Description
Location
ONS operates a flexible hybrid working model across the UK, with colleagues linked to one of our contractual locations in Newport, Titchfield (Fareham), Manchester or Darlington and working between office and remote throughout the week.
As part of the hybrid working arrangement there is a 40% minimum office attendance requirement. Attendance is typically at your contractual office, with occasional travel to alternative locations. Due to estates constraints, there are currently temporary exceptions to this for colleagues based at Manchester and Darlington who are required to attend the office for a minimum of 20% of their work time.
About the job
Job summary
Do you want to be part of an organisation that produces statistics for the public good?
There has never been a more interesting or important time to work with data and statistics across Government.
Here at the Office for National Statistics we have unrivalled access to a breadth and depth of data that we use daily to provide statistics, analysis and insight for the public and policy makers. We are at the forefront when it comes to the production of reliable data, giving trusted and unique insights into health, well-being, work, household finances, local economies, high streets and more.
At ONS we are creative about the way we work to deliver brilliant and sustainable outcomes and as we collaborate, we approach working together with positivity and trust, investing in building excellent and inclusive working relationships across the organisation.
Please note we are running a Candidate Support Webinar for this vacancy on Wednesday 4th September at 11am.
Click the following link to register: GSR Research Officer Candidate Support Webinar
Job description
What can we offer you?
Job satisfaction knowing that you are producing information that really does help the public and make a difference to their daily lives.
Exposure to a range of other teams and topics across ONS and outside of the organisation to get a broader understanding of the great work that goes on across the office.
Being responsible for a range of projects and seeing your team’s work being picked up in the media.
Using the latest programming software to manipulate and visualise data in an innovative way.
Learning from topic experts and becoming an expert yourself.
Flexible working with a work life balance and the autonomy to work to your strengths whilst developing additional skills as you build a career with us.
What will the successful candidate be doing?
High quality data and analysis are required to inform the UK, improve lives and build the future. A range of opportunities are available to work on some of the most important public policy issues that the UK will need to address in future years. Some of these roles will include work looking at:
Responsive analysis- The ONS responds to emerging and priority topics that the public and government face. To name some examples, results from our Ukrainian Humanitarian Survey provided data to inform government work in a range of areas including jobs and careers support. We supported investigations for those over 50 years old who are leaving the labour force and we continue to produce insights into the impact of the cost of living in the UK.
Population and migration- Our data provides insights on the main drivers for migration to the UK and we are working to transform the population and migration statistical system. Some of this work involves refining and improving methods to produce population estimates using administrative data sources.
Health monitoring- ONS is recognised as world leading when it comes to mortality and morbidity analysis. We were at the heart of the analytical response to the coronavirus pandemic in the UK and our mortality statistics are regarded as amongst the very best by our international counterparts.
Crime- Our data is key to delivering the ambitions of the Government Safer Streets Mission. Using data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales and Police Recorded Crime, we publish crime levels and trends and provide important insights including violent crime, sexual offences, drug misuse, and bullying and online experiences among children.
Survey transformation and quality- We are working to enhance core data collection and improve the quality of our surveys including the Transformed Labour Force Survey.
We also have wider divisions including Integrated Data Platform and Economic Statistics with limited Social Research positions.
Person specification
Responsibilities
Roles may include some of the following:
Production and publication of high-quality National Statistics on a range of social and subject matters
Discrete pieces of analysis to provide context and understanding around statistical outputs
Development of new methods, production systems and reporting/dissemination to make sure we meet data users’ changing needs
Answering queries from customers and departments on ad-hoc analyses or standard outputs; helping customers make best use of our statistics
Assisting with research to understand administrative datasets and how they can be used in the production of official statistics
Producing supporting documentation including metadata, operational or quality and methodology documentation
Contributing to quality assurance and production of statistical or research publications
Conducting qualitative research (including focus groups, cognitive interviewing, pop-up research, usability testing and so on) with the public and analysis of findings
Designing and developing questionnaires for social and economic surveys (suitable for paper, telephone, face-to-face and online self-completion) using qualitative research methods
Reporting findings through presentations, at ‘show and tell’ meetings, and through papers to a variety of audiences, both in the UK and internationally
Liaising closely with other staff across ONS to share knowledge and develop expertise
Using specialist statistical software such as R, Python or equivalent to support this research
Qualifications
Qualification route
Hold, or expect to get during this academic year, an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1 (or postgraduate degree in addition to an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2) in a social science related subject where at least 30% of the modules or credits, excluding dissertation modules, included social research content.
The RO Eligibility form attached to this advert includes detail on what qualifies as a social science subject. Please read this form carefully to ensure that you meet the criteria for this route.
Badged route
Already be a member of the Government Social Research profession
You must use the RO Eligibility form to tell us if you are already a badged member of GSR, which will be checked when we process your application. Please read this form carefully to ensure that you meet the criteria for this route.
Professional Experience route
Hold, or expect to get during this academic year, an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1 (or postgraduate degree in addition to an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2) in any subject or hold a degree equivalent (for example, an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS),
AND
Have at least four years of successful experience of working in applied social research in which strong analytical skills have been clearly demonstrated.
The RO Eligibility form attached to this advert includes further information on what qualifies as successful work experience. Please read this form carefully to ensure that you meet the criteria for this route.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Delivering at Pace
Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
GSR Skill: Technical (Identifying research needs, designing & specifying research)
GSR Skill: Technical (Analysis & interpretation)
GSR Skill: Using and promoting social research (Communication of research evidence & analysis and Championing social research)
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £32,975, Office for National Statistics contributes £8,903 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our 5400 valued colleagues across the business.
We are committed to supporting our people’s wellbeing by offering flexible ways of working that support a healthy work life balance. We are happy to explore opportunities with you about working flexibly in line with our hybrid working policies.
Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that the benefits pack attached (bottom of page) will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues and our fantastic working culture.
Inclusion & Accessibility
At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a member of the Business Disability Forum and a Disability Confident Leader we’re committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.
If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Security Clearance
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying.
A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.
If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please read the information available on Gov.uk on this link, or contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss, as failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.
At the point of SC application you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:
Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
Security Services records
Applicants may utilise AI resources in their submissions; ensuring all information provided is factually accurate, truthful, and original, avoiding any form of plagiarism to maintain the authenticity and credibility of the application process.
Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.
Application Process
This section outlines how to apply and the selection process. Please ensure you read all guidance to understand the requirements. The attached Candidate Pack will help you complete your application (see link at the bottom of this job advert).
Entry Routes for this vacancy
To be eligible to apply for this Government Social Research, Research Officer role you need to fulfil the criteria of one of the following three routes:
Qualification route
Hold, or expect to get during this academic year, an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1 (or postgraduate degree in addition to an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2) in a social science related subject where at least 30% of the modules or credits, excluding dissertation modules, included social research content.
The RO Eligibility form attached to this advert includes detail on what qualifies as a social science subject. Please read this form carefully to ensure that you meet the criteria for this route.
Badged route
Already be a member of the Government Social Research profession
You must use the RO Eligibility form to tell us if you are already a badged member of GSR, which will be checked when we process your application. Please read this form carefully to ensure that you meet the criteria for this route.
Professional Experience route
Hold, or expect to get during this academic year, an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1 (or postgraduate degree in addition to an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2) in any subject or hold a degree equivalent (for example, an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS),
AND
Have at least four years of successful experience of working in applied social research in which strong analytical skills have been clearly demonstrated.
Completing the Application
To apply for the Research Officer role you must complete the following parts of the application:
Online application: found via the ‘Apply Now’ button in this advert. Please complete all sections of your online application form.
RO Eligibility form: This is attached to the advert – you must read this carefully, complete the relevant section (depending on your route of application), and upload when you submit your application.
Complete your research proposal (see below), to be included in the ‘personal statement’ section of the online application form.
Failure to complete any of the above will result in your application being sifted out of the recruitment process.
Research Example (personal statement)
You must include a research proposal for a topic that is in the news or for a topic of interest, where you feel social research could provide useful insight for the government.
The Research Proposal will be assessed against the following Government Social Research technical skills:
GSR Skill: Technical (Identifying research needs, designing & specifying research)
GSR Skill: Technical (Analysis & interpretation)
There is a 750-word limit on this section. The Candidate Pack attached to the advert includes information on what you need include in the proposal.
Behaviours
This vacancy is usingSuccess Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Technical Skills are assessed against the GSR Technical Framework
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Delivering at Pace
Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
Government Social Research (GSR) Skill: Technical (Identifying research needs, designing & specifying research)
GSR Skill: Technical (Analysis & interpretation)
GSR Skill: Using and promoting social research (Communication of research evidence & analysis and Championing social research)
Knowledge Test
Candidates who apply for this role will be invited to complete an online GSR Skills Knowledge Test. Candidates will have a week to complete the test and only those who pass the knowledge test will progress to the application sift (evaluation of the online application, RO Eligibility Form, and Research Proposal).
Candidates do not need to complete the knowledge test if they are already GSR badged or if they have successfully passed the knowledge test within the last 12 months. Candidates who do not pass the GSR Skills Knowledge Test can repeat it having waited at least six months.
More information on the GSR Skills Knowledge Test can be found in the candidate pack.
If you require any reasonable adjustments for the knowledge test, for example needing extra time, please contact AnalyticalRecruitment@ons.gov.uk after submitting your application and stating the reference number of the role you are applying for and a member of the team will contact you to discuss further.
Interview Assessment Process
Candidates who successfully pass the online knowledge test and application sift will be invited to an online interview assessment, where they will be asked to conduct a presentation and be interviewed to further assess their general and technical competence.
The invitation to the presentation and interview will be emailed seven days before the interview is due to take place and will contain information about what to prepare for the presentation.
At the interview stage you will be assessed against the three GSR technical skills outlined in the Technical Skills section in this advert. You will also be assessed against the two Civil Service behaviours outlined in the Behaviours section in this advert.
In cases where there is a high number of applications, the application pass mark required may be adjusted and candidates will be invited to interview based on the highest scoring applications.
If there are more successful applicants than vacant positions, we will maintain a reserve list of remaining successful applicants from which further appointments will be made. A reserve list of successful applicants may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.
If you already work in ONS, note that by applying for this role you may be moved to a priority role in a different team or directorate to that in which you are currently working.
Important dates
Application closing date: 17/09/2024
Online GSR Knowledge Test: From 23/09/2024-30/09/2024
Application Sift dates: From 03/10/2024
We aim to provide feedback to all candidates no later than 14/10/2024
Candidate Interview dates: From 21/10/2024
Interviews will take place using video conference via the MS Teams platform
Please note: Dates may be subject to change.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time, unless this has been specified as a part of the role. This presence will vary and have flexibility built around the following: Needs of the role and business objectives. Personal Preferences. Successful collaboration and effective partnerships with teams/customers and stakeholders. Disability and wellbeing considerations.
For the full Terms and Conditions of the posts please see attachment.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Name :Analytical Recruitment Team
Email :AnalyticalRecruitment@ons.gov.uk
Recruitment team
Email :AnalyticalRecruitment@ons.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact recruitment.complaints@ons.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission
