Security Clearance for these posts
For these posts the requirement for SC level security clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying i.e. resident in the UK from at least August 2023. If you are unsure that you meet this requirement, please read the information available on Gov.uk in this link
OR if you have been outside the UK since August 2023 for more than 3 months in total please contact [email protected] by email BEFORE applying to discuss as you may not meet the minimum residency requirements.
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
Visa Sponsorship
ONS are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants are expected to hold a valid right to work in the UK when employment commences. If you are applying on a time-limited visa, this will need to be valid for at least 18 months at 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 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 Failure to meet these requirements will result in your application being rejected and employment offers being withdrawn.
Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.
__________________________
There are two stages to this recruitment process stage 1 is the Application Process and stage 2 is the Interview Process.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU READ AND FOLLOW ALL GUIDANCE to understand the requirements. There are 6 key steps to completing the application process followed by the interview assessment process, which has 2 elements.
APPLICATION PROCESS: This section advises of the steps on how to apply for this post.
-
Please establish if you are eligible to apply for this post through one of three entry routes.
-
Having decided you are eligible you must fill out the SRO Eligibility Form.
-
Complete the online Application Form.
-
Include your 750-word Research Example, as outlined below, in the Personal Statement section of the Application Form.
-
Attach your completed SRO Eligibility Form to your completed online Application Form and submit.
-
After submitting your online application you will be invited to complete an online GSR Skills Knowledge Test, if required.
Steps 1 & 2: ENTRY ROUTES for this vacancy - To be eligible to apply for this Senior Research Officer (SRO) role in the Government Social Research (GSR) profession, you need to fulfil the criteria of one of the following three entry routes: Qualification route; Badged route; Professional Experience route AND you must also demonstrate your experience of working in an applied social research setting.
See the 'Qualifications' section of the advert for the explanations of each of the entry routes. The Candidate Pack attached to the advert also includes information on the entry routes.
SENIOR RESEARCH OFFICER (SRO) ELIGIBILITY FORM - This form is attached to the advert. (i) Read the form carefully, (ii) Complete the relevant section, depending on your entry route of application, and (iii) Upload/attach your completed form when you submit your application.
You should use this form, where required, to record your: qualifications, the social research content of your qualifications, your existing membership of the Government Social Research (GSR) profession if applicable, AND your relevant work experience.
You should also use this form to evidence the experience gained for your current and/or previous role(s) and specifically to confirm the social research skills used in these roles.
Steps 3 & 4: APPLICATION FORM - Found via the 'Apply Now button in this advert. To apply for the Senior Research Officer role you must complete all parts of the online application form including the Research Example.
RESEARCH EXAMPLE - You are required to provide this information in the Personal statement section of the online application form. Please do not include a personal statement in this space as one is not required and will not count towards your application assessment.
There is a 750-word limit on this section and it recommended that you use the word limit to its fullest providing as much relevant information on your Research Example as possible. There is guidance text within the personal statement section of the online application form and the Candidate Pack that outlines the information you are required to include in your Research Example.
You must include an example of a time you have led a piece of social research. Your Research Example will be assessed against the Government Social Research technical skill - Knowledge of research methods, techniques and application of these in more complex projects and also against the Civil Service behaviour of Leadership.
If you provide a personal statement in this space in place of the required Research Example it will not count towards your application assessment and your application will not be progressed.
Step 5: Attach your completed SRO eligibility form - if you attach a CV instead of the eligibility form it will not count towards your application assessment and your application will not be progressed.
Step 6: GSR KNOWLEDGE TEST
Please read the candidate pack for full information on the knowledge test to confirm how it applies to you as it will vary depending on your eligibility route.
_____________
Please Note:
Your application will be sifted out of the recruitment process if you:
-
fail to complete all sections of the online Application Form as advised, this includes failing to provide a 750-word research example in the Personal Statement section of the form.
-
forget to attach your completed Senior Research Officer (SRO) Eligibility Form.
-
attach a CV instead of the eligibility form.
- do not pass the GSR Knowledge Test, where applicable.
Passing application stage does not guarantee being invited to interview.
In instances where 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 2: INTERVIEW ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Candidates who successfully pass sift stage will be invited to the final stage which is an online interview assessment. The assessment has two elements - a short presentation and an interview - to further assess candidates general and technical competence for the Senior Research Officer role.
If you are successful at sift stage you will receive an invitation to book an interview slot. The invitation to interview will contain an attachment with all the information you will need about what to prepare for your presentation and interview.
At interview you will be assessed against the GSR technical skills, which are set out in the adverts Technical Skills section, and align to the GSR Technical Framework. You will also be assessed against the Civil Service Behaviours, which are set out in the adverts Behaviours section and align to the Civil Service Success Profiles.
Interviews will take place using video conference via the MS Teams platform.
IMPORTANT DATES
-
Application closing date: Tuesday 18th August 2026
-
GSR Knowledge Test from Monday 24th to Monday 31st August - via Tazio
-
Application Sift from Thursday 3rd September
-
Sift results issued by 15th September
-
Interviews from Wednesday 23rd September to Friday 2nd October
All dates may be subject to change.
When there are more successful candidates than vacant positions, we will maintain a reserve list of remaining successful candidates 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. Candidates should note this is a multi-location campaign and therefore the reserve list is recorded by location in merit order.
Successful candidates are 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 their role. Presence at an ONS office location will vary and have flexibility built around the following: Needs of the role and business objectives. Successful collaboration and effective partnerships with teams/customers and stakeholders. Personal Preferences. Disability and well-being 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.
