The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the value of the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution, and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime, and migration. 

Your expertise will ensure that Welsh-speaking communities have equal access to this vital information, from GDP statistics and inflation data to census results and crime statistics. Working within our Statistical Standards division as part of the Government Statistical Service (GSS) Policy and Coordination team, you'll support delivery of our Welsh Language Scheme by providing high-quality translation services across all organisational outputs. This includes translating publications, surveys, web content, social media posts, and campaign materials, while quality-assuring work from our external translation provider, Prysg.

Job description

The Welsh Language Translation and Support Officer sits within the Statistical Standards division, part of the newly formed Office of the National Statistician, supporting the GSS Policy and Coordination team. This role is fundamental to ensuring ONS fulfils its commitment to bilingual service delivery, making our vital economic, social, and demographic statistics accessible to Welsh-speaking communities.

You'll be instrumental in implementing our Welsh Language Scheme, which ensures equal treatment of Welsh and English across all organisational communications, from complex statistical publications and survey materials to digital content and public engagement campaigns.

Our Welsh Language Scheme outlines the principles and commitments that guide us in delivering services and conducting public business bilingually wherever it is relevant and appropriate. This includes making sure that Welsh and English are treated equally, and that our communications, policies, and customer interactions reflect this commitment.

The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting delivery of the ONS Welsh Language Scheme by providing high-quality translation of documents and content between English and Welsh within agreed deadlines. This includes, but is not limited to, publications, surveys, correspondence, reports, web content, social media posts, campaign materials, job vacancies, and any other resources intended for the public in Wales across all parts of the organisation.

The successful candidate will assist the Welsh Language Team in ensuring that the organisation fully complies with its Welsh language obligations and actively promotes bilingualism across all areas of work. 

The successful candidate will proofread and quality-assure all Welsh-language content translated by Prysg, our external translation provider, as well as work produced by colleagues within the organisation.

The successful candidate will also provide support to the ONS Welsh Language Team and Welsh Language Champion in the wider delivery of our Scheme.

Responsibilities

• Manage translation requests by coordinating the end-to-end process, including scheduling and prioritising tasks to meet agreed deadlines.

• Liaise with internal teams to clarify requirements and resolve queries, while maintaining clear records of requests and turnaround times. 

• Liaise with our external translation provider when required, ensuring clear communication of requirements, deadlines and quality expectations.  

• Develop and update bilingual templates including, documents, presentations and digital content to ensure consistency and compliance with the organisation’s Welsh Language Scheme.  

• Utilise translation software and grammar-checking tools to produce accurate, high-quality Welsh translations. 

• Provide support for events and live delivery as required, including preparing bilingual materials and ensuring Welsh language visibility throughout the event. 

• Offer linguistic guidance to colleagues and ensure Welsh content is clear, accurate, and accessible to all users. 

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Fluent in both Welsh and English, with strong command of grammar, spelling, and syntax in both languages.
• Demonstrated experience in translating a variety of materials, alongside excellent proofreading and editing skills.
• Skilled at engaging effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior colleagues, and building productive cross‑organisational relationships.
• Highly organised, with the ability to coordinate multiple workstreams, track progress, and resolve issues to ensure timely, high quality delivery.
• Effective and efficient communicator, capable of conveying information clearly to maximise understanding and impact.

Languages

Fluent in both Welsh and English, with strong command of grammar, spelling, and syntax in both languages.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Welsh Translation and Proofreading Assessment

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,587, Office for National Statistics contributes £10,019 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.