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- Manage departments that develop government policies and provide services to the public
- Requires excellent spoken and written English, management skills, and the ability to make decisions
- On the Fast Stream, you can expect to reach senior level within about 5 years
As a Civil Service executive officer, you will work on government policies and deliver vital services to the public, ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the country. Job titles vary depending on the department you work for and your specific role.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Managing a team
- Training staff
- Applying government plans to public services
- Preparing and presenting reports
- Analysing data
- Communicating with the public
- Giving advice to government representatives
- Managing a budget
- Handling a caseload
- Updating files
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You would be office-based, although there may be some travel to attend meetings, training courses and visiting other organisations. In some departments you may be required to work on a shift basis which would include evenings, weekends and public holidays.
You'll need
This role is ideal for someone with excellent spoken and written English, management skills, and the ability to make decisions.
To work as a Civil Service executive you must be a UK, Commonwealth or EEA citizen, with no restrictions on your right to work and you must pass enhanced background checks. You'll be assessed on your skills, knowledge and behaviours that fit in with the values of the Civil Service, as part of the application process.
You could apply to join the Civil Service after doing a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree, although a university qualification is not essential. Most subjects are accepted but public administration may offer a good general introduction to this area of work.
If you're a graduate or in your final year of university, you can apply for a place on the Fast Stream scheme. Competition for places is very strong, so a degree with a higher grade and work experience will help you. Your degree can be in any subject, though some Civil Service departments may prefer a degree in a subject that is relevant to their work, for example science and engineering.
You can also apply for the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship. This is a 2-year higher apprenticeship with 6 different career routes in policy, business, commercial, digital, data and technology, finance and project delivery.
Alternatively you could start as an administrative officer and after gaining experience, you could apply for a post as an executive officer when vacancies become available. You can apply directly for jobs, and would be expected to have relevant work or life experience; you can get more details about entry routes from Civil Service Careers.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, there’s often the opportunity to apply for jobs in different departments. There is a clear promotion structure in the Civil Service. If you're on the Fast Stream you can expect to reach senior level in around 5 years.