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International Passenger Survey Interviewer - Heathrow
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Job Summary
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.
Social Surveys Directorate (SSD)
SSD is the largest directorate in ONS, comprising 2000 colleagues, including the Field Communities, split across six divisions:
- Social Surveys Field Collection (SSFC)
- Social Surveys Telephone and Ports Collection (SSTPC)
- Social Surveys Research and Production (SSRP)
- Social Surveys Strategy, Research and Innovation (SSRI)
- Social Surveys Transformation (SST)
- Social Surveys Central Division (SSCD)
The post sits within the Social Surveys Telephone and Ports Collection (SSTPC) division, which encompasses the International Passenger Survey community, based at airports, seaports, and international train stations across the UK, and the Telephone Operations community, based within our HQ offices. This International Passenger Survey Interviewer role involves being part of a continuous survey that started in 1961 and is based at all major sea, air, and international rail terminals within the United Kingdom.
In this vital role, you'll be at the frontline of data collection, conducting interviews with departing passengers to gather essential information for the International Passenger Survey. This survey provides critical insights into travel patterns, tourism spending, and migration flows that directly influence government policy and economic planning. At ONS, we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives strengthen our work. Your contribution will help produce the official statistics that guide important decisions affecting millions of lives across the UK, making this a truly meaningful career opportunity.
Job Description
The International Passenger Survey Interviewer position sits within ONS's Survey and Field Operations directorate, playing a crucial role in collecting data that underpins some of the UK's most important economic and social statistics.
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This role directly supports the International Passenger Survey, one of ONS's flagship data collection operations that provides essential information on overseas travel, tourism expenditure, and migration patterns.
Working from Heathrow Airport, you'll be part of a national network of interviewers who ensure comprehensive coverage of the UK's major departure points. The data you collect feeds into official statistics used by government departments, businesses, and researchers to understand travel trends and their economic impact.
The role offers exposure to diverse operational environments and the opportunity to develop skills in data collection, customer service, and digital systems. This position provides a foundation for career development within the organization's survey operations, with opportunities to progress within the field workforce.
You will be based at Heathrow Airport, and this will be regarded as your normal place of work (your base site).
IPS shifts are allocated on a 6-weekly basis with a mixture of AM & PM weekday and weekend shifts.
All shifts are based at Heathrow Airport. You need to be aware that you will work on a rota basis and that you will need to be available to sign in at workstation as early as 05:30 (AM shifts) and stay until as late as 23:00 (PM). Heathrow operates with a mixture of morning, afternoon, and evening shifts.
Shift lengths are normally 8 hours in length. As is normal with the IPS Interviewer positions, any contract awarded will include the requirement to work weekends. You will be expected to work three weekends out of four each month.
Responsibilities
- Work independently or as a part of a small team to undertake interviews with the travelling public, demonstrating high standards of data collection and meeting your KPIs.
- Gathering data at the beginning of the passenger journey, follow guidelines and instruction dependent upon how passengers are processed at the data collection point.
- Be responsible for self, ensuring site operating procedures and health and safety procedures are adhered to at all times.
- Be punctual, ensuring shift start times are met.
- Build effective relationships with airport/port staff to enable cooperation necessary for effective data collection.
- Collect and transmit high-quality data within agreed timeframe and following agreed protocols.
- Be proficient in the digital technology and corporate systems required for your role.
- Take responsibility for your breaks, ensuring data collection is not compromised.
- Complete the administrative tasks required for your role as detailed.
- Buddy new interviewers as required, helping them settle into the environment and reach required standards.
- Working in partnership with your Site Manager, identify areas for your continued learning, self-development, and progression.
- Provide constructive feedback to your managers to help the operation and structure perform more efficiently.
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Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage professionally with diverse members of the public.
- Demonstrated ability to follow detailed instructions and record information accurately.
- Self-motivated and disciplined approach to independent working in a public-facing environment.
- Proficient in the use of tablets and smartphones as these will be used within your work.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £18,937, Office for National Statistics contributes £5,486 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
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.
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