Research Officer

Are you passionate about using research to make a difference?

At ONS, we produce trusted statistics that inform decisions across government, business and society. From health and well-being to local economies and high streets, our insights help shape the UK’s future.

We’re looking for Research Officers to join our team and contribute to the production of high-quality statistics and analysis. You’ll be part of the Government Social Research (GSR) profession, working on projects that reflect the fast-changing world around us.

What You’ll Do

• Deliver and publish National Statistics across a range of topics.
• Provide analysis and context to support decision-making.
• Develop new methods and systems to meet evolving data needs.
• Conduct qualitative research using techniques like focus groups, usability testing and cognitive interviews.
• Design and test surveys for various formats (online, paper, phone, face-to-face).
• Use tools like R and Python to support your research.
• Share findings through reports, presentations and conferences.
• Collaborate across teams and build solid stakeholder relationships.

To be eligible to apply for this Research Officer (RO) role in the Government Social Research (GSR) profession, you need to fulfil the criteria of one of the following three entry routes:

Qualification route

Hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2 in a social science related subject where at least 30% of the modules or credits, excluding dissertation modules, included social research content.