Chief Data and Information Officer

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks

Full time

£81,000 per year

Job summary

The Rural Payments Agency:

We support sustainable farming, environmental outcomes and rural resilience as a delivery body for Defra and the 25 Year Environment Plan. We help farmers and land managers deliver economic growth, environmental sustainability and innovation, while improving our services and developing our people to achieve government objectives.

The role:

This is a rare opportunity to shape a major public organisation’s future at a pivotal moment. As senior leader for data, you will drive RPA towards being a truly data‑led Agency and be central in delivering Defra’s wider digital and data ambitions. You will build strong and trusted data foundations, lead the development of advanced analytics, and bring innovation including AI and geospatial intelligence into day‑to‑day operations. Your leadership will improve the experience of our customers, strengthen outcomes for rural communities, and support colleagues to make better, faster decisions. This role is for someone wanting to set direction, inspire change and leave a legacy.

Job description

Key responsibilities:

Lead a modern, end-to-end data service
Protect public money through stronger assurance
Grow RPAs geospatial and mapping capability
Drive strategic insight and forward planning
Strengthen cross-government collaboration
Champion ethical and secure use of data
Lead transformation and innovation
Build influential partnershipsacross the system

Further detail is in the attached candidate pack.

Person specification

Essential (to be demonstrated through the CV and Personal Statement)

Proven strategic leadership of large, diverse data teams: Demonstrable experience leading, motivating and developing multidisciplinary data teams, with a strong record of delivering high‑quality services that improve outcomes for users or citizens.
Successful delivery of major data programmes with measurable impact: Significant experience designing and delivering large‑scale data, analytics or digital programmes that have achieved clear operational or policy benefits.
Ability to set direction, prioritise effectively and deliver at pace: A strong track record of identifying opportunities for improvement, making sound strategic choices, and leading the delivery of data services at scale.
Strong communication and influencing skills: Proven ability to engage, challenge and influence senior leaders, translating complex data issues into clear, actionable advice and shaping data‑driven decisions.
Inspiring, transformational leadership: Experience leading organisational change, setting a compelling vision, and influencing outcomes across areas beyond direct line responsibility, supported by strong partnership‑building skills.

Desirable

Broad understanding of data disciplines, with experience in areas such as data science, AI, analytics, engineering or government analytical professions, gained within government or other sectors.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Candidates are asked to complete a CV and personal statement (no more than 1000 words) on how your relevant skills and experience meet the essential criteria. Completed applications must be submitted no later than the closing date 6th April 2026.

scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Please ensure you allow sufficient time to submit your application, ensuring all documents are free of any identifying information – this will be captured through the online portal, whilst ensuring applications can be considered anonymously.

How we decide whom to invite for interview:

Shortlisting for interview is made on the basis of merit. The selection panel will assess the evidence presented by all applicants against the advertised essential criteria and the highest rated applicants will be Invited to interview.

Applications will be assessed by the selection panel and shortlisted Interviews will be face to face. If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a virtual staff engagement exercise.

Assessments
The assessment will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, it is designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted candidates at the earliest opportunity.

Short listed applicants will be offered an informal discussion with the Vacancy Holder.

Interview

You will be asked to attend a panel interview, in order to have a more in- depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the essential criteria for the role. The interview which will ideally take place in person however, we can be flexible and carry out virtually if required.

As part of the interview, 30 minutes prior you will be provided with an information pack on the RPA and will be asked to present specific findings in your interview. Further information will be provided prior to interview. You will be assessed on the following behaviours at the interview stage:

Seeing the Bigger Picture

Delivering at Pace

Changing and improving

Communicating and Influencing

Other information

Please let us know what adjustments we can put in place to help you through the recruitment process if you are disabled.

Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be offered similar roles across the department.

Defra is committed to ‘name blind’ sifting. That means that identifying characteristics such as your name, gender, age, address are removed from your application until after shortlisting for interview has taken place.

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 counter-terrorist 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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil 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.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

Salary range

£81,000 per year