Senior Developer

We are MHCLG

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people's lives.

Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we're all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you're thinking of joining us, there's never been a more exciting time. The Digital Planning Programme is delivering a once-in-a-generation transformation of the planning system in England — making it faster, more accessible, data-driven, and fit for the future. As a Senior Software Developer in the Digital Planning Programme, you will be a technical leader, responsible for designing, building, and maintaining high-quality digital services that transform the planning system in England. This is a hands-on role, requiring strong skills in both front-end and back-end development, with the ability to write clean, secure, and efficient code while guiding others to do the same.

This is a hands-on role, requiring strong skills in both front-end and back-end development, with the ability to write clean, secure, and efficient code while guiding others to do the same. You will be an effective communicator, able to mentor and support developers at different levels, champion modern engineering practices, and help set the technical direction of the team. Working closely with product managers, designers, and delivery colleagues, you will ensure services are user-centred, accessible, scalable, and aligned to government technology standards, delivering simpler, faster, and more transparent planning services for all users.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

As a Senior Developer You'll:

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of robust, scalable and open data services to support digital planning tools and systems. (Fast API, Flask, Express.js)
• Provide strategic technical leadership by setting software architecture, engineering practices, and technical direction across the Planning Data Team
• Define and evolve scalable, secure design patterns and coding standards, ensuring alignment with GDS standards and cross-government platforms
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to select technologies, shape roadmaps, and deliver resilient, maintainable digital services that meet planning reform goals
• Shape how planning data is modelled, shared, and integrated across local and central government, ensuring alignment with standards such as the Digital Land platform and UPRNs
• Engage directly with planning authorities, digital providers, and GDS to deliver user-centred services that are reliable, secure, and accessible
• Collaborate closely with policy, delivery, and data teams to align technical delivery with programme goals and policy outcomes
• Manage and mentor a small team of developers and provide technical assurance across software workstreams
• Represent the department at technical forums, open-source communities, and government working groups on digital planning and data standards
• Ensure delivery aligns with the Service Standard, Technology Code of Practice, and departmental governance processes

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:

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.

Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.

Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)

Technical and Experience: Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description.

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

Stage 2: Short Interview/Test

Candidates will be asked to prepare a task ahead of a 30-minute interview with further details to be provided, assessing on technical.

Stage 3: Interview

• Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace and, Changing and Improving
• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 30th November 2026.

Interviews are envisaged to take place shortly after and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

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.

Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability.

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 7 Group 1 Digital and Data salary

• The basic pay for this role will be between £70,677 (London), £64,811(National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale.
• A digital allowance of up to £12,894 (National) or £12,736 (London) may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating.
• For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above.

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: BPSS + SC

London Office: BPSS + SC

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