SCS Digital Talent Capability Manager - DSIT - SEO

Manchester Digital; London, Manchester, Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A government digital service is seeking a SCS Digital Talent Capability Manager to enhance senior talent development across the UK. The role involves managing talent data, engaging with senior stakeholders, and driving diversity initiatives. The position offers a chance to shape the future of digital leadership and contribute significantly to public sector transformation.

Qualifications

• Experience gathering and using data for decision making.
• Strong communication with senior stakeholders.
• Project management across teams.
• Ability to work in diverse teams and champion inclusivity.
• Experience in HR or talent management strategies.
• Creative approach to talent solutions.

Responsibilities

• Manage and update talent data on our platform.
• Engage with departments for strategic partnership.
• Develop diverse and capable senior digital leaders.
• Ensure high-quality service delivery across projects.
• Provide leadership and promote inclusive practices.

Skills

Data analysis and interpretation

Excellent communication skills

Project management experience

Diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy

Strategic thinking

Job description

Overview

Full-time (Permanent) National: £42,382 - £45,920 London: £46,169 - £50,062

Published on 17 September 2025 Deadline 30 September 2025

Location

Bristol, London, Manchester

About the job

GDS

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

Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government, by:

• Joining up public sector services
• Harnessing the power of AI for the public good
• Strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
• Elevating leadership and investing in talent
• Funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
• Committing to transparency and driving accountability

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.

We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol.

The Government Digital Service 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.

Demonstrating integrity and accountability in our hiring processes is essential. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Government Digital, Data Workforce and Capability

Join Government Digital and Data Workforce and Capability, where our mission is to ensure the government possesses the necessary talent to drive digital transformation. We're dedicated to attracting, recruiting, nurturing, and retaining top-tier digital and data professionals.

As part of the team, you will help shape the future of digital strategy and capabilities, providing vital insights that support cross-department policies, standards, and strategies.

We are responsible for a community of 30,000+ digital innovators, aspiring talent, and the broader civil service. Our commitment includes fostering an inclusive, supportive, and dynamic culture where individuals thrive and excel.

We are responsible for delivering the cross-government Blueprint for modern digital government and Digital, Data and Technology Strategy and Standards, including the Technology Code of Practice, the Service Standard and Open Standards. Cross-government performance and assurance, including Spend Controls, Government Digital and Data Capability Framework.

This role sits in the Capability and Partnering team, within the Government Digital and Data Workforce and Capability team, within GDS.

We put the right conditions in place to achieve Government Digital & Data transformation at scale by working with departments cross government, and other government functions like commercial and project delivery professionals.

The Capability and Partnering team is responsible for talent development across the Digital and Data Function (cross-government) and this role is part of the team responsible for Digital and Data Talent.

We’re looking for an SCS Digital Talent Capability Manager to join our high-impact Senior Talent team. You’ll be supporting the development of the Senior Civil Service (SCS) within the Government Digital and Data Profession.

In this role, you’ll be at the heart of talent capability work for senior leaders across departments. You’ll own and improve our talent data, drive delivery and work with stakeholders at the highest levels.

Person specification

Key responsibilities

As our SCS (Senior Civil Service) Digital Talent Capability Manager you will:

• Confidently manage and use talent data, keeping our SCS talent dataset accurate and up to date via our rAPId platform. You’ll work with analysts to improve the database, review and query data using our bespoke Large Language Model and manage key processes like annual talent data commissions and succession planning.
• Lead on cross-government engagement, partnering with departments and senior stakeholders to build positive relationships. You'll ensure clear, consistent communication and keep detailed records that support strategic engagement.
• Deliver and improve talent approaches, helping to grow a diverse and capable pipeline of senior digital leaders. You’ll implement and review tools, support development offers and contribute to our inclusive leadership priorities.
• Drive delivery across projects, planning ahead, adapting quickly and reporting on progress to ensure we’re delivering high quality services.
• Provide leadership and direction, aligning work across the senior talent space and deputising for the team lead when needed. You’ll act as a role model for collaborative, inclusive and effective leadership.
• This is an exciting opportunity to shape how we identify, support and grow our senior digital and data leaders who are driving real change in the public sector. Come and join us and make a real difference!

We are interested in people who have:

• Experience of gathering, interpreting and using data to support effective decision making and planning. Identifying risks and areas for improvement using evidence-based insights (lead)
• Excellent communication skills, confidently working with colleagues and stakeholders, especially at senior levels. The ability to manage large amounts of complex information, communicate clearly and persuasively and build and maintain positive relationships.
• Experience of managing projects across teams, effectively prioritising and managing dependencies. Maintaining attention to detail and delivering to a high standard.
• Able to work with and in diverse teams, showing initiative and a proactive approach to resolving issues. Contributing to a positive, inclusive team culture and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion, supporting efforts to improve representation across the digital and data profession.
• Experience within HR, ideally delivering senior talent management strategies and/or people analytics
• Demonstrable experience of creativity and strategic thinking to developing and implementing talent development products and solutions to meet wide ranging user and stakeholder needs, aligned to strategic objectives.

Behaviours

We\'ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: