The Cabinet Office is struggling to staff up its new Digital ID policy team since Darren Jones and his department took the brief off DSIT’s hands. Given the Cabinet Office’s history with One Login who can blame them…
The department is now casting around internally for recruits, circulating a job description for a new policy directorate and a handful of senior roles. After the usual fanfare about how transformative Digital ID will be, the note reads:
“The Cabinet Office is establishing a new policy directorate for digital ID. In the immediate term, there are G6 and G7 roles within the Strategy, Ministerial and Parliamentary Engagement team. The exact nature of the division of work between the different roles will be fluid and likely to change over time. We are offering these roles for one year with the possibility of extension. The roles will sit under Laura Waddilove (DD, Strategy, Ministerial and Parliamentary Engagement) This is a high profile, complex policy area, with keen focus on the programme from the CSPM, Minister Simons, other Cabinet Ministers and senior officials across departments.”
The different roles all have the same waffly requirements, one of which is having “maintained resilience for themselves and to others.” A government source tells Guido staff aren’t rushing to join the directorate: “Colleagues are not buying it. It’s not quite an ‘omnishambles’ yet, just a good old-fashioned No10-led shambles dropped at the door of other departments.” Digital IDK…
The Cabinet Office is leading the policy – that doesn’t take DSIT off the hook. Kendall’s department will “retain responsibility for technical design, build and delivery” along with other departments. Because joined up government works so well…
Read the full note below:
Digital ID
Requirement for G6 and G7 staff
The Government has announced a programme to establish a new Digital Identity scheme. This programme, to deliver a new digital ID, is a key Prime Ministerial priority, with Ministers and senior officials identifying this policy as fundamental to public sector reform. This is a high impact area.
A new digital ID will be the authoritative proof of an individual’s identity and eligibility. When fully rolled out, we expect it will:
• Improve public service delivery, by increasing accessibility as people more easily prove their identity and eligibility;
• Reduce ID fraud by minimising the sharing of personal details;
• Toughen checks on illegal working; and Drive innovation within the private sector.
The PM announced on 23 October 2025 that responsibility for strategy, policy development and legislation for Digital ID had transferred to the Cabinet Office (CO) with immediate effect. CO will work alongside the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) who retain responsibility for technical design, build and delivery, and other Departments.
Requirement
The Cabinet Office is establishing a new policy directorate for digital ID.
In the immediate term, there are G6 and G7 roles within the Strategy, Ministerial and Parliamentary Engagement team. The exact nature of the division of work between the different roles will be fluid and likely to change over time. We are offering these roles for one year with the possibility of extension.
The roles will sit under Laura Waddilove (DD, Strategy, Ministerial and Parliamentary Engagement)
This is a high profile, complex policy area, with keen focus on the programme from the CSPM, Minister Simons, other Cabinet Ministers and senior officials across departments. It
is the subject of regular inter-Ministerial discussions and Ministers are very active in engagement with external stakeholders.
Key responsibilities
At a minimum, individuals will:
lead ministerial briefings;
work across Government departments to set and broker successful policy outcomes; support and positively influence senior decisions makers;
support in setting a positive, inclusive and resilient culture across the directorate; and drive work both independently and collaboratively
Skills and experience required
We are looking for individuals who have:
1. led in ambiguity, and are comfortable in identifying and delivering on areas to add value;
2. maintained resilience for themselves and to others;
3. a natural curiosity, given the novel nature of the policy in the UK context. We will need individuals who are excited to shape and define the policy;
4. worked with senior stakeholders, both within and (where possible) external to government, communicating effectively and concisely to secure buy-in into a programme or area;
5. built trusting relationships across organisational boundaries and between competing priorities,
6. experience of working at pace, often supporting work across multiple workstreams; 7. excellent oral and written communication skills;
8. helped develop an inclusive and collaborative team culture; and
9. supported delivery of a significant government programme (desirable).
The team will be running drop-in sessions on Thursday 6 November and Monday 10 November, we would encourage those interested to attend to hear more about the programme and welcome any questions you may have. Thank you.
