Organisation advertises three senior roles for ‘One Login for Government’ project

Credit: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is recruiting heads of design, engagement and strategy and policy for digital identity, having put this at the centre of its work for the next three years.

The three jobs are concerned with the ‘One Login for Government’ project, announced last September by Cabinet Office minister Julia Lopez as a successor for the troubled Verify programme.

“With GOV.UK Accounts we will enable people to better understand government through a more personalised, low-friction experience, one that joins up whole journeys for services in a single space,” Lopez said in a speech last month, adding that the new project will eventually replace other digital identity systems used across government. Verify was shunned by departments including HM Revenue and Customs, which stuck with its own system.

In a blog last month, GDS chief executive Tom Read made ‘A simple digital identity solution that works for everyone’ one of the organisation’s five main tasks for the next three years. He wrote that the service will have to work for everyone, including those who do not have a fixed address, and that existing identity services “will only be integrated, absorbed or turned off when the new service has been tested thoroughly, and everyone is happy that it works as it needs to”. 

The head of strategy and policy job includes leading and consulting “on new data sharing legislation that will underpin the future solution” and working with the new head of engagement, who will be expected to “help to communicate the government’s digital identity vision and strategy”. The head of design role is focused on running the team that will build the service.

All three jobs can be based in London, Bristol or Manchester and are grade 6, band A+ roles with a base salary of £64,500 in London and £60,500 elsewhere.