Lead Developer Technical

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Digital Products and Services Department. We design, build and continuously improve digital products and services that enable the FCDO to operate effectively. Our work spans corporate functions and global platforms that support foreign policy, diplomacy and development aid.

As a relatively new team, we are building core capabilities to help FCDO become more digitally enabled. As we transition our internal systems, land new digital products and expand the scope of some of our existing digital platforms, we are building an expanded product function to design and integrate our products, spot efficiencies in existing processes and continuously improve our digital services to provide the best user experience.

As Lead Developer Technical you will be responsible for designing, running, and improving software that meets user needs. This involves writing clean, secure code following a test-driven approach and creating code that is open by default and easy for others to reuse. You will be expected to guide and mentor other developers, ensuring that best practices are followed and that the team continuously improves. You will also play a crucial role in setting the technical direction, making important decisions on software architecture, and ensuring that the software solutions are scalable, maintainable and aligned with the overall goals of the organisation. By leveraging their expertise, the successful candidate will help deliver high-quality digital services that provide value to users and support the mission of the government.

You will be part of an integrated delivery environment and ingrained joint working with policy and operations. You will have access to a tailored Learning and Development offer, combining both Government Digital and Data Profession and FCDO subject matter opportunities.

Roles and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Provide technical guidance and direction to the development team. Helping identify appropriate technology and approaches and decide when software should be written.
• Mentor and support other developers, ensuring best practices are followed. Set technical direction and make the “build vs buy” calls.
• Ensure the quality of the codebase by conducting code reviews, maintaining comprehensive documentation and promoting best practices.
• Collaborate with product and delivery managers to define project scope, timelines, and deliverables.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders to understand their requirements and provide updates on progress.
• Identify, Investigate and resolve technical issues that arise during the development process.
• Promote continuous improvement within the team by adopting new technologies and methodologies.

The FCDO also operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.

Candidates who secure a role that is considered specialist/technical, may be required to affiliate to the relevant specialist network, if not already a member.

You may be required to travel in the UK with possible travel abroad, this will likely be monthly travel with any overseas trips agreed some time in advance., You must be a British Citizen at the time of application and, if invited to interview, you will need to bring proof of identity (British Passport/Driving Licence etc.) with you., Please ensure that you allow sufficient time to complete the whole application process before the closing deadline.

• A CV detailing your career history (including any relevant qualifications). CVs will be assessed against the Essential Criteria outlined in the Person Specification section above.
• A Personal Statement of 500 words explaining how you consider your skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with specific reference to the Essential Criteria. These responses will be explored further during the interview process for shortlisted candidates.

The Behaviours you will be assessed on at the application stage are as follows:

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

The Technical Skills you will be assessed on at the application stage are as follows:

• Developing Process Optimisation (Working Level)
• Modern Development Standards (Practitioner Level)

IMPORTANT: If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme and require Reasonable Adjustments in order to complete your application/online tests, please ensure Government Recruitment Service (GRS) are aware of this on the date of application and certainly by the closing date.

In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift by a lead Behaviour. Only candidates who meet the minimum standard in this will have the rest of their application fully assessed.

Interview Stage

Candidates will be required to give a 10-Minute Presentation at the Interview, and the topic will be sent to you in advance. The Presentation will test the following Technical skill:

• Modern Development Standards (Practitioner Level)

You will also be assessed on the following Behaviours and Technical skills at Interview:

The Behaviours you will be assessed on during the interview are as follows:

• Making Effective Decisions

The Technical skills you will be assessed on during the interview are as follows:

• Programming and Build (Practitioner Level)
• Systems Design (Practitioner Level)

Please note that the FCDO carries out name-blind (anonymised) recruitment to help build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The personal information on your Application form and/or CV will be concealed during the sifting phase, and only the names of those who are being invited for Interviews will be made known to the Panel.

The FCDO has appointed the Government Recruitment Service to manage the process.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Do you have a valid Driving License license?, Do you have experience in Presentation skills?, * Demonstratable strong technical leadership with hands-on expertise across modern programming languages, frameworks, and tools, delivering high-quality front-end and back-end software that meets organisational and user needs.

• Proven experience delivering and maintaining software using modern engineering practices, including continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, automated testing, and deployment, to enable reliable and frequent releases.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and support developers by providing constructive feedback, fostering collaboration, and building a high-performing, inclusive engineering culture.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify complex technical and delivery issues and develop effective, pragmatic solutions.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, building strong relationships and managing expectations.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines while working in agile environments, adapting quickly to new technologies and continuously improving team performance to deliver value to users., This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Technical skills.

Pulled from the full job description

• Childcare

• Annual leave

• Company pension, £57,500 The starting salary for this role at Grade 7 is £57,500 (FTE) per annum. This is non-negotiable. A specialist allowance of up to £9,200 per annum (non-contractual, non-consolidated and non-pensionable) may be offered based on the candidate’s demonstrated skills, competence and experience at interview. This allowance will be subject to regular review and may be changed or removed with written notice. Location allowances will apply where staff are working in line with the FCDO’s Hybrid Working Policy. All future pay awards are subject to guidance issued annually by HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office. A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP, We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together

• Managing a Quality Service

• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Developing Process Optimisation (Working Level)
• Modern Development Standards (Practitioner Level)
• Programming and Build (Practitioner Level)
• Systems Design (Practitioner Level)

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Developing Process Optimisation (Working Level)
• Modern Development Standards (Practitioner Level), Alongside your salary of £57,500, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £16,657 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days Annual Leave per annum.
• 9 days Public and Privilege holidays per annum.

See the attached candidate pack.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office pursues our national interests and projects the UK’s role in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners. We employ more than 17,000 staff in 179 countries and territories, across our diplomatic and development offices worldwide, which consists of 282 officially designated Posts. Our UK-based staff work in King Charles Street, London, Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and Hanslope Park in Milton Keynes. Digital, Technology and Security Directorate (DTaS) is responsible for delivering the Foreign Secretary’s ambition to make the FCDO the most technologically integrated and innovative foreign ministry globally. This means harnessing digital, data, technology, IT security and information management to support the FCDO and UK Government partners on our platform to deliver our diplomatic, development and consular aims. All while keeping our people and information safe, especially from hostile actors. The work we do is varied – from historical analysis and library services to cyber protection, from information rights to global network management, from supporting staff in using the latest Microsoft toolsets, to creating corporate applications, harnessing AI and much more in line with the FCDO Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Strategy. The Directorate is made up of a wide range of talented staff and experts including specialist, contractors, home civil servants and diplomats who have served overseas.