Service Owner

Service Owner – Government Digital Service (GDS)

Salary: £71,420–£85,845 per year
Location: Bristol, London or Manchester
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, job share, flexible working or compressed hours
Number of vacancies: 2
Job grade: Grade 6
Reference: 487254
Closing date: 8 November 2026, at 11:55 pm
Visa sponsorship: Not available. DSIT cannot offer visa sponsorship for this recruitment campaign.

About the Government Digital Service

The Government Digital Service (GDS), part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), leads the development of modern digital government services across the UK.

GDS works to improve public services by strengthening digital and data infrastructure, supporting the responsible use of artificial intelligence, improving collaboration across government and making services more accessible to citizens.

The organisation employs more than 1,000 people and has offices in London, Manchester and Bristol.

GDS is recruiting two Service Owners to lead important work across government: one in the Accessibility and Digital Inclusion team and another in the GDS Local team.

About the roles

1. Service Owner – Accessibility and Digital Inclusion

You will lead a growing portfolio of products, tools and services that help government departments deliver accessible and inclusive digital services.

These include accessibility assessment tools, inclusive design guidance and practical resources used by teams across government.

Your responsibilities will include setting strategic direction, prioritising investment, monitoring performance and demonstrating the impact of accessibility and inclusion initiatives. You will work with senior government leaders, ministerial boards and policy colleagues to develop a consistent approach across departments.

You will also lead a team and oversee the development of a new operating model to expand the reach and effectiveness of accessibility and inclusion support across government.

2. Service Owner – GDS Local

You will lead a team working to improve collaboration between central and local government, helping local authorities deliver more joined-up digital and data services.

The role involves developing team capability, establishing operational structures and governance, managing delivery partners and planning future investment.

You will work with the Digital Devolution Programme and local government stakeholders to improve access to interoperable technology, encourage the reuse of digital solutions, reduce dependency on suppliers and make public services work better for local communities.

Key responsibilities

As a Service Owner, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership and take end-to-end ownership of a portfolio of services, products, tools and initiatives.
• Translate government priorities into practical digital service improvements and measurable outcomes.
• Work with policy teams, subject matter experts, industry partners and local government representatives.
• Lead the transition to a scalable operating model that meets the needs of central and local government.
• Define success measures, monitor performance and use evidence to drive continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders across complex organisations.
• Influence and negotiate with senior leaders to resolve challenges and secure agreement on priorities.
• Ensure appropriate governance, assurance, funding and risk management arrangements are in place.
• Coordinate suppliers and delivery partners to support service design and accelerate delivery.
• Lead, develop and line-manage a team, including managing workforce planning and the team budget.
• Communicate the service roadmap, benefits and value to directors and senior government leaders.
• Create an inclusive, supportive and collaborative environment where the team can perform effectively.

Person specification

Candidates should have experience in the following areas:

• Providing strategic leadership and end-to-end ownership of a service, product or portfolio of products and tools.
• Building and managing stakeholder relationships across organisational boundaries and complex environments.
• Leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering outcomes through others.
• Using user research, evidence and insights to inform strategic decisions and improve services.
• Influencing and negotiating with senior leaders to achieve outcomes and resolve complex issues.
• Developing strategies that deliver a clear vision, intended outcomes and measurable benefits.
• Prioritising competing user, business and policy needs.
• Designing and managing scalable operating models for complex services.
• Bringing together operational, policy, digital and delivery teams to maintain service resilience and manage critical issues.

Salary and benefits

The advertised salary range is £71,420–£85,845 per year. Offers will depend on capability and location.

Expected offer ranges are:

• London: £76,475–£79,775 per year.
• Manchester and Bristol: £71,420–£74,720 per year.

Offers above the standard grade salary will include a specialist pay allowance.

Benefits include:

• Flexible hybrid working, with options for part-time and compressed hours.
• Civil Service Pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by one day each year up to 30 days.
• An additional day off for the King’s birthday.
• An in-year bonus scheme recognising high performance.
• Career development, coaching and a personal development training budget.
• 10 learning days per year.
• Employee assistance and wellbeing support.
• Season ticket advances and a cycle-to-work scheme.
• Employee discounts and death-in-service benefits.
• Up to five special leave days for volunteering.
• Access to Civil Service learning opportunities.

Working arrangements

The department operates a discretionary hybrid-working policy combining office attendance with working from home within the UK.

The current expectation is to attend the office or another non-home working location for 40–60% of the relevant accounting period. Full-time home working is not normally offered, although flexible arrangements are available.

Security and eligibility requirements

Successful candidates must complete basic criminal record checks and Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.

You must also be willing to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance after joining.

SC clearance normally requires five years of UK residency within the previous five years. This is not an absolute requirement, but additional checks may be necessary if you have lived outside the UK. Insufficient residency history could delay or prevent clearance.

The role is broadly open to eligible UK nationals, Irish nationals, qualifying Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK, and other groups listed in the official Civil Service nationality requirements.

Important: Applicants must meet the relevant nationality, right-to-work and security requirements.

Visa sponsorship information

Visa sponsorship is not available for this campaign. DSIT confirms that although it holds a visa sponsorship licence, this particular recruitment campaign does not qualify for sponsorship.

Applicants who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship should take this restriction into account before applying.

Application and selection process

The standard recruitment process includes:

1. Initial application: Submit a CV and a cover letter answering three questions.
2. Interview: Shortlisted candidates will attend a 50-minute video interview that includes a presentation. Details of the presentation will be provided to invited candidates.
3. Additional assessment: Depending on application numbers, an extra stage such as a telephone interview or technical exercise may be introduced.

If applications are high in volume, the initial sift may focus on this lead question:

Describe how you have led a team to overcome blockers or difficult situations that were preventing delivery.

Candidates will be assessed against the Civil Service behaviours of leadership and managing a quality service, alongside the specialist skills of strategic ownership, stakeholder relationship management and applying user-centred insights.

The recruitment timeline is:

• Sift completion: 16 November 2026.
• Panel interviews: Starting from 23 November 2026.
• Reserve list: A reserve list may be held for 12 months.

The employer advises applicants to ensure that all application examples are truthful and based on their own experience. Applicants are encouraged to write cover letters that reflect their personal achievements and experience.

How to apply

There are two permanent Service Owner vacancies at the Government Digital Service, based in Bristol, London or Manchester.

Review the eligibility requirements, salary information and visa sponsorship restriction before submitting your application.

Closing date: 8 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Job reference: 487254