Civil Service Executive Officer
Also advertised as: Administrative Officer, Case Worker, Civil Service Executive Officer, Executive Officer, Higher Executive Officer, Operational Delivery Officer
Delivers government services and policy support at operational grade.
What the job involves
Executive Officers run casework, manage small teams, analyse information and support policy delivery across departments. Recruitment is by structured application against behaviours rather than qualifications, so it is an accessible and genuinely meritocratic entry route.
Typical responsibilities
- Process casework and make decisions to policy
- Draft briefings and correspondence
- Supervise administrative officers
- Analyse data and produce reports
- Work with other departments and stakeholders
Common employers
- DWP
- HMRC
- Home Office
- Ministry of Justice
- Devolved administrations
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£27,000 – £32,000 a year
With experience
£33,000 – £42,000 a year
Typical hours
37 hours with flexible working
Working environment
Government offices with hybrid working
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Written communication
- Decision making to guidance
- Analysis
- Stakeholder working
- Attention to detail
Transferable skills you may already have
- Customer service
- Casework or claims handling
- Team supervision
Requirements employers ask for
- Written communication
- Decision making to guidance
- Analysis
- Stakeholder working
- Attention to detail
- Pass the Civil Service application and behaviour interview
- Security clearance
- Baseline or higher security clearance
Useful but not essential
- Customer service
- Casework or claims handling
- Team supervision
- Level 4 apprenticeships in policy, project delivery or data
Helpful qualifications
- Level 4 apprenticeships in policy, project delivery or data
Licences and checks
- Baseline or higher security clearance
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Policy Officer (Level 4)
- Operational Delivery (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Any
Where this career can lead
next
Higher Executive Officer
next
Senior Executive Officer
next
Policy Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Excellent pension and flexible working
- Recruits on behaviours, not degrees
- Move freely between departments
What people find hard
- Pay lags private sector at senior levels
- Process and bureaucracy
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a civil service executive officer?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a civil service executive officer earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £27,000 to £32,000 a year, rising towards £42,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Customer service, Casework or claims handling, Team supervision.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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