Job summary
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.
The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. 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.
Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You'll solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need
You will be joining the Strategy and Assurance Directorate, which is responsible for defining the vision, strategy and ambition for government digital and data, including the role of the digital centre, as well as providing rigorous oversight of digital delivery through spend assurance and controls, and service assessments.
Job description
As Deputy Director of Strategy your primary responsibilities would be:
- lead and own cross government digital and data strategy, including, but not limited to, the Digital and AI roadmap, aligning commitments with the Blueprint for Modern Digital Government and GDS goals. You will see these strategies through development, launch, subsequent iteration, refreshes and implementation tracking
- build trusted relationships with senior Digital, Data and Technology leaders across departments, as well as with senior officials in GDS and DSIT. You will also champion the digital profession and agenda with senior leaders outside the profession. You will work regularly and closely with Ministers, articulating complex digital challenges clearly and compellingly
- lead on bolstering and transforming governance processes across GDS, following integration with DSIT as part of a Machinery of Government change. Drive the functional agenda, including management and strategic oversight of the products, processes, tools and governance fora for digital and data professionals across government
- lead on ongoing functional engagement with His Majesty's Treasury (HMT) at major critical spending events such as Spending Reviews. Collaborate closely with HMT and the centre to ensure digital and data are considered in departmental spend and that GDS is able to influence in modernising funding and other business processes across government. You will engage heavily with CDIOs and other digital and non-digital leaders to ensure GDS views are included in digital strategies
- manage a cross-functional team of digital and data professionals across strategy, portfolio, transformation and analysts to identify, analyse and propose initiatives that serve to make His Majesty's Government (HMG) fit for the digital age. Create a culture of flexibility, where the team will feel supported and confident in leading across evolving priorities and initiatives
Person specification
We are seeking applicants with the following experience:
- a proven ability to think strategically, solve problems pragmatically and at pace, and bring structure to uncertainty in fast paced, political and complex environments
- a strong delivery background, with examples of successful delivery of major projects and programmes and effective leadership in digital and data team(s)
- a track record of building and leading high performing, highly engaged and cross-functional teams and a commitment to coaching and development to drive a culture that drives excellence and collaboration. You will have experience in leading a team that can operate flexibly and move between projects
- a track record of building and maintaining effective relationships with Ministers (or equivalent senior leaders) and excellent skills in managing a wide range of stakeholders, across multiple organisations with varied cultures, the ability to form and maintain strong collaborative relationships, and the ability to negotiate constructively with senior stakeholders and delivery teams
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, please submit the information below to DDStrategy@global-resourcing.com before the closing deadline Monday 21st July – 23:59
- 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.
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 Friday 25th July followed by a shortlist decision on Friday 8th August. All candidates will be notified of the outcome shortly afterwards.
Final Panel Interviews
For the final panel interviews you may be asked to deliver a presentation as part of the 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
Bonnie Wang – Director for Strategy & Assurance, GDS
Ash Smith – Director - GOV.UK, GDS
Paul Willmott – Non Executive Director, DSIT
Oliva Labonte – Deputy Director Performance and Assurance, GDS
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:
- 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.
- Delivering at pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
- Managing a quality service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
- Communicating and influencing: Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
- Making effective decisions: Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
Reserve List
A reserve list will be held for 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be considered for similar posts and appointed based on merit.
Reasonable Adjustments
Under the terms of the Equality Act 2010, we are legally required to consider making reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged in the recruitment and selection process. We are therefore committed to meeting, wherever possible, any needs you specify in your application. We will also consider any reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Act to enable any applicant with a disability (as defined under the Act) to meet the requirements of the post.
Disability Confident Scheme and Great Place to Work for Veteran’s Schemes
If you wish to apply under the Disability Confident or Great Place to Work for Veterans Schemes you should complete the relevant section of the online application. It is not necessary to state the nature of your disability. Please contact DDStrategy@global-resourcing.com, if you require any adjustments or support to make your application.
Terms & Conditions
Conflicts of Interest
Candidates must note the requirement to declare any interests they may have that might cause questions to be raised about their approach to the business of the Department. They are required to declare any relevant business interests, shareholdings, positions of authority, retainers, consultancy arrangements or other connections with commercial, public or voluntary bodies, both for themselves and for their spouses/partners. The successful candidate will be required to give up any conflicting interests and his/her other business and financial interests may be published.
Security Clearance
This role will require the postholder to have a National Security Check (SC) clearance, therefore successful candidates will be expected to either already hold it or be willing to undertake the clearance process once in post.
Contact Details for further information or a confidential conversation about the role, please contact Global Resourcing: DDStrategy@global-resourcing.com
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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 :
- DDStrategy@global-resourcing.com
- Email :
- DDStrategy@global-resourcing.com
Recruitment team
- Email :
- DDStrategy@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.
