Civil Service executive officer

Civil Service executive officers work in government departments that develop policies and provide services to the public.


Typical Salary

£28,000 – £39,000

per year

Working Hours

37–40

hours per week

Career Area

National government administrative occupations

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Day-to-day tasks

As a Civil Service executive officer, your tasks will depend on your role and the government department you work in.

You could:

  • put into practice government plans for public services
  •  prepare and present reports
  •  communicate with the public
  •  give advice to government representatives
  •  manage a budget
  •  handle a caseload and update files

Skills needed

  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • administration skills
  • customer service skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • business management skills 
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

How to get into this role

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly
  • a graduate training scheme

Career progression

With experience, there’s often the opportunity to apply for jobs in different government 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.