HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced it is looking for 50 'world-class' technologists, apprentices and graduates to deliver plans to make it easier for people and businesses to manage their tax online.
The department is looking for product managers, content and interaction designers, user researchers, technical architects and software developers, among others, to improve the usability of tax services and allow customers to connect more quickly and conveniently via a range of devices.
Staff will identify the needs of taxpayers, test new services with user groups and continue making improvements to services after launch. According to one of the job descriptions, for an Agile Delivery Manager, HMRC is "building a team of outstanding people who will create and run new and improved digital services. We will be using modern technology and Agile development methods, and release as much of our work as possible as open source software."
New team members will work from HMRC's recently opened 'digital delivery centre' in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and from a second digital delivery centre opening later this year, whose location is unknown. Mark Dearnley, HMRC's Chief Digital and Information Officer said in a statement that the centres will "foster a culture of innovation not seen across government before".
The plans are part of HMRC's broader transformation programme which aims to cut costs by 25% by 2015 compared with 2011, and reinvest £1 billion of savings into creating revenue. HMRC is one of the Government Digital Service's 25 Exemplar services - a group of flagship projects creating simpler, faster digital public services.
Currently, on personal tax matters alone, the department receives more than 28 million phone calls from people asking for advice and 17 million customer letters or forms.
The closing date for applications is Monday 10th February. Read more about the job vacancies here.
