Job summary
The Government Digital Service (GDS), the Digital Centre of government, was announced as an essential element of DSIT’s work by the Secretary of State earlier this year. It is a catalyst for the digital transformation of public services. Data is recognised by government to play an integral role in all we do - including transformation of public services and developing, delivering and evaluating policy that shapes the UK economy, businesses and lives.
Data is the foundation of modern digital government. From shaping public policy and driving economic growth to transforming front-line services, the way we govern, manage, and apply data directly impacts the lives of citizens and the effectiveness of the state. As GCDO, you will lead the UK Government’s efforts to harness this data responsibly, securely, and to maximum public benefit.
This is one of the most senior and influential data leadership roles in the UK. You’ll be responsible for delivering the government’s vision for data excellence across departments, agencies, and the wider public sector. This includes driving the government-wide data strategy, setting data standards, and accelerating the digital transformation of public services through better data access, sharing, governance, and innovation.You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders at the heart of government—including No. 10, HM Treasury, the Office for National Statistics, and across central and local government—to drive coherence, capability, and culture change.
Job description
As the Government Chief Data Officer, you will lead on implementing the government’s mission to improve the use of its own data. You will work closely with stakeholders across the centre of government, including Number 10, the Office for National Statistics, Cabinet Office, HM Treasury. You will also work collaboratively with data teams across a wide range of public sector bodies including central government departments and their agencies, the health service, devolved administrations and local government.
The government’s vision for digital public services is set out in its Blueprint for Modern Digital Government. Improving our data foundations including addressing the root cause issues described in the recent State of digital government review will be essential to realising the government’s vision.
You will work closely with the Government Chief Digital Officer and other the members of the GDS senior leadership team, and with Chief Digital and Information Officers and Government Chief Data Officers across the public sector. You will be responsible for coordinating the government's data strategy, focusing on improving quality and standards. Additionally, you will ensure departments follow data standards and remove obstacles to using and reusing data effectively in the public sector.
As an experienced leader of an expert function, you will be used to leading strategic discussions at Board level and with other influencing stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes. This role will see you engage with Ministers, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries, Government Chief Data Officers and other Digital and Data leaders across the public sector and other senior leaders across the wider system to deliver this high-profile agenda at pace.
The core responsibilities of the post are:
- foster a sustainable data-centric culture across government and the public sector
- own and implement a government wide data strategy
- set data standards to aligning with digital and data objectives
- lead the government's digital and data community
- champion data access to improve services and decision-making
- lead GDS data governance and modernise systems with open standards
- collaborate with Government Chief Data Officers to enhance data sharing and innovation
- establish data governance structures and report to senior leaders and ministers.
- be an active and engaged member of the GDS and DSIT leadership teams, accountable for delivering the public sector digital and data strategy and plans
Person specification
We're interested in people who:
- are an experienced leader in influencing, negotiating, and effectively managing stakeholders, with a strong ability to build relationships across various fields and at board level
- have a proven track record in leading data-centric initiatives and implementing enterprise-wide data strategies in complex IT environments
- have expertise in managing complex, specialist teams, including cross-functional and partner resources, and in commercial and supplier management
- possess excellent communication skills, effective in conveying complex technical issues to non-technical audiences.
- have extensive experience in data management, governance, and analytics is essential.
- are experienced in using data tools and big data technologies, knowledge of data privacy regulations, strategic thinking, and policy development.
- possess analytical skills for deriving insights, industry-specific knowledge, and adaptability to technology trends to implement and oversee data strategies aligned with the government’s missions.
Benefits
There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:
- flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
- a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
- 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
- an extra day off for the King’s birthday
- an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
- career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
- paid volunteering leave
- a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
- job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
- advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
- death in service benefits
- cycle to work scheme and facilities
- access to an employee discounts scheme
- 10 learning days per year
- volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
- access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning
Any move to Government Digital Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Office attendance
The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 60% of the time over the accounting period.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the application process though our chosen executive search provider, Global Resourcing, accessed via the following email: Should you like to discuss the role in more detail before submitting an application, please contact our chosen executive search provider, Global Resourcing, by emailing CDO@global-resourcing.com before the closing deadline of Monday 7th July at 11:59pm
As part of the application process you will need to submit:
- an up-to-date CV setting your career history with responsibilities and achievements
- a statement of suitability explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the criteria in the person specification. This should be no longer than 2 sides of A4.
Town Hall Event
Emily Middleton - Director General for Digital Centre Design, DSIT & Joanna Davinson Chief Digital Officer, DSIT, will be holding an informal information session via MSTeams on 26th June between 10am and 11am. For potential applicants to find out more about the roles and Department.
If you would like the opportunity to attend this session and ask any questions you may have about it before applying please contact CDO@global-resourcing,com before 26th June.
Longlist / Shortlist
The panel will assess and select applicants who demonstrate the best fit with the role by considering the evidence provided against the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.
Preliminary interview with Global Resourcing
- candidates selected for longlisting will be invited for a preliminary interview with Global Resourcing to explore their skills and experience. Following this, the panel will further assess longlisted candidates, using the insight provided and will agree a shortlist for final panel interviews.
- a longlist decision is expected to be made on Monday 14th July followed by a shortlist decision on Friday 1st August. All candidates will be notified of the outcome shortly afterwards.
Staff Engagement Exercise
You will be invited to attend a short virtual Staff Engagement Exercise prior to the interview. The SEE allows us to observe how you engage with and inspire others, demonstrating respect for diverse perspectives and fostering a collaborative environment. This will not result in a pass or fail decision; it is designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Further information on what to expect and how to prepare will be provided to all shortlisted candidates.
GDS chats
You will have the opportunity to speak with a member of the leadership team prior to the pane interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. This is not part of the formal assessment process
Final Panel Interviews & Short Presentation
The final panel interviews will be held in person. Please note, you may be asked to deliver a presentation as part of the panel interview, or you may be given an unseen scenario based exercise in advance of your interview to which you will respond. More information will be issued on invitation.
Interview panel
Chair: Sarah Pittam – Civil Service Commissioner
Joanna Davinson – Government Chief Digital Officer, DSIT
Daljit Rehal - Chief Digital & Information Officer, HMRC
Jan Gower, Non-Executive Director, Home Office
While we value the use of AI technology to enhance our daily work, we also value the personal touch and urge applicants to write cover letters without the use of AI to emphasise their own unique experiences.
In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.
For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours:
- seeing the big picture: Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest
- leadership: Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all
- communicating and influencing: Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
- Working together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
Sponsorship
DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name :
- cdo@global-resourcing.com
- Email :
- cdo@global-resourcing.com
Recruitment team
- Email :
- cdo@global-resourcing.com
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact gds-recruitment-complaints@dsit.gov.uk in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission by email: info@csc.gov.uk Or in writing: Civil Service Commission, Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ.
