PROGRAMME

PROGRAMME SUPPORT OFFICER – £36,735–£43,020 SALARY

Department: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT)
Team: Government Digital Service – Digital Identity & GOV.UK One Login
Job Title: Programme Support Officer
Grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Salary: £36,735–£43,020 per year
National salary: £36,735–£39,670
London salary: £39,850–£43,020
Contract: Permanent
Locations: Bristol, London or Manchester
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job Share & Flexible Working
Vacancies: 3
Reference: 475470
Application deadline: 11:55 pm, Monday 24 August 2026

PROGRAMME SUPPORT OFFICER OPPORTUNITY

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology is recruiting 3 Programme Support Officers to join the Government Digital Service (GDS), supporting the GOV.UK One Login programme.

This is an excellent opportunity for an organised, proactive and detail-oriented professional with experience in programme support, administration, business management, recruitment, finance or governance.

You will work within the Programme Management Office (PMO), supporting important activities that help the programme operate effectively and deliver its priorities.

QUICK JOB SUMMARY

SALARY AND PENSION

National: £36,735–£39,670 per year

London: £39,850–£43,020 per year

The role includes membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.

WHO IS THIS OPPORTUNITY SUITABLE FOR?

This vacancy could be relevant to applicants with experience as:

• Programme Support Officer
• Programme Administrator
• Project Support Officer
• Business Support Officer
• Business Administrator
• Project Coordinator
• Programme Coordinator
• PMO Administrator
• Operations Coordinator
• Governance Officer
• Administrative Officer
• Finance/Business Support professional

ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT DIGITAL SERVICE

The Government Digital Service is the digital centre of government and supports the delivery of modern digital government.

Its work includes:

• Joining up public-sector services
• Harnessing artificial intelligence for public good
• Strengthening digital and data infrastructure
• Supporting leadership and talent
• Promoting innovation and growth
• Improving transparency and accountability

ABOUT GOV.UK ONE LOGIN

GOV.UK One Login is designed to provide a straightforward and secure way for people to access a range of government digital services.

The Programme Management Office supports:

• Recruitment
• Onboarding and offboarding
• Finance
• Governance
• Business planning
• Stakeholder engagement
• Operational coordination
• Process improvement

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Programme Support Officer, you may be responsible for:

• Coordinating recruitment activities.
• Supporting onboarding and offboarding.
• Managing shared inboxes and enquiries.
• Supporting financial management and budget monitoring.
• Organising governance meetings.
• Preparing papers and recording actions.
• Maintaining programme documentation and trackers.
• Producing management information.
• Building stakeholder relationships.
• Supporting delivery of the programme business plan.
• Managing competing priorities.
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes.
• Supporting continuous improvement.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Applicants should have:

• Experience providing business, programme or administrative support in a complex environment.
• Experience supporting recruitment, onboarding, governance, finance or business management activities.
• Ability to understand business priorities.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage competing demands and deadlines.
• Experience building relationships with stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Experience maintaining accurate records and management information.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and process improvement.

You do not need to meet every requirement to apply. If you believe your experience and transferable skills could help you succeed, the employer encourages you to apply.

CIVIL SERVICE BEHAVIOURS ASSESSED

Applicants will be assessed against:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

WORKING ARRANGEMENT

Available working patterns include:

• Full-time
• Part-time
• Job share
• Flexible working

The role operates under a discretionary hybrid working policy.

The current expectation is for staff to spend approximately 40–60% of their working time in the office or another non-home location over the accounting period.

This is not a fully remote position.

BENEFITS

Benefits include:

• Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
• Employer pension contribution of 28.97%.
• At least 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to a maximum of 30 days.
• Flexible working options.
• Homeworking as part of the hybrid arrangement.
• Compressed hours options.
• Job-sharing opportunities.
• Learning and professional development.
• Retail discounts.
• Travel discounts.
• Lifestyle employee discounts.

VISA SPONSORSHIP – IMPORTANT

NO VISA SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS VACANCY

DSIT explicitly states that it cannot offer visa sponsorship through this recruitment campaign.

Although DSIT holds a visa sponsorship licence, the department states that this campaign does not qualify for sponsorship.

Applicants requiring employer-sponsored immigration permission should therefore take this restriction into account before applying.

WHO CAN APPLY?

The vacancy is broadly open to eligible:

• UK nationals
• Republic of Ireland nationals
• Eligible Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK
• Eligible EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein nationals
• Certain individuals with settled or pre-settled status
• Certain individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain
• Turkish nationals and qualifying family members who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Applicants should check the official nationality requirements before submitting an application.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The vacancy uses the Civil Service Success Profiles recruitment framework.

Applicants will be asked to provide:

• A CV
• A personal statement

The personal statement must be no more than 500 words and should explain how your skills and experience match the person specification.

If there is a large number of applicants, the initial sift may be based on the personal statement alone.

Candidates who pass may progress to further assessment and/or interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour-based questions.

IMPORTANT APPLICATION TIP

Your personal statement should focus directly on the experience requested in the vacancy.

Strong examples may demonstrate:

• Programme or business support
• Recruitment coordination
• Governance support
• Financial administration
• Stakeholder management
• Managing competing priorities
• Process improvement
• Maintaining accurate records
• Delivering work to deadlines

All examples must be genuine and based on your own experience.

SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

Successful candidates must meet the relevant security requirements before appointment.

Checks may include:

• Basic or equivalent criminal record checks
• Security checks
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks
• Internal Fraud Database screening
• Other pre-employment checks where applicable

CERTIFICATE OR QUALIFICATION PROVIDED

This is a permanent Civil Service employment position, not an apprenticeship or formal qualification programme.

The advert does not state that successful applicants will receive a degree, apprenticeship certificate or professional qualification as part of the appointment.

However, employees will have access to learning and professional development opportunities.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

A location-based reserve list may be maintained for 12 months.

Candidates meeting the required benchmark may also be considered for similar roles.

The vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Reasonable adjustments are available for eligible candidates who require them during recruitment.

KEY FACTS AT A GLANCE

Job: Programme Support Officer
Salary: £36,735–£43,020
Grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Employer: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Team: Government Digital Service – GOV.UK One Login
Contract: Permanent
Vacancies: 3
Locations: Bristol, London & Manchester
Working: Hybrid / flexible
Visa sponsorship: Not available
Deadline: 11:55 pm, Monday 24 August 2026
Reference: 475470

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 24 August 2026.

Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.