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.
We’re looking for two Higher Executive Officer (HEO) content designers to join the Publishing Service, part of the Communications and Digital Publishing Directorate. The service is the conduit for everything published on the ONS website – preparing statistical releases for publication, managing content changes and updates to different areas of the website and ensuring that everything we do meets user needs, house style and accessibility standards.
The team publishes high-profile content daily. As an experienced content designer with skills in proofreading, editing and publishing user-focused content, this could be the perfect opportunity to progress your career. The ideal candidate will have experience managing and coaching others, excellent problem-solving skills, a keen eye for detail and will thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Job overview
As a HEO content designer at the ONS, you will support the operational delivery of the Publishing Service and the day-to-day running of the team, helping to provide an efficient and responsive service to the organisation.
You will act as an escalation point for more complex publishing and content queries and use your excellent communication skills to build strong working relationships with stakeholders.
You will support with proofreading and use our content management system (CMS) to publish to the ONS website. You will also line manage Executive Officer (EO) content designers and support them with training and mentoring to develop their skills.
You will support the delivery of longer-term team objectives, lead your own projects and contribute to the continuous improvement of standards and processes, with an emphasis on user needs.
Responsibilities
- Support the day-to-day management of the Publishing Service to ensure we deliver an efficient and high-quality service that meets Code of Practice obligations and service level agreements.
- Support EO content designers with publishing operations, providing advice on proofreading, publishing and content type queries. Assist with more complex problems, including challenge from stakeholders, and escalating where appropriate.
- Line management of EO content designers, communicating clear performance expectations and providing training and mentoring to support their personal and professional development.
- Work closely with the Publishing Scheduling Manager to support allocation of work across the team, ensuring they have the information they need to manage capacity effectively.
- Review drafts of publications and provide feedback on the structure, language, and accessibility of the content.
- Provide content design and publishing support for all types of content on the website, including proofreading, drafting micro copy such as labels and headings, completing full publication reviews and building content in the CMS.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of our content, guidance and publishing processes.
Please note:
As part of the publishing service, when preparing publications, you will provide support to internal stakeholders within the Service Level Agreement (SLA) hours which are between 8.00 am and 4.30 pm. Occasionally, you will also be expected to provide late cover until 6.00 pm or early publication cover from 6.45 am.
Due to the nature of the roles, we are able to accept applications from those looking to work part time, but a minimum of 30 hours/ 4 days per week.
This campaign is for external candidates who wish to be based at either our Newport or Titchfield site. Therefore this campaign has been linked with the internal advert 465236. (This link will only work if you are an ONS internal candidate). If you are an internal candidate to ONS please apply via the other campaign. The selection and interview process will be combined, so you do not need to apply for both campaigns.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Stakeholder relationship management (Working) - Identify important stakeholders and work with them to build relationships, tailoring your communications to their needs, while also meeting user needs. Work to improve stakeholder relationships, using evidence to explain decisions made.
- Strategic thinking (Practitioner) - Define strategies and policies, providing guidance to others on working in the strategic context. Evaluate current strategies to ensure business requirements are being met and exceeded where possible.
- User focus (Working) - Identify tasks that will provide insights into a problem and use quantitative and qualitative data to turn user insights into outcomes. Understand the range of different users who might access content and services, and can identify their needs based on evidence.
- User-centred content design (Working) - Show robust experience in writing, editing and publishing digital content, and experience in using content management systems and content production processes to publish content. Write in plain language in a way that users understand, making information accessible to all. Understand government accessibility requirements and design content that works with common assistive technologies. Consistently and effectively apply content standards and style guidelines to your work.
- Community Collaboration (Working) - Share knowledge and experience through mentoring, shadowing and coaching opportunities.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £34,587, Office for National Statistics contributes £10,019 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.
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.
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.
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
Please note: We will reach out to you once the advert has closed to confirm eligibility for this role, this will be via an e-mail. Please check you e-mails.
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.
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: Application
- Stage 2: Technical skills assessment - Proof reading exercise
- Stage 3: Interview
Stage 1 – 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 word count allowed is 1250 words, 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.
In instances where a high number of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted, and candidates will be invited to interview based on merit order, i.e., those with the highest scores.
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.
We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same behaviours, and essential skills.
Stage 2 - Technical skills assessment - Proof reading exercise.
This is refereed to as 'Interview 1' on the Civil Service Jobs site.
Candidates successful at sift will progress to the technical skills assessment stage, where you will be asked to complete a timed proof reading exercise. You will be tasked with editing some content to demonstrate your content design and editorial skills.
This will be done online using Microsoft Teams/ and or Outlook.
Full details will be e-mailed across to candidates invited to this stage.
Candidate who pass this stage will be progressed to the next stage which is an interview.
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 and any required technical skills.
Interviews will be 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
- Eligibility checks from 26/06 - 03/07. Please be aware we will be sending all candidates an e-mail to complete a eligibility form.
- Sift will be conducted from 04/07/2026
- Proof reading exercise 20/07 - 28/07
- Interviews will be conducted from 03/08/2026
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 the Civil 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
Recruitment team
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 [email protected]. 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 - Opens in new window (pdf, 83kB)
