James Hardy's departure, to become the BBC's head of comms for journalism, comes as the department anticipates losing 11 comms posts out of 56 in the current financial year.
Hardy said the position was expected to be filled, despite the cuts.
However, at the time of going to press, Hardy said no decision had yet been made about who would take over.
He said: 'We haven't come to any conclusion. It's up in the air quite how the recruitment process will take place.'
The BBC has poached Hardy after just five months at the DfID. He replaces John Shield, who is heading to transport group Go-Ahead as director of corporate affairs.
