Job summary
Skills England is an executive agency of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). We identify skills gaps in the economy and use this insight to improve provision so that people and businesses can access the right training to connect people to jobs. We support employers to equip their domestic workforce with the skills they need. Working across government, Skills England ensures both young people and adults have clear education and training pathways.
You can find out further information on our responsibilities, priorities, and who we are and corporate information on GOV.UK: About us - Department for Education - GOV.UK; About us - Department for Work and Pensions - GOV.UK; and About us - Skills England - GOV.UK.
Job description
This role is for a Senior Research Officer, which will sit within the Research and Analysis team in Skills England’s Analysis and Insight Division. The Analysis and Insight division supports Skills England to be the authoritative voice on the country’s current and future skills needs. It provides expert analytical support to identify both emerging and currently in-demand job roles, and to identify the training and skills required to fill those jobs. We also work with colleagues in Skills England and external stakeholders to gather intelligence and provide insights into how the current skills offer can change to better match the needs of the economy and business. There are around 30 people in the division spread over the country. Most are analysts with some policy colleagues to provide strategy and project expertise.
We are looking for a skilled and experienced researcher to join the Research and Analysis team to lead on the delivery of the 2026 and 2028 Employer Skills Surveys (ESS). The Employer Skills Survey is a key source of intelligence for understanding the skills challenges faced by employers, both within their existing workforce and when recruiting. The survey gives insights into how they respond to these challenges through investment in training and workforce development. It is a representative survey carried out biannually across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the publication comprises both official statistics and a research report.
The postholder will be joining the team at a crucial time as Skills England takes responsibility for the ESS, and will need to adapt very quickly to delivering a large programme of survey work. Beyond this, the role also offers the chance to help shape Skills England’s emerging research activity and will allow the postholder to demonstrate experience of managing a programme of high profile and impactful work.
Specific roles and responsibilities will include:
- Leading the delivery of the 2026 and 2028 iterations of the ESS. This will include close collaboration with the successful supplier on survey methodology and question design, general contract management work, and ensuring that data collection, analysis and reporting by the contractor is of requisite quality.
- Liaising with counterparts in the Devolved Administrations and stakeholders across other government departments to ensure that the survey is designed and delivered to maximise impact.
- In 2027 and 2029 only, leading production of official statistics based on the ESS data tables.
- Leading on a review of the ESS to ensure it remains fit for purpose and good value for money into the future.
- Leading or supporting as required on separate social research projects (in house or commissioned) in line with Skills England’s developing research priorities, requiring analytical and general skills such as coding, thematic analysis, contract management, stakeholder engagement and drafting of research reports and summaries.
- Leading or supporting elements of Skills England’s wider programme of analysis (typically involving quantitative analysis and/or evidence synthesis using labour market data from across government and beyond).
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
The successful applicant will be required to demonstrate the following:
- Significant experience of commissioning and managing social research projects, ensuring relevant legal, ethical, procurement, and quality assurance practices are followed, as well as high quality results and methodological rigour.
- Experience of using social research and evaluation methods, especially survey methods, and with the ability to identify, champion, and use both qualitative and quantitative approaches to answer policy questions.
- Perform analysis in R and SQL, or similar software, including integration of quality assurance processes
- Communicate analysis and analytical and data concepts in an engaging manner to non-technical audiences
- Work effectively with a range of stakeholders, within and outside of Government, on collaborative projects and to promote the work of the team
- Maintain your own professional development and contribute to building a strong, supportive and inclusive culture across the team.
- Applicants must be a member of GSR or GSG.
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge and experience of working on skills, labour and employment policy or practice.
- Experience in the production of official statistics.
Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.
Qualifications
Qualifications needed to meet the requirements for badging in GSR or GSG.Memberships
Member of GSR or GSGTechnical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Scenario Based Presentation
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £48,999, Department for Education contributes £14,195 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
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 Experience and Technical skills.If you would like to apply for this position, please complete the Civil Service Jobs application form by clicking the "apply now" button at the top or bottom of this advert.
Stage 1 – Application
At sift stage, you will be assessed on your Experience in line with the essential skills listed in the person specification section of the job advert.
To apply for this role, please provide:
Your CV – Set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role.
Your Statement of Suitability – In no more than 750 words, provide examples of how your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria. This is not intended to be a cover letter, instead work through each essential criteria in turn. You may wish to follow the STAR technique to help focus your examples. The key things we are looking for are what you did, how you did it and what the outcome was.
To confirm, the maximum word count for the statement of suitability is 750 words. Please adhere to this limit as anything over 750 words will not be taken into account.
The CV and Statement of Suitability will be assessed against the essential criteria detailed in the advert.
Please ensure you include in your application (CV or statement of suitability) which profession you are a member of GSR or GSG.
Should there be a high volume of applicants, candidates may be sifted on the first two (2) essential criteria.
Sifting is expected to take place in the week commencing 18 January 2026. Please note these dates are subject to change.
Please note, CV details must be contained within the template on the application form. Any CV or Statement of Suitability that has been emailed to our team will not be considered.
Stage 2 - Interview
The interview will be a 2-part process and will last approximately 1 hour.
Part 1: Prepare and deliver a short presentation (approx. 10 minutes) to the panel on the following topic: Please tell us about a research project you have designed and taken through to conclusion. What question(s) did you address, how did you go about it, and what was the outcome?
This scenario-based presentation will be followed by questions to test your technical knowledge according to your profession. For more information, please refer to the relevant technical frameworks below:
- GSR Technical Framework: The Government Social Research Technical Framework - GOV.UK
- Government Statistician Group - Competency framework for the Government Statistician Group (GSG) – Government Analysis Function
Part 2 - You will be asked questions on the essential criteria listed above to determine your level of experience in these areas.
Interviews will take place early February 2026. Please note these dates are subject to change. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Interviews will be held over video conferencing using MS Teams. If you are invited to interview, please ensure that you have access to this software and that you have your video turned on. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We receive many applications, and unfortunately we’re not able to provide feedback for candidates who aren’t shortlisted. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
All communications will be electronic therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder.
Other Information
In September 2025, responsibility for apprenticeships, adult further education, skills, training, careers, and Skills England moved from the Department for Education (DfE) to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This change brings together adult employment and training under one department, aligning skills development more closely with employment support. As a result, this role within Skills England is expected to transfer to DWP. The transfer date is currently anticipated to be Spring 2026. If you join before the transfer takes place, you will initially be employed by DfE (on DfE terms and conditions) and then move to DWP as part of the transition (in accordance with COSOP policy). There will be consultation with employees in scope to transfer. If recruitment processes are still ongoing at the point of transfer, they will continue under DWP’s lead. If recruited post-transfer, you would be recruited by DWP (on DWP terms and conditions).
Interviews may be via Microsoft teams or face to face; the vacancy manager will confirm prior to the Interview.
In your application, please don’t include personal information that identifies you.
This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment (opens in a new window).
Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your:
- name/title
- educational institutions
- age
- gender
- email address
- postal address
- phone number
- nationality/immigration status
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
Reasonable adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put 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 Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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.
Please refer to the attached ‘Reasonable Adjustments Guide 05_2025 – accessible version’ at the bottom of the advert, for further information.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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
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 : Jane Hand
- Email : jane.hand@education.gov.uk