Junior Developer

We are MHCLG

Build your digital career with us in Manchester. Technology has an important role to play in how government delivers services and supports communities. As part of our Digital, Data and Information Directorate, you’ll have the opportunity to work on digital services that make a real difference to people’s lives.

Based in Manchester, you’ll join a multidisciplinary digital team and work alongside experienced colleagues to build and improve services used by citizens, Local Authorities and people across MHCLG.

From supporting large-scale grant programmes and using data to improve decision-making, to supporting refugee resettlement, our work contributes to some of the department’s most important services.

As the department’s central digital function, we also provide the technology, platforms and infrastructure that enable teams across MHCLG to deliver their work.

Our teams bring together civil servants and specialist professionals from a range of backgrounds and areas of expertise, giving you the opportunity to learn, contribute your ideas and develop your digital career.

About the role

As a Junior Developer, you’ll have the opportunity to put your technical skills into practice while learning from experienced developers. You’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary team to understand user needs, solve problems and build software that supports people and communities.

You’ll learn through practical experience, including pair programming, writing automated tests and working with colleagues across digital and policy teams. We use the right technology for the job, so you may work with a range of programming languages or Microsoft Power Platform.

Find out more about our digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. You can find out how we build software The MHCLG Way.

Please note that MHCLG does not offer visa sponsorship. Applicants will need a valid visa that allows them to work in the UK for the duration of their employment.

As a Junior Developer, you’ll:

• Develop and maintain high-quality software, working with experienced developers and a multidisciplinary team to build secure, reliable and user-focused digital services.
• Use development best practices, including pair programming, test-driven development (TDD) and automated testing, with support from experienced colleagues.
• Help maintain the reliability and security of our services by monitoring systems and supporting the management of production environments.
• Develop and maintain automated tests that support continuous integration and deployment.
• Work collaboratively with developers and colleagues across disciplines, including product managers, designers and user researchers, to understand user needs and deliver effective solutions.
• Share your knowledge and ideas with colleagues and contribute to the wider development community as you build your skills and experience.

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)

Application and Selection

The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Ability , Behaviours , Experience , Technical

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Stage 1: Sift (CV)

Experience: Your CV will be assessed against the criteria in the job description and person specification.

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Lead sift question:

Technical: Tell us about something you have created, helped build, or contributed to using software development skills. What tools or technologies did you use, how did you decide to use them, and how did you know it worked as intended? (250 words)

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: Developing Self and Others, Working Together
• Ability: Candidates will be asked to undertake a team challenge and technical exercise during the interview process, further details will be provided on invitation to interview.
• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

If there are a large number of high scoring applicants we may need to introduce a 15 minute remote interview prior to the assessment centre taking place. If that is the case the success profiles tested will be:

• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Behaviours: Working Together

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 12th October 2026.

Interviews will be held in November in Manchester and will be in person. Further details will be provided on invitation to interview.

Group 1 Digital & Data Roles

MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview.

MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only. Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager.

Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade.

Grade HEO Group 1 Digital and Data salary

• The basic pay for this role will be £42,005 (National). These rates represent the maximum salary payable for this role.
• For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the maximum of the pay band for that grade, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above.

How We Recruit

Find out everything you need to know before applying here..

• Applying
• Sifting
• Interview
• Interview Results & Feedback
• Reserve List
• Near Miss
• Civil Service Grades
• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
• Reasonable Adjustments

Human

How to Apply

What you need to know before applying.

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

• Security Clearance Requirements
• Civil Service Nationality Requirements
• Right to Work
• Artificial Intelligence
• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
• CV Declaration
• Sponsorships
• Salary and Grade
• Existing Civil Servants
• Conflict of Interest
• Location and Flexible Working
• Fixed Term Contracts
• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register
• Appeals and Complaints
• Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: SC

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