Head of Data Interoperability (Data Engineering)

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government.

Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government, by:

• joining up public sector services
• harnessing the power of AI for the public good
• strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
• elevating leadership and investing in talent
• funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
• committing to transparency and driving accountability

We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government.

We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol.

The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you’ll be working with some of the world’s most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale.

Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You'll solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need.

The Government Data Team is helping transform how government manages, shares and uses data. We are building the foundations that enable data to be treated as a strategic asset across the public sector, including common standards, secure access models, interoperable data infrastructure and the capabilities needed to support AI and data-driven services. Working across departments, local government and wider public sector partners, we are developing the shared approaches that make it easier to find, access and use data safely, ethically and at scale.

Former DSIT recruitment campaigns are continuing as usual, but candidates should be aware that following theGovernment’s announcement on the changes to some civil service departments, roles will be subject to the machinery of government moves and will ultimately be in one of the new departments. We will provide more information if you are selected for a role. This work remains of high importance to the civil service, and we thank you for your continued interest.

This is a rare opportunity to shape how data flows across government. As Head of Data Interoperability, you'll:

• lead the development and adoption of the patterns and technical approaches that enable organisations to share and use data consistently
• drive adoption of APIs, interoperable data exchange standards and federated data-sharing approaches across government
• build consensus and influence senior stakeholders to adopt common approaches to data sharing and interoperability
• work with architects, engineers and policy teams to deliver the foundations needed for modern public services and AI-enabled government
• play a leading role in delivering the UK Public Data Infrastructure vision and enabling trusted data sharing at scale

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)

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Please upload one document containing both your 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
• A 20 Minute Technical Phone Screen
• a 45 minute video interview which will feature a presentation. Details of the presentation will be shared with invited candidates prior to the interview.

Please upload your CV and Cover Letter as one document. While we value the use of AI technology to enhance our daily work, we also value the personal touch and urge applicants to write cover letters without the use of AI to emphasise their own unique experiences.

In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the lead criteria which is:

• can turn data standards, API specifications and interoperability frameworks into practical approaches that delivery teams can adopt at scale

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• working together
• changing and improving
• leadership

We’ll also be assessing your experience and specialist technical skills against the following skills defined in the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework for the Head of Data Engineering (G6) role:

• Data Integration Design
• Data Development Process
• Data Innovation

Want to know more about who Government Digital and Data are? Click Here

Sift completion: 9/11/2026

Phone screens: Starting from 16/11/2026

Panel interviews: Starting from 23/11/2026

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

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

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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

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

Sponsorship

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

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