Recruitment and Onboarding Officer - Department Science, Innovation & Technology - HEO

Recruitment and Onboarding Officer - Department for Science, Innovation & Technology - HEO

Full-time (Permanent) National: £36,728 - £40,670 London: £39,684 - £43,834

Published on 27 January 2026

Bristol, London, Manchester

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  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.

Customer First is rewiring how the UK delivers services so interactions with the state feel as simple as the best consumer products. We’re building outcomes that reduce failure demand, cut cost-to-serve, and improve satisfaction for millions. Find out more about Customer First here:

Are you ready to make a real difference in how government attracts and welcomes top talent? We're on the lookout for an energetic and forward-thinking Recruitment and Onboarding Officer to join our dynamic Talent Team within Customer First.

In this pivotal role, you'll be at the heart of transforming the recruitment and onboarding journey, ensuring every candidate and new starter feels valued, informed, and inspired from day one. You’ll work in close partnership with DSIT HR and IC S, taking ownership of operational processes, pinpointing challenges, and driving meaningful improvements. Your expertise will help make joining Customer First an effortless and exciting experience.

• Proactive and organised: always two steps ahead and eager to streamline how things are done.
• Collaborative by nature: you thrive in team settings and genuinely enjoy working with others to achieve common goals.
• Data‑driven: you’ll lead on developing and maintaining weekly dashboards, using data to celebrate successes and spotlight opportunities for improvement.
• Passionate about people: you believe that a fantastic candidate experience is fundamental to our success and are committed to making everyone’s introduction to Customer First memorable.

This is your chance to help shape a fresh, bold approach to public sector recruitment, making sure each new team member feels part of something bigger from the outset. You'll play a vital role in building a workplace where innovation, inclusion, and satisfaction are at the core of everything we do.

If you’re excited to champion change and help us set a new standard for government recruitment and onboarding, we’d love to hear from you.

• Coordinate day‑to‑day recruitment activities for Customer First roles, ensuring compliance and timely progression.
• Liaise with DSIT HR and IC S to support recruitment campaigns and logistics.

• Manage onboarding tasks, ensuring new starters have the right information and support.
• Provide an expert service to onboarding, acting as the point of…