Chief Digital and Information Officer

Job summary

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Andrew Pattison, Chief Operating Officer and will take place on:

• Tuesday 28th April, 14:00

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about the application, and the interview and assessment process.

Please register your interest before 16:00 Monday 27th April by filling out the form in the attached candidate information pack.

Invites will only be sent after this deadline has passed.

This will take place virtually, via Google Meets.

If you wish to attend the session anonymously, and you are using a google email address to join, please ensure that you have changed how your name appears before joining the call.

Please note that the session will not be recorded.

Job description

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) is responsible for transforming how DCMS utilises technology, data, and digital services. This broad leadership role encompasses internal business transformation and professional oversight of standards across 45 public bodies within the DCMS group.

A central focus of this role involves navigating significant technical transitions scheduled for 2026, including:

• Harnessing the benefits of DCMS services moving from Google to Microsoft
• Preparing the department to join the NEO platform, a new HR and Finance system, as part of a Government shared services programme in the second half of 2026. This will involve working with four other departments and taking services from a shared service provider.

As the professional lead for the Digital, Data and Technology function, you will build and scale a team of approximately 60 professionals. You will be responsible for defining the digital capabilities for people, process, and technology required to unlock organisational benefits and execute a strategic roadmap that reflects the needs of the department and its public bodies.

We are seeking a credible, visible leader with a proven track record of guiding organisations through significant cultural change. Key responsibilities include:

• Driving literacy in core DDaT competencies such as agile delivery, user-centered design, and data skills across the department.
• Engaging with the cross-government CDIO community to ensure DCMS strategies align with the Central Data and Digital Office standards.
• Building a resilient function with engaged, high performing staff and an effective supply chain that delivers great outcomes and minimises risks.

As Director, you will lead an innovative and diverse team of digital, data and technology professionals which will comprise of circa 60 staff. You will be the driving force behind our vision to be the strategic engine that transforms DCMS into a modern, agile, and digitally confident department. Our culture is defined by user-centricity and experimentation, where we leverage cross-disciplinary collaboration to deliver secure, innovative services.

The directorate is structured across three Deputy Director portfolios:

• DDaT Programmes: MS365 & Transformation- leading the essential support that underpins our delivery work and the delivery of large-scale transition programmes.
• Digital Delivery and Portfolio: delivering strategic business intelligence and user-centred solutions through mature product, data, and emerging technology capabilities including AI.
• Chief Technology Officer: Technology, Cyber & Infosec Operations - providing the resilient infrastructure and robust cyber assurance that underpins all DCMS operations.

Beyond the core department, you will provide strategic leadership across the wider DCMS family, fostering the adoption of tech shared services across our public bodies. We are a regionally dispersed team, with 42% of our staff based in national hubs outside of London (primarily in Manchester) as we continue to grow our geographic footprint. We are committed to a supportive and inclusive environment where diverse perspectives build a high-performing DDaT workforce.

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have the following key skills and experience, please note that desirable skills will only be used in the event of tied candidates.

Essential Criteria:

• Strategic vision and digital leadership: a proven ability to integrate digital, data, and technology into core organisational strategy while anticipating future technological trends.
• Transformative change and stakeholder engagement: proven experience driving complex, performance-led transformations and influencing high-level stakeholders.
• Capability building and inclusive culture: a track record of leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams and fostering an inclusive culture focused on empathetic leadership and talent development.
• Product and service delivery at scale: extensive experience delivering major digital products and services that provide tangible citizen outcomes and value-for-money efficiencies.
• Cybersecurity and resilience: evidence of expert leadership in ensuring infrastructure resilience, data integrity. The ability to provide technical assurance across the department and its Arms-Length Bodies.

Desirable Skills:

• Evidence of a forward-thinking approach to AI and emerging technologies, with an understanding of the societal and ethical impacts of innovation on DCMS sectors.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £125,000, Department for Culture, Media and Sport contributes £36,212 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home

• 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice

• 3 days of paid volunteering leave

• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave

• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year

• Occupational sick pay

• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice

• Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks

• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work

• Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!

Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.

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

To apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following, via the Civil Service Jobs portal, which will assessed against the essential requirements for the role:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
• A Statement of Suitability explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements. This should be 2 sides of A4 and no more than a maximum of 1000 words.

For the shortlist, we will select applicants who demonstrate the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application and how this meets the essential requirements.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability. Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

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 developed vetting (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.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

Job contact :

• Name : SCS Recruitment
• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the Head of Resourcing at recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk, in the first instance.

Attachments

Chief Digital and Information Officer - DCMS SCS Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 4046kB)Chief Digital and Information Officer Accessibility Pack (5) Opens in new window (docx, 204kB)