About the job

Job summary

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is part of the Cabinet Office. We’re here to make digital government simpler, clearer and faster for everyone. We work at the very centre of government to make user-focused digital transformation happen. We build and maintain common platforms, products and tools for others to use and create great public services that are accessible, inclusive and easy to use. We also work with departments to identify patterns, share learning and create change to make government more efficient.

Our teams are organised around delivering on our priorities, which are to:

• make it easier for people to find what they are looking for on GOV.UK
• build common service platforms to make it simpler and cheaper to build quality digital services
• promote agile, user-centred design practices both in the UK and across the world

Our work is user-focused, dynamic and forward-looking, making our organisation an exciting and innovative place to work. 

Find out more at the GDS Blog. 

If you are someone who has strong leadership skills and experience, is adaptable, resilient, and can effectively operate at a senior level then we’d like to hear from you. 

Find out more at the GDS Blog.

Job description

You’ll be working in a growing cross-functional team that’s focused on measuring, analysing and improving our digital carbon emissions. In addition, you’ll also be working with stakeholders both internal and across government to understand needs and to deliver new capability in embedding sustainability within a digital service.

You’ll be core to making decisions that build a high performing team, adept at breaking down barriers for your team, and both planning at a higher level and getting into the details to make things happen when needed.

As a Senior Delivery Manager, you’ll:

• Working with developers and using existing technical knowledge to identify solutions to facilitate the implementation of technical improvements.
• Co-create and co-own plans and progress using recognised lean/agile practices, and communicate status to more senior people and users appropriately
• Providing valuable and eco-conscious delivery metrics to support continuous improvement, emphasising efficiency and sustainable practices.
• Lead the implementation of service improvements with a focus on sustainability and reducing the carbon impact of GDS services
• Lead and motivate multiple multi-disciplinary teams, helping them organise and plan their work, ensuring they deliver timely sustainable products and services that actually meet users’ needs.
• Facilitate an inclusive team environment where innovation and challenge are welcomed from all colleagues
• Delivery to the agreed goals of the digital sustainability strategy, actively tackling impediments, risks and blockers, and communicating and escalating where necessary
• Continually improve the effectiveness, efficiency and cohesion of teams 
• Work with senior leaders and stakeholders in GDS and CDDO to ensure all needs are understood and to influence strategic direction
• Manage stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment and effective communication, taking into account organisational context and different needs and priorities, dealing constructively with conflicting views 

Person specification

We’re interested in people with experience of:

• using agile practices to ensure the iterative and timely delivery of products and services that serve real user needs 
• actively tackling technical impediments, risks and blockers, and communicating and escalating where necessary
• facilitating effective workshops which give a voice to all participants and provide concrete outputs that enable delivery 
• leading successful high functioning multidisciplinary delivery teams which are aligned to the organisation’s strategic priorities and the needs of stakeholders
• sustainability or environmentalism is desirable. An interest in learning about digital sustainability principles and other sustainable topics is equally as desirable

Benefits

The benefits of working at GDS

There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to children's holiday play schemes across different locations in central London
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

GDS offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to Government Digital Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Things you need to know

Selection process details

In the Civil Service, we use our Success Profiles. For each role we advertise we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We will be looking at your experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the specific job role. We may assess your ability, strength, experience, technical/specialist skills and behaviours. At the interview you will be asked to give a short presentation on a topic that will be provided in advance. For this role the following behaviours are the most relevant:

• Leadership
• Communicating and influencing
• Working together
• Making effective decisions
• Delivering at pace

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• An application screening process - Simply, hit apply.  We only ask for a CV and Cover Letter. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “person specification" section above.
• An interview - We will assess you against the behaviours listed above and your experience  

Depending on the volume of applications we may also include an additional stage, which you will be invited to should you pass the application screening stage.  

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.