UK.gov's top tech jobs pay more than prime minister earns

DSIT hiring directors general with packages reaching £260K plus pension

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is recruiting three directors general to lead aspects of the UK government's digital work, all on pay in excess of the prime minister's salary.

The DG for digital products will oversee the full launch of the GOV.UK app and development of GOV.UK Chat, the National Digital Wallet, and GOV.UK One Login.

"Alongside the delivery of current services, the DG will be responsible for setting the creative vision and strategic direction for the future suite of digital products – anticipating emerging needs, technologies and opportunities to transform how government serves the public," says the job's information pack, which adds that the successful candidate will lead a team of 650 and manage a planned budget of £275 million.

The DG for digital transformation, a more strategic role, will lead on plans for digital government, advice for ministers, and use of AI, from which the government hopes to find more than £100 million in productivity gains.

The successful candidate will lead a team of 700 people with a provisional budget of £200 million.

"The DG will lead the UK Government's efforts to radically improve public service delivery through digital redesign, AI adoption and cross-departmental transformation and the underpinning data architecture and policy of government," the information pack for this role says.

DSIT will pay both directors general between £200,000 and £260,000 a year, plus employer pension contributions worth 29 percent of salary. Applications for the vacancies close on May 5.

The DG of digital foundations is responsible for the government's cybersecurity policy and the digital identity scheme, and will oversee the implementation of the digital inclusion action plan.

The chosen candidate will also lead delivery of government-sponsored broadband networks and aim to strengthen the resilience of telecoms and digital infrastructure, managing a team of 900 staff and a planned budget of £950 million.

The salary for the DG of digital foundations is £174,000, plus pension contributions. Applications close on April 29.

All three jobs pay more than the prime minister's £170,000 salary but are short of the best-paid IT role in the public sector, according to recent data from the Cabinet Office.

As of September 30, the best-paid technology officer in the public sector was Graeme Slater, chief information officer of Nuclear Decommissioning Authority subsidiary Sellafield Limited, on £280,000 to £284,999.

He joined Sellafield in January 2024 after the organization experienced a series of cybersecurity failures.

Other well-compensated public sector techies include Antony Rowstron, chief technology officer of DSIT's Advanced Research and Invention Agency, who is paid £260,000 to £264,999, and Richard Pedley, chief digital information officer of National Highways, on £220,000 to £224,999.

The highest-paid person on the list was Mark Wild, who received £660,000 to £664,999 as chief executive of High Speed Two Limited, the company building the HS2 railway between London and Birmingham. However, the notes say that he didn't get a pension. ®