Senior Operational Researcher

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Science, Technology, Research and Analysis (STAR) Group sits at the heart of the Home Office. The group ensures the best evidence and analysis are used to address the strategic issues facing the department. We also provide the science, technology, data, and international insights and collaboration capabilities to drive delivery.

The Protection and Enforcement Analysis and Insight unit, as part of Home Office Analysis and Insight (HOAI) strives to provide robust evidence to inform the development of new policies on irregular migration. The challenges in this policy area require innovative analytical solutions, which leads us to working across the vibrant HOAI community of over 700 analysts, with partners across government and with international partners to provide consistent and coherent analysis and insight to the Migration and Border system and the public.

The role will involve a mixture of stakeholder engagement and Operational Research (OR) analytical methods to deliver a strong impact across the asylum system. The successful candidate will not only deliver rigorous and assured analysis but also work to ensure those outputs are properly understood and used by our customers.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of analytical delivery in a high-profile and fast-paced environment. As part of the team you will be delivering impactful analysis to senior stakeholders influencing operational and ministerial decisions.

Job description

The Asylum Intake Modelling Team uses bespoke modelling to generate forecasts and scenarios which assist the Home Office in planning for the impact of migration to the UK. Working in collaboration with operational and policy stakeholders the analysis and insight our team produces is directly influencing their decision making.

The role will therefore involve using both technical expertise and stakeholder management in an environment that is both fast-paced and a policy priority.

Eligibility

For external applicants: If you have analytical skills but no formal Civil Service analytical profession badging, you are most welcome to apply. Successful applicants will become badged members of the profession.

Applicants must meet the qualification requirements for the profession as set out below.

Key Responsibilities

• Designing and delivering operational research projects with autonomy and a range of tools such as R and Python.
• A willingness to work flexibly across changing priorities while maintaining delivery of your core projects.
• Analysing quantitative and qualitative data to derive insights and develop scenarios to present a range of possible futures to stakeholders.
• Understanding and interpreting stakeholder requirements and communicating the results and implications of your analysis.
• Ensuring best practice across the team, for example in the use of version control and quality assurance.
• Driving innovation by working to improve our existing modelling suite and data collection processes.

Roles and responsibilities may be reviewed to ensure effective delivery and impact.

Working Pattern

This role is available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working. This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 4 days per week due to business requirements.

Travel

Occasional travel within the UK may be required. Travel costs incurred for business need will be reimbursed in line with Home Office travel policy.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• To be eligible to apply you must either already be a member of the Government Operational Research Service (GORS) or able to meet the GORS educational requirements.
• A thorough knowledge and application of a range of qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques and tools (e.g. R, Python, SQL, Excel).
• Experience delivering impactful analysis and presenting to a range of stakeholders, including presenting technical analysis to non-technical audiences.
• A track record of managing own analytical projects from understanding requirements and context, building capability, designing solutions, quality assurance and timely delivery.
• An ability to work collaboratively with fellow members of the analytical community and external partners to produce coherent and useful analytical products.

Desirable Criteria

• Practical experience of programming languages (e.g. Python, R, SQL).
• Experience of working flexibly across teams and managing complex stakeholder relationships.

Qualifications

You must have (or expect to have in the next year) a highly mathematical degree to join GORS, which must be one of the following: a minimum 2:1, or a 2:2 with relevant work experience, or a postgraduate qualification. To meet our definition of a highly numerate degree, at least half of your degree course must be from one or more of the following subjects: maths, physics, astrophysics, operational research, management science, engineering (civil, chemical, electronic), data science, decision science, statistics, econometrics or similar.

Please provide all qualifications held, including overall grade, modules taken and credits associated with each.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• GORS - Knowledge and Application of Operational Research
• GORS - Achieving Impact with Analysis

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• GORS - Knowledge and Application of Operational Research

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• This post is eligible for a Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) up to £2000. Please note that the amount of RRA could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

1. Application – by 23rd March 2026.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words).
• Evidence of the Technical Skills - Knowledge and Application of Operational Research that align to the GORS Technical Framework - GOV.UK (maximum 250 words).

Your CV should consist of your career history and qualifications. Please provide all qualifications held, including overall grade, modules taken and credits associated with each. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description. Please indicate if you are a current badged member of GORS.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV and Personal Statement), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2.Sift – week commencing 30th March 2026.

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement, CV and Technical Skill - Knowledge and Application of Operational Research as listed in the advert.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the CV and Technical Skill - Knowledge and Application of Operational Research. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining element submitted (Personal Statement).

Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

3. Interview – week commencing 20th April 2026.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours and Technical Skills (as listed in the job advert) based questions.

In addition, candidates will be asked to complete a Government Operational Research exercise at the beginning of their interview. The exercise question will be disclosed at the interview.

The exercise will be assessed against GORS Professional Framework (GORS Technical Framework - GOV.UK)and will be assessed against the Technical Skills as listed in the job advertisement.

The interview will take place on Teams. Candidates will be required to have access to:

• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection
• Microsoft Teams

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Location Preferences

You can select up to threelocations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred locations and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Additional Security Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. The level of Criminal Record Check required for this role is Basic. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.

Further Information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Serviceon your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

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 theCivil 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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : HORC Campaign Team - (Corporate Enablers)
• Email : horccampaignteamcorporateenablers@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

candidate_information_v16_January_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 429kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)