Senior Talent Partner

Job summary

We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

We’re looking for a Senior Talent Partner (SEO) to lead direct sourcing and search-style hiring for some of DSIT’s most critical SCS and digital roles.

These are some of the most impactful technical hiring jobs in the UK right now. You’ll be a key part of the hiring engine that brings world-class technologists into government to deliver national priority programmes: from public sector AI adoption and digital identity to cyber resilience, critical infrastructure, and the platforms millions rely on every day.

DSIT has huge ambitions, and our tech teams are growing fast. We’re hiring at pace across scarce and competitive markets and we want you to help us challenge what “good” looks like in government recruitment. We're shifting our hiring approach to look more like high-performing tech organisations: proactive sourcing, clear decision making, ‘high-bar’, and a brilliant candidate experience.

This role is for people who love the challenge of finding talent in competitive markets, are a natural at building lasting relationships, and pride themselves in delivering an exceptional experience for their candidates.

You’ll be part of our core Digital Talent team working closely with hiring managers to fill roles that really matter. This is a rare chance to shape how the UK government hires its most important technical talent for the next decade.

Job description

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

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.

DSIT 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

As a Senior Talent Partner, you’ll:

• own search-style hiring from start to finish for priority Senior Civil Service & technical roles: build pipelines, map markets, approach candidates directly, take them successfully through the process
• partner with senior leaders: shape roles, challenge assumptions, and agree a realistic hiring plan
• use your expertise and market knowledge to help us find the best talent for the role
• run a candidate process you’d be proud of with crisp comms, strong relationships, respectful pace
• hold the hiring bar: help panels make consistent, evidence-based decisions
• close challenge hirings by developing an offer strategy that takes into consideration counteroffers, decision cadence, and stakeholder alignment
• manage a small recruitment pod (1x HEO, 1x EO) responsible for all recruitment logistics and operations

Person specification

We’re interested in people who have:

• experience with sourcing / search (in-house or agency) for senior appointments (c-suite, directors, heads of), and, or, scarce technical roles (tech, AI, data, cyber, product)
• a ‘candidate first’ mindset. You have experience of facilitating great candidate journeys
• love communicating with different types of people (including influencing senior stakeholders)
• a collaborative and open mindset. You’ll be part of a busy but supportive team where everyone chips in
• the ability to thrive in fast-paced, slightly messy environments. We like people who can figure things out on the fly!
• knowledge of the UK tech market, especially Manchester
• experience managing recruitment professionals with an operational focus

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,620, Government Digital Service contributes £12,926 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The benefits of working at DSIT

There are many benefits of working at DSIT, including:

• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of up to 28.97%

• 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 an employee discounts scheme

• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)

Any move to DSIT 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

Office attendance

The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at DSIT consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. 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 telephone screening call
• a 60 minute face to face interview in our Manchester hub that will include a presentation about how you would secure leading talent in today’s challenging markets

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

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

• having experience with sourcing / search (in-house or agency) for senior appointments (c-suite, directors, heads of), and, or, scarce technical roles (tech, AI, data, cyber, product)

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:

• leadership
• making effective decisions
• seeing the bigger picture
• communicating and influencing
• delivering at pace

Recruitment Timeline

Sift completion: 22/05/2026

Telephone / Video Screening: W/C 25/05/2026

Face-to-Face Panel interviews: W/C 01/06/2026

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.

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.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : gdsrecruitment@dsit.gov.uk
• Email : gdsrecruitment@dsit.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : gdsrecruitment@dsit.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact gds-complaints@dsit.gov.uk in the first instance.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission by email: info@csc.gov.uk Or in writing: Civil Service Commission, Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ.