Rachel

Senior Agile Delivery Manager.

Until Rachel started to recruit for Government Digital and Data roles, she’d not realised it was something she was interested in. Now, she’s a Senior Agile Delivery Manager at the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

I’ve been working at the ONS for four years, starting in HR. It was when I began recruiting for digital and data roles that I realised I was interested in a career in the tech field myself.

My manager recommended I find a delivery manager mentor in the Digital Services and Technology department and within a few months, I successfully applied for a Delivery Manager post. Now, I’m a Senior Agile Delivery Manager in a team specialising in Microsoft Power Platforms.

One of our current projects is lifting data to reduce administrative burden, with plans to roll it out to the ONS and other government bodies. The ONS provides great career growth opportunities, and the flexi time allows me to take my son on long weekends to explore different countries. The technology we use is more advanced than I expected too. It’s such a supportive and dynamic work environment.

I experienced a difficult time when my son became critically ill after his appendix burst and was in the hospital for two weeks, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns. But the ONS provided me with the time and flexibility to support my family. Unlike other organisations I’ve worked for, where they still would have expected me to deliver.

My son has fully recovered and I’m so grateful for the ONS’ supportive environment.