Ofsted
Senior Developer
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2 Rivergate, Bristol
Job Summary
We are recruiting for a Senior Developer to join our Data and Insight team.
The Senior Developer plays a key role in the creation and maintenance of information reporting capability, specific reporting tools and website applications. They are the individual within the team with the most detailed technical understanding of Ofsted’s information reporting systems or relevant website application and are responsible for designing their future development.
They retain a clear understanding of the full range of reporting systems that exists across Data and Insight; they develop and maintain a clear view of the reporting systems we already have and are proposing to develop. They provide specialist technical expertise in the design of appropriate reporting web applications.
They coach and support developers at all levels, contributing to their personal and technical development. They play a key role in supporting the effective recruitment of technical resources to a variety of roles by advising on specialist requirements and enabling those to be tested through selection.
They lead and undertake specific development projects in their own right. They play a substantial part in the leadership of app development by resolving difficult technical problems and advising on appropriate design.
This is a fantastic opportunity to further your experience in Ofsted’s well-established team. The post holder will work with high-achieving professionals at all levels, surrounded by a friendly and supportive team. They will have access to amazing benefits, such as flexible working hours, the Civil Service Pension Scheme, and 32.5 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays. We offer a hybrid working model, so you may also choose to spend a proportion of time working from home.
Job Description
Please refer to the job specification for further information.
Person specification
Please refer to the job specification for further information.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Strong experience of web-application design using Python, Django including managing products using Microsoft Azure cloud services. Some experience of developing JavaScript, HTML and CSS code.
- Strong experience of handling large and potentially sensitive datasets using a range of tools and techniques, including SQL server.
- Be able to work closely with other developers in the team, coaching and supporting colleagues in the development and maintenance of digital products, including managing contractors to ensure high-quality and timely delivery.
- Practical experience of implementing thorough, structured testing and quality assurance with an eye for detail.
- Experience in a technical leadership role. (Desirable)
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- Strong experience of web-application design using Python, Django including managing products using Microsoft Azure cloud services. Some experience of developing JavaScript, HTML and CSS code.
- Strong experience of handling large and potentially sensitive datasets using a range of tools and techniques, including SQL server.
- Be able to work closely with other developers in the team, coaching and supporting colleagues in the development and maintenance of digital products, including managing contractors to ensure high-quality and timely delivery.
- Practical experience of implementing thorough, structured testing and quality assurance with an eye for detail.
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Alongside your salary of £48,597, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills contributes £14,078 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
Ofsted is devoted to equality, diversity and inclusion. Within our Ofsted Strategy 2023-2027 we have stated that we will improve the representation of under-represented groups across the organisation and publish our progress on this annually. We are always looking to expand on our diverse workforce by recruiting candidates from varied backgrounds and differing experiences. We are proud to be a Disability Confident – Leader, we continually engage with our employee networks for protected characteristics, and highlight the work of our Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Group. We ensure all candidates are treated with fair and open competition, with all appointments being made on merit and we use our Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) to provide assurance to all candidates of this.
Ofsted is committed to maintaining employee health and wellbeing, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially or socially, and offers a range of benefits to support employees in this. Such benefits include the option to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional and personal development opportunities, 32.5 annual leave days per annum (plus eight days public holiday) and access to counselling and advisory services.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Application and shortlisting
The selection panel will assess your application/personal statement based on your evidence you have provided against the essential/desirable criteria as set out in the job specification.
Use the STAR model (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to present your evidence.
You will also be asked to provide information within the “Employer/Activity History” section of the application form. This information is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV setting out your career history (this will/may be used in the sifting process).
In the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead criterion below:
Strong experience of web-application design using Python, Django including managing products using Microsoft Azure cloud services. Some experience of developing JavaScript, HMTL and CSS code.
Candidates who are successful at this stage will then be progressed and may be assessed against the remaining criteria.
Interview
Candidates who pass the benchmark at the shortlist stage will be invited to an interview where you will be assessed against a mixture of the Civil Service behaviours and on the technical/experience skills as detailed in the job specification.
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Interviews will be held during the week commencing 19 October 2026 at 2 Rivergate, Bristol.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
Name: People Services Delivery Team
Email: jobs@ofsted.gov.uk
Telephone: 03000 131 487
Recruitment team
Email: jobs@ofsted.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email Ofsted recruitment at jobs@ofsted.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recrutiment
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