Performance analyst
Find out what a performance analyst in government does and the skills you need to do the role at each level.
Last updated 31 May 2024 — See all updates
Contents
- — What a performance analyst does
- — Performance analyst role levels
- — 1. Associate performance analyst
- — 2. Performance analyst
- — 3. Senior performance analyst
- — 4. Lead performance analyst
- — 5. Head of performance analysis
- — Roles that share performance analyst skills
What a performance analyst does
A performance analyst conducts analysis. In this role, you will develop performance measurement frameworks - Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), goals, user needs and benefits - and analyse the performance of a service or product against these, adapting your approach and framework appropriately and in line with any changes.
Performance analyst role levels
There are 5 performance analyst role levels, from associate performance analyst to head of performance analysis.
The typical responsibilities and skills for each role level are described in the sections below. You can use this to identify the skills you need to progress in your career, or simply to learn more about each role in the Government Digital and Data profession.
1. Associate performance analyst
An associate performance analyst is an entry-level role requiring numeracy and some experience in analysis or data handling.
At this role level, you will:
- have the aptitude to learn to use analytical tools and produce standardised reports and charts
- start by working on projects with limited scope under the guidance of performance analysts and more senior role levels, replicating existing analysis and data techniques
- progress to greater independence (where appropriate)
- have the opportunity to develop an understanding of the wider analytics context, tools and techniques
- be responsible for the accuracy and quality of data and analysis, and how they are used
- engage with the performance analysis community
This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:
- AO (Administrative Officer)
- EO (Executive Officer)
Skill | Description |
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
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Communicating analysis and insight Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
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Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels |
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Technical understanding (performance analyst) Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Understanding analysis across the product life cycle Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels |
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Verification and validation of data and analysis Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels |
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Working within constraints (performance analyst) Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels |
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2. Performance analyst
A performance analyst has a strong understanding of a wide range of sources and analytical tools needed for the project they are working on.
At this role level, you will:
- be responsible for the performance analysis in your given area
- help the project team measure and assess outcomes (for example, what good looks like and how it will be measured)
- help to plan and ensure project delivery
- find opportunities to share information with the project team, community colleagues and others
- work independently, but know to seek guidance when necessary
- be adaptable in applying analysis techniques to new contexts, especially when acting as the sole representative for performance analysts on a project
- create a performance measurement framework for a project with the wider team, including identifying reporting requirements, advising on procurement, implementation and validation of tools to deliver against these requirements
- be responsible for the accuracy and quality of data and analysis, and how they are used
- be engaged with, and actively contribute to, the performance analysis community
This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:
- HEO (Higher Executive Officer)
- SEO (Senior Executive Officer)
Skill | Description |
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Communicating analysis and insight Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Technical understanding (performance analyst) Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Understanding analysis across the product life cycle Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Verification and validation of data and analysis Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Working within constraints (performance analyst) Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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3. Senior performance analyst
A senior performance analyst looks to delegate, automate or upskill others in analysis where possible and appropriate, provide leadership within their team and proactively use analysis to improve services.
At this role level, you will:
- potentially manage one or more performance analysts
- be proficient in a wide range of tools
- ensure the team is equipped with the required skills according to the strategy set out by the head of performance analysis
- be skilled and experienced at carrying out the day-to-day activities of a performance analyst, including setting up performance measurement frameworks
- carry out increasingly complex analysis, working with other teams where necessary
- actively contribute to the performance analysis community within your department or organisation, while forging links with other analytical disciplines
### Technical specialist
As a technical specialist senior performance analyst, you would look to develop tools and techniques to aid others in analysis. You would be responsible for the accuracy and quality of data and analysis, and for how data and analysis are used.
This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:
- SEO (Senior Executive Officer)
- G7 (Grade 7)
Skill | Description |
---|---|
Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Communicating analysis and insight Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Technical understanding (performance analyst) Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Understanding analysis across the product life cycle Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Verification and validation of data and analysis Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Working within constraints (performance analyst) Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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4. Lead performance analyst
A lead performance analyst manages junior performance analysts at any level, co-ordinating teams or groups of related analysts.
At this role level, you will:
- assist, take forward and influence the strategy as determined by the head of performance analysis, including data implementation and data architecture
- remove blockers and act as an escalation point for important issues
- be an ambassador for analytics across communities, departments and government
- be responsible for the accuracy and quality of data and analysis, and of how data and analysis are used
- proactively share knowledge and promote a data-driven culture, as a leader in the community
- coach and mentor senior performance analysts, performance analysts and associate performance analysts
This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:
- G7 (Grade 7)
- G6 (Grade 6)
Skill | Description |
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Communicating analysis and insight Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Technical understanding (performance analyst) Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Understanding analysis across the product life cycle Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Verification and validation of data and analysis Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Working within constraints (performance analyst) Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
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5. Head of performance analysis
The head of performance analysis leads the performance analysis community, acting as the point of contact between the community and the business.
At this role level, you will:
- remove blockers and act as an escalation point for important issues
- set the performance analysis strategy with input from lead and senior performance analysts
- be responsible for defining a framework for quality assurance within performance analysis
- champion performance analysis and performance analysts, working with colleagues across government and other Government Digital and Data communities and analytical professions
- manage the organisation’s performance analysis capability through business planning, development and recruitment
This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:
- G6 (Grade 6)
Skill | Description |
---|---|
Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Communicating analysis and insight Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
Technical understanding (performance analyst) Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
Understanding analysis across the product life cycle Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
Verification and validation of data and analysis Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
|
Working within constraints (performance analyst) Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Roles that share performance analyst skills
Role | Shared skills |
---|---|
Data governance manager | |
Digital portfolio manager |
Updates
Published 7 January 2020
Last updated 31 May 2024
31 May 2024
- The indicative job grades for the 'associate performance analyst' role level have been updated from 'EO and HEO' to 'AO and EO'. This change is based on the latest data on the most common grades for these role levels across government.
7 January 2020
- First published.