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Job Post Details

Senior Civil Servant (SCS) Personal Assistant- Part Time - job post

Office for National Statistics
4.2 out of 5 stars
NewportHybrid work
£28,138 a year - Permanent, Part-time
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Job details

Pay

  • £28,138 a year

Job type

  • Part-time
  • Permanent

Location

NewportHybrid work

Benefits

Pulled from the full job description

  • Company pension

Full job description

Details

Reference number

476193

Salary

£28,138
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Data Products, Services and Governance (DPSG) Office

Type of role

Operational Delivery

Working pattern

Flexible working, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

  • Location
  • About the job
  • Benefits
  • Things you need to know
  • Apply and further information

Location

The locations for this role are Newport & Titchfield (Fareham)

This role is aligned to ONS hybrid working principles, which are based on attending the office with purpose. The postholder will be expected to contribute to the organisation’s overall 40% office attendance, in line with business and role requirements.

Please refer to attachments for further terms and flexibilities.

The induction process for the role will be conducted in person.

About the job

Job summary

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.

Be at the heart of decision-making in one of the UK's leading data organisations. As Personal Assistant to the Senior Civil Service (SCS) leadership team within Data Products, Services and Governance (DPSG), you'll play a pivotal role in supporting senior leaders who are helping shape the future of data use across government, research, and society.

Data Products, Services and Governance (DPSG) is a central directorate within the Office for National Statistics (ONS), providing the expertise, systems and governance that enable data to be accessed, shared and used effectively. The directorate develops and manages the services that underpin the secure distribution of data across ONS and to external users, ensuring that valuable data can be used safely and responsibly.

DPSG plays a vital role in supporting government departments, researchers, academics and other external partners by providing access to high-quality data and linked data products. Through this work, the directorate helps drive innovation, supports evidence-based decision-making, and enables world-leading statistical and research activities that deliver real public value.

As part of this dynamic and influential area, you'll gain unique insight into senior leadership, contribute to high-profile priorities, and help ensure the smooth running of a directorate at the forefront of data and innovation.

Part-Time Opportunity: This role is offered on a part-time basis, working up to 22 hours per week, providing dedicated support to a Deputy Director. We are committed to flexible working, and the specific working pattern can be discussed and agreed with the hiring manager to meet both business needs and the preferences of the successful candidate.

Job description

As a Personal Assistant within the Directorate Support Team, you will play a key role in enabling senior leaders to focus on delivering strategic priorities and organisational outcomes. Working as part of a wider business support network, you will provide high-quality, proactive support to Director and Deputy Director level leaders, collaborating with colleagues across a range of functions to ensure the smooth and effective running of the directorate.

This is a varied and rewarding role within a fast-paced environment, where no two days are the same. You will manage competing priorities, anticipate the needs of senior leaders, and build strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders across ONS and beyond. Strong organisational skills, sound judgement, and the ability to remain calm and adaptable in a busy environment will be key to your success.

The role also provides the opportunity to work closely with other Personal Assistants and business support professionals across ONS, sharing best practice, contributing to continuous improvement initiatives, and helping to develop innovative solutions to operational challenges. This makes it an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys collaboration, problem-solving, and making a visible impact within a high-profile area of the organisation.

Responsibilities

  • Taking the lead as the Director’s / Deputy Director(s)’s first point of contact, providing comprehensive and proactive inbox(es) management, to include:
    • rationalising and filtering email traffic,
    • responding to requests as appropriate,
    • escalating issues,
    • prioritising work,
    • cascading information.
  • Proactively and reactively managing the Director /Deputy Director(s)’s diary, ensuring efficient use of their time, managing changes and conflicts (including delegating to their senior leadership team as appropriate), working collaboratively across the organization negotiating with others as necessary to achieve this.
  • Providing the Director / Deputy Directors with all necessary documentation ahead of meetings
  • Facilitating effective communication between the Director / Deputy Director, their senior team, and other stakeholders, both internal and external, as required.
  • Working with the business support team, organise and manage the logistics of business meetings, conferences and away days, ensuring that meeting papers are complete and distributed in a timely fashion, as necessary.
  • Arranging travel and accommodation in line with ONS policies for the Director /Deputy Director, and submission of travel expenses on their behalf.
  • Other ad-hoc administrative tasks as required, which may include covering for other PA absences within the wider Directorate as required.
  • Providing other business support to the wider team as necessary, including undertaking short self-contained assignments as required.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

  • Strong communication skills, with the confidence to engage professionally with stakeholders at all levels, both verbally and in writing.
  • Highly organised, with the ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and maintain accurate, accessible information.
  • Able to effectively prioritise workload, managing multiple competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
  • Adaptable and flexible, tailoring your approach to meet the needs of Director and Deputy Director-level leaders.
  • Excellent attention to detail, producing high-quality work and using Microsoft Office applications confidently and effectively.

Behaviours

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

  • Delivering at Pace
  • Working Together
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,138, Office for National Statistics contributes £8,151 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 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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

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.

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.

Security 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.

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

Application Process

Number of Stages: 3 stage process

Stage 1: Civil Service Skills test

Stage 2 : Application

Stage 3: Interview

Stage 1 – Civil Service Customer Service Skills test

Civil Service Online Tests

Upon submission of Part 1 your application form you will be sent an invitation to complete Customer Service Skills online tests.

There will be full instructions on how to complete each test including an opportunity to practice before undertaking the actual test.

The test is made up of three parts. Please note that Part 3 is timed, and you will have 10 minutes to complete this section.

For further information about the assessment, including guidance on how to prepare and what to expect, please visit:

Preparing for the Customer Service Skills Test - GOV.UK

We recommend reviewing this guidance before completing the test to help you familiarise yourself with the format and requirements.

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, CV, 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 wordcount 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 2 – 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 conducted via Ms Teams

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

Important Dates:

The closing date for the role is 07/09/2026 at 23:55. Please note, both the Customer Service Skills test and written application (work history, skills, experience and personal statement) will need to be completed by this deadline.

The Sift will be conducted from 08/09/2026

Interviews will be conducted from 24/09/2026

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 basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .

See our vetting charter .
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)
  • 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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Thomas Chesworth
  • Email : Thomas.Chesworth@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

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