YouTube Channel Manager

Salary: £36,735 - £43,020 (HEO – National: £36,735 - £39,670; London: £39,850 - £43,020) plus Civil Service Pension with 28.97% employer contribution

Location: Bristol, London or Manchester (hybrid, 40-60% in the office)

Job type: Permanent (full-time, part-time, job share and flexible working available)

Closing date: 11:55pm, Monday 19th October 2026

About GDS

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 GOV.UK 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. 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.

Job description

The GOV.UK Social Media team helps people access trusted government information through social media and video content.

As YouTube Channel Manager, you will support the delivery and growth of GOV.UK's YouTube channel by managing content, maintaining publishing schedules, monitoring performance and identifying opportunities to improve audience engagement.

Working with content producers, policy teams and stakeholders across government, you will help ensure GOV.UK's YouTube content is accessible, engaging and aligned with user needs.

This is an opportunity for someone with experience managing digital channels who wants to use audience insight and content expertise to help people access government information.

1. Manage the GOV.UK YouTube channel

• Publish, schedule and maintain content on the GOV.UK YouTube channel
• Ensure channel content is accurate, accessible and up to date
• Maintain channel organisation, playlists, metadata and optimisation
• Support the implementation of channel plans and audience growth activity

2. Support content commissioning and delivery

• Work with producers and stakeholders to plan and deliver video content
• Provide advice on YouTube best practice, audience expectations and platform requirements
• Coordinate publishing schedules and content pipelines
• Ensure content meets GOV.UK editorial and accessibility standards

3. Use data and insight to improve performance

• Monitor channel performance using analytics and audience data
• Produce regular reporting and performance updates
• Identify opportunities to improve engagement, watch time, reach and audience retention
• Support testing and evaluation of content formats and publishing approaches

4. Build stakeholder relationships

• Work collaboratively with policy teams, communicators and delivery partners across government
• Help identify opportunities for video content that supports user needs
• Provide guidance to stakeholders on how YouTube can be used effectively
• Support cross-government collaboration on video and digital content initiatives

5. Contribute to the Social and Video team

• Share insight, learning and best practice with colleagues
• Support delivery of wider social media and video projects when required
• Keep up to date with YouTube developments, content trends and audience behaviours
• Contribute to continuous improvement and user-centred content design

Essential criteria

• Experience managing content on YouTube or other large digital platforms, including titles, descriptions and thumbnails
• Knowledge of YouTube Studio and platform analytics
• Experience using performance data and audience insight to inform content decisions
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Experience working with stakeholders to deliver digital content
• Good editorial judgement and attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Desirable criteria

• Experience creating or commissioning video content
• Understanding of accessibility and inclusive content principles
• Experience working within government, the public sector or a regulated environment
• Understanding of GOV.UK and user-centred content design principles

Behaviours assessed

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

• Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension, with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts

Selection process

This vacancy uses Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience. You'll be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Use your personal statement (no more than 500 words) to give details of YouTube channels you have managed, your roles and responsibilities, your involvement in content decisions and how you managed channel performance. Applications will be sifted on CV and personal statement (or on personal statement only if there are a large number of applicants). The interview will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions.

Things you need to know

• Successful candidates must meet Security Check (SC) requirements and undergo a basic criminal record check
• New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band
• DSIT cannot offer visa sponsorship through this campaign
• Following machinery of government changes, the role may ultimately sit in one of the new departments
• Job contact: Simon Binns, simon.binns@dsit.gov.uk