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Job summary

Join the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as a Questionnaire and Materials Testing Delivery Manager and play a key role in shaping the future of the Transformed Labour Force Survey, one of the UK's most significant survey transformation programmes.

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.

Social Survey Transformation (SST) is leading on delivery of a redesigned survey portfolio, including operational transformation of data collection and household survey processing systems. We are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of work to deliver the Transformed Labour Force Survey as an online-first, multi-mode survey delivering high quality data with a respondent-centred design.

The Operational Delivery Profession (ODP) is the largest profession in the Civil Service. ODP’s 200,000+ members work in a wide range of operational delivery roles across government, providing essential services that support and protect UK citizens at home and overseas. They help to make ONS a great place to work.

The Social Survey Transformation (SST) division, is responsible for transforming ONS social surveys as part of the wider overhaul of the statistical system. This includes developing a new online first Labour Force Survey and modernising data collection while continuing to gather essential supporting and attitudinal information alongside growing use of administrative data.

SST works collaboratively across ONS to improve survey quality and deliver efficient, high quality transformed data. The division comprises four areas:

Statistical Transformation
Research & Design and SIC/SOC,
Data Processing
End to End Requirements & Change

All areas are focused on designing, processing and delivering a modernised end to end survey system.

Underpinning this is SST’s vision “We believe in the benefits our people provide as the centre of excellence in research, methods, and technology with the expertise to transform the entire social survey portfolio end-to-end. Through this, we enable better quality and more efficient statistics that improve decision making across government and ensure a more informed public debate.

Job description

The work to develop the Transformed Labour Force Survey (TLFS) has been running for multiple years. We are now about to enter the TLFS Sustainability Project as we begin to decommission the Labour Force Survey. This will involve continuing to develop the TLFS questionnaire and accompanying materials which are provided to the respondent and survey staff.

This is an opportunity to join the research and design team to assist in increasing the operational efficiency of the research and testing being conducted. The post holder will keep abreast of and co-ordinate the testing associated with development of the questions and materials for the TLFS. The main purpose of the role will be to facilitate the smooth running of the research and development cycle.

This post is a key interface with the business-as-usual area and will involve handing the product specifications over. It is therefore essential that the successful candidate can build excellent working relationships with relevant business areas to understand their requirements and engage staff throughout development and implementation of enhancements whilst allowing existing business as usual commitments to continue.

The Senior Executive Officer will work with the G7 to identify and prioritise the operational processes necessary to ensure efficient research operations. This involves creating and embedding research operations within the teams and leading the operational running of the testing. This would encompass the whole research and development lifecycle from agreement of research priorities to delivery of product specifications for use in the live TLFS.

This role will include the management of a team. The team will facilitate the operational delivery, for example producing test questionnaires in our questionnaire building tool, producing and maintaining specifications in English and in Welsh, and booking meetings.

Role Responsibilities

You will:

• Document and operationalise effective processes for all stages of the research and development cycle, including business area specific induction materials for new staff.
• Facilitate the governance of project outputs, ensuring that products are agreed by all impacted areas, and are fully operationalisable.
• Develop and maintain budget spreadsheets for use by entire team, enabling efficient management of resources across multiple research work strands.
• Work collaboratively with other teams within the entire data lifecycle to deliver a Live survey of good quality.
• Act as the key point of contact within the business area with contracted suppliers to ensure effective delivery of these services within contracted SLA’s. (Current suppliers provide Welsh translations, recruit participants for testing, and transcribe interviews from recordings.)
• Act as the key point of contact for the business area within ONS; anticipating upcoming testing requirements from an operational perspective, undertaking planning in advance; dealing with queries and problems as they arise. (Current testing can require support from telephone interviewers and access to live systems)
• To schedule activities appropriately to ensure that testing is executed in an efficient and timely manner; ensuring that research outcomes delivered to timetable and requirements.
• Develop, own and refine mechanisms to track and update on testing activity progress and on outcomes from testing activity across the team.
• Managing routine (and ad hoc) test meetings (e.g. supplier meetings, and project retrospectives)
• Document test updates, issues, outcomes, progress, and communicate these to stakeholders as necessary.
• Raise, escalate as necessary and work to resolve testing issues.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Proven ability to manage a complex workload and deliver outcomes within tight timescales.
• Adaptable and able to respond quickly and effectively to changing priorities and pressures.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with experience working collaboratively across teams and organisations.
• Detail-oriented, with excellent quality assurance and problem-solving abilities.
• Confident in managing stakeholders, resolving conflicts, and delivering projects through to completion.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,985, Office for National Statistics contributes £12,163 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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 valued colleagues across the organisation.

Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that our careers site 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 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

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 and Experience.

Visa Sponsorship:

ONS is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have a valid right to work in the UK when employment commences. If you are currently in the UK on a time-limited visa, it must have at least 18 months remaining at the point of application.

Right to Work and Nationality Requirements

To work at ONS, applicants must meet the Civil Service nationality requirements, satisfy UK right to work requirements and, where applicable, meet the relevant security clearance requirements.

If you are unsure whether you meet the appropriate right to work or security clearance eligibility criteria, please refer to the guidance on Gov.uk or contact the recruitment email provided in the advert before applying. Failure to meet these requirements will result in your application being rejected and employment offers being withdrawn.

Secruity Clearance:

For ONS the requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying and the department will 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.

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

To work at the ONS, candidates must meet both UK right to work and security clearance requirements (where applicable).

If you are unsure whether you meet the appropriate right to work or security clearance eligibility criteria, please refer to the guidance on Gov.uk or contact the recruitment email provided in the advert before applying. Failure to meet these requirements will result in your application being rejected and employment offers being withdrawn.

Application Process

Number of stages: 3 stage process

Stage 1: Civil Service Management Judgement Test
Stage 2: Application
Stage 3: Interview

Stage 1 – Civil Service Management Judgement Test

Upon submission of Part 1 your application form you will be sent an invitation to complete Civil Service Management Judgement Test online.

There will be full instructions on how to complete each test including an opportunity to practice before undertaking the actual test. These tests are not time limited.

If you pass a test, you will then receive a further invite to complete each subsequent test if there is more than one for this vacancy. If you fail a test your application will not proceed to the next stage.

If you pass all tests for this vacancy, you will be invited to complete the final stage of your application, this is where you will provide information such as your work history, Skills and experience and Personal Statement.

Stage 2 - Application

The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your work history, skills, experience, and personal statement. It is important that your application is tailored to highlight the skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role.

A personal statement is required at application stage, the maximum word count allowed is 1250, which should not be exceeded. You should provide evidence for each essential skill criterion listed in the person specification. As these criteria are scored, it is advisable to give clear examples for each one, including the impact of your actions, ideally utilising the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Please note that Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage of the application process.

When a high volume of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted. Candidates will be invited to interview based on their merit order, with those achieving the highest scores being prioritised. Applicants who score below the adjusted pass mark but still pass will be placed on hold and may be invited to interview at a later date.

Stage 3 – Interview

If invited to interview, you will be assessed using techniques aligned with the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, covering all behaviours listed in the job advert.

Interviews will be held online via Microsoft Teams.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.

Important Dates

The Sift will be conducted from 18/08/2026

Interviews will be conducted from 01/09/2026

Dates are subject to change.

For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see attachment.

Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.

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 : Helena Rosiecka
• Email : recruitmentoperations@ons.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitmentoperations@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

Attachments

2721 Advert 1B Permanent - ONS National v1-00 Opens in new window (pdf, 83kB)Role1_Standard_Requirements Opens in new window (pdf, 76kB)