Civil Service Competency Framework Levels: A Complete UK Guide
17 August 2026
Understand the Civil Service competency framework levels, how they work in UK job applications, and how they map to Success Profiles in 2026.
What Is the Civil Service Competency Framework?
The Civil Service Competency Framework (CSCF) was introduced in 2012 to standardise how civil servants are recruited, promoted, and appraised. It identified nine core competencies, such as Leading and Communicating, Delivering at Pace, and Making Effective Decisions. Each competency had four levels, ranging from Level 1 (junior roles) to Level 4 (senior leadership). In 2018, the framework was replaced by Success Profiles, which uses a broader ‘behavioural’ approach. However, the concept of competency levels remains central to many recruitment exercises, and understanding the original levels still helps candidates prepare for UK civil service interviews.
The Four Levels Explained
Each competency in the CSCF was defined across four ascending levels. Level 1 focuses on teamwork, following instructions, and handling straightforward tasks with support. Level 2 requires independent working, effective communication, and basic problem-solving. Level 3 involves leading projects, influencing others, and analysing complex information. Level 4 is for strategic leaders who set direction, inspire across organisations, and manage significant change. In practice, the level you need depends on the job grade. Knowing these distinctions helps you tailor your examples and language in applications and interviews, showing you can operate at the required level for the role.
How Levels Map to Civil Service Grades
Civil Service grades are aligned to competency levels. Typically, Administrative Assistant (AA) and Administrative Officer (AO) roles require Level 1 competencies, while Executive Officer (EO) roles expect Level 2. Higher Executive Officer (HEO) and Senior Executive Officer (SEO) posts demand Level 3, and Grade 7 and above call for Level 4. Under Success Profiles, behaviour descriptors are grade-specific rather than a single numeric level, but the mapping remains broadly similar. If you are applying for an HEO role, for example, you should provide evidence of leading a project or making recommendations, rather than just following instructions.
Using Competency Levels in Applications and Interviews
When completing Civil Service applications, read the person specification carefully to identify the required level. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure examples that clearly demonstrate the relevant behaviour. For higher levels, emphasise your influence, analysis, and leadership. For example, at Level 3 you might describe how you identified a process improvement and persuaded senior stakeholders to adopt it, whereas at Level 2 you would focus on completing your own duties well. In interviews, listen to the question and match your response to the level implied by the grade. Senior panels expect strategic thinking, not just operational detail.
Current Status in 2026: Success Profiles Behaviours
As of 2026, the Civil Service uses Success Profiles, which retain the core idea of competency levels but reframe them as ‘behaviours’. There are nine behaviours, including Communicating and Influencing, Seeing the Big Picture, and Delivering at Pace. Each behaviour has a set of difference descriptors linked to job grades, from AA to SCS. The level descriptors are published in the Success Profiles framework, available on GOV.UK. While the term ‘competency framework’ is still used colloquially, you should always check whether a specific vacancy references CSCF or Success Profiles, and tailor your examples to the exact wording provided for that grade.
FAQ
The original Civil Service Competency Framework had four levels: Level 1 for junior roles requiring teamwork and basic tasks, Level 2 for independent work and effective communication, Level 3 for leading projects and influencing others, and Level 4 for strategic leadership. These levels map broadly to grades from AA/AO up to Grade 7 and senior roles.