you to note that the onus is on you to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for the campaign before attending for interview. If you do not meet these essential entry requirements but nevertheless attend for interview, you will be putting yourself to unnecessary expense.

Prior to recommending any candidate for appointment to this position, the CSO will make all such enquiries that are deemed necessary to determine the suitability of that candidate.

Until all stages of the recruitment process have been fully completed, a final determination cannot be made nor can it be deemed or inferred that such a determination has been made.

Should the person recommended for appointment decline, or having accepted it relinquish it, or if an additional vacancy arises, the board may, at its discretion, select and recommend another person for appointment on the results of this selection process.

REFERENCES

It would be helpful if you would start considering names of people who you feel would be suitable referees that we might consult (2–3 names and contact details).

The referees should be able to provide relatively recent information on your performance and behaviour in a work context.

You may wish to select referees that can provide such information from different perspectives or in different work contexts.

You should include the names of your referees when applying for the position on:

https://www.cso.ie/en/aboutus/careers/recruitment/

Please be assured that we will only contact referees should you be successful at final interview. We will require a reference from your current employer prior to recommendation for appointment.

Successful candidates will be required to complete a number of clearance processes such as Health and Character Declaration, Garda Vetting, and any other relevant checks required for the particular role.

SECURITY CLEARANCE

You will be required to complete and return a Garda eVetting form should you come under consideration for appointment.

This form will be forwarded to An Garda Síochána for security checks on all Irish and Northern Irish addresses at which you resided.

If you have resided/studied in countries outside of the Republic of Ireland for a period of 6 months or more in the last 5 years, it is mandatory for you to furnish a Police Clearance Certificate from those countries stating that you have no convictions recorded against you while residing there.

You will need to provide a separate Police Clearance Certificate for each country you have resided in.

Clearance must be dated after the date you left the country.

It is your responsibility to seek security clearances in a timely fashion as they can take some time.

You cannot be appointed without this information being provided and being in order.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFIDENTIALITY

Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts, 2014, applications will be treated in strict confidence.

All enquiries, applications and all aspects of the proceedings are treated as strictly confidential and are not disclosed to anyone outside those directly involved in that aspect of the process.

Certain items of information, not specific to any individual, are extracted from computer records for general statistical purposes.

PRINCIPAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

The appointment is subject to the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, and any other Act for the time being in force relating to the Civil Service and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

SALARY: STATISTICIAN (PPC) STANDARD

The salary scale for this position effective from 1st June 2026 is as follows:

€41,521 €44,270 €45,059 €48,503 €52,934 €56,481 €60,129 €63,840 €67,543 €71,226 €83,113 €86,174 €89,277 €92,390 €95,499 €97,292¹ €100,427² €103,576

¹ After three years satisfactory service at the maximum.

² After six years satisfactory service at the maximum.

The PPC pay rate applies when the individual is required to pay a Personal Pension Contribution (otherwise known as a main scheme contribution) in accordance with the rules of their main/personal superannuation scheme.

This is different to a contribution in respect of membership of a Spouses' and Children's scheme, or the Additional Superannuation Contributions (ASC).

A different rate will apply where the appointee is not required to make a Personal Pension Contribution.