Deputy Director for Digital, Data and Building Technology in the Education Estate

Job summary

The Deputy Director for Digital, Data and Building Technology will play a pivotal leadership role in stewarding the Education Estate toward a safe, sustainable and digitally enabled future. Central to this mission is ensuring that schools and colleges benefit from high quality technology, adopt consistent digital standards, and operate within a modern data and project delivery environment that works seamlessly for both the Department for Education (DfE) and the wider sector.

The postholder will be responsible for overseeing the operation, stability and continuous improvement of Education Estates’ existing digital platforms during a period of significant digital transformation. This includes the transformation of the Digital Operating Environment, ensuring delivery of the ambitions set out in the Education Estates Strategy. Key outcomes of this work include the creation of a single communication route – Manage Your Education Estate – which will provide a common data environment enabling two-way data sharing between the Department and the sector and a new project delivery tool to enable the construction programmes to be as joined up as possible with the new operating environment.

This integrated system will improve the join up between project management tools, interventions and sector owned building management systems, supporting the shift from reactive bidding to strategic, data driven investment.

The role will also lead the setting and rollout of digital and technology standards for schools and colleges, working closely with data collection teams to ensure sector-wide adoption and compliance. Alongside this, the postholder will provide leadership across Education Estates’ service offers – Estate Management, Renew and Improve, and Build and Rebuild – ensuring cohesive delivery across major programmes. Notable responsibilities include supporting the £325m digital connectivity programme and delivery of ICT and building technology within capital construction programmes.

To succeed, the postholder must ensure that all digital, data and technology components work in harmony, creating a seamless external offer for the sector supported by robust internal systems. They will act as a supportive and collaborative senior leader across the Education Estates Senior Leadership Team, fostering a culture of co design, inclusion and evidence-based decision making.

The role requires close partnership with Deputy Directors across Digital, Data and Technology (DDT) to develop clear delivery priorities, surface emerging opportunities early, and ensure requirements are well formed and grounded in strong evidence. The postholder will also maintain close oversight of performance and service delivery through effective collaboration with DDT operational teams.

Job description

We steward the Education Estate towards a safe and sustainable future and one critical component of that is making sure we have high quality technology in our schools and colleges, that are schools and colleges adopt a consistent digital standard, that our data collection systems and project delivery systems work in tandem with the sectors.

We have recently published our Education Estates strategy and have set out bold ambitions to transform our digital operations to improve how we interact with the sector and how we operate internally so that we create two-way data sharing between us and the sector that remove the need for future bidding and can focus on strategic investment.

This is a senior role with significant responsibility for delivering outcomes and for financial oversight. We are looking for a highly motivated, emotionally intelligent and empowering leader. The role will involve working across numerous stakeholders and trying to build long lasting relationships to deliver in what is a complex environment. Leading via collaboration will be key.

This role will:

1. Oversee the operation of Education Estates existing digital operating systems and manage continuous improvement of those systems while we undergo a wider digital transformation.
2. Lead the digital transformation of the Education Estates Digital Operating Environment so that we achieve the outcomes as set out in the education estate strategy: A single communication route (Manage Your Education Estate) between DfE and the sector that facilitates two-way data sharing via a common data environment and improved project delivery tools which ensure join up. This will also ensure our interventions and the sector's building management systems are joined up that we can remove the need for future bidding and strategically invest.
3. Set and roll out the digital and technology standards for the school and college sector and work with data collection teams in Education Estates to ensure compliance with those standards.
4. Lead a strong delivery function through each of our service offers to the sector: Estate Management, Renew and Improve, Build and Rebuild. Notably supporting the following programmes of delivery:
   • The £325m digital connectivity programme into the sector.
   • The delivery of ICT and Building Technology via our delivery construction programmes (build and rebuild pillar).
5. Crucially, make sure all these components work together as one so our external offer works seamlessly with our internal digital systems.
6. Be a valuable, and supportive leader across Education Estates Senior Leadership Team, to foster a culture of collaboration, co design, inclusivity and evidence-based decision making.
7. Work collaboratively with the DDT Deputy Directors to produce a clear set of delivery priorities, ensuring opportunities requiring exploration or discovery are surfaced early and requirements are well formed and evidence based.
8. Partner with digital and technology delivery functions in DDT to maintain oversight of services and performance.

Person specification

This is a senior role with significant responsibility for delivering outcomes and for financial oversight. We are looking for a highly motivated, emotionally intelligent and empowering leader. The role will involve working across numerous stakeholders and trying to build long lasting relationships to deliver in what is a complex environment. Leading via collaboration will be key.

Above all we are looking for a proactive and curious leader who is experienced in delivering with impact.

Applicants will be assessed against the following essential and desirable criteria:

Essential Criteria:

• Experience of leading at a senior level within a digital, data and technology environment. The division will be a large multidisciplinary team that needs to work across the sector and internally to deliver holistic digital, data and technology solutions. You will need to demonstrate leadership skills in a complex organisation.
• Experience of delivering through others and working together across organisational boundaries to deliver digital, data and technology solutions for both internal users and external users.
• Experience of delivering large technology capital programmes or large digital programmes at pace, to completion and in line with GDS principles and the DDT strategic framework.
• Horizon scanning and prioritisationexpertise, identifying opportunities for discovery and shaping a balanced pipeline. Champion evidence-based prioritisation, turning operational metrics, user feedback and analytical insight into clear priorities and sequencing.
• Systems thinking, able to navigate policy/service/technology interactions, dependencies and constraints across DDaT and operations.
• High quality communication, with political acumen, able to distil complex findings into clear, compelling briefs and recommendations for senior audiences.
• Support teams to develop robust business cases that reflect end to end journeys, digital first principles, long term costs/benefits and viable options that align with data and tech strategies.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience in leading large scale digital transformation in the construction sector or across complex capital programmes.
• Familiarity with Government Service Standard, discovery/alpha assessments and operational readiness considerations.
• Experience leading cultural change to embed co-design and evidence based prioritisation in policy and service development.
• User Centred, Evidence Based Design: Experience in user research, behavioural insight, service design, facilitation and co-design, including end to end journeys, service blueprints and value flows

Desirable criterial will only be assessed in the event of a tie-break situation at interview, to make an informed decision.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Department for Education 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.

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances, but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths and Experience.

Application:

To apply for this role, you will be required to provide:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements alongside full qualifications. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years
2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 750 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section above/ 'who we are looking for' slide in the attached candidate pack. Any text over 750 words will not be considered.

At sift, the panel will assess your CV and statement of suitability together against the listed essential criteria. If we receive a high number of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the first criterion:

• Experience of leading at a senior level within a digital, data and technology environment. The division will be a large multidisciplinary team that needs to work across the sector and internally to deliver holistic digital, data and technology solutions. You will need to demonstrate leadership skills in a complex organisation.

Those that pass the initial sift, will progress to a full sift against all essential criteria.

Selection process:

Shortlisted candidates will:

1. Take part in a Staff Engagement Panel (which typically takes up to 1 hour to complete), to be held week commencing 27th April
2. Undertake an Individual Leadership Assessment with an Occupational Psychologist, to be held week commencing 27th April
3. Be invited to attend a formal panel interview, week commencing 18th May, in either our London or Manchester office. You will be asked to prepare a verbal presentation for the interview (further information will be shared with shortlisted candidates). You will be asked questions to further assess your experience in line with the essential criteria and desirable advertised. We will also ask you questions on the strengths that are important for this role using the Civil Service Strengths Dictionary.

For more information on how to apply, please visit How to Apply , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

For an accessible version of the candidate pack, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk

Other Information

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Department of Education via scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/

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

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 Team
• Email : SCS.Recruitment@education.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : SCS.Recruitment@education.gov.uk

Further information

The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages

Attachments

Deputy Director, Digital, Data and Building Technology in the Education Estate- candidate pack Opens in new window (pdf, 2020kB)SCS OGD Transfer Supplementary Information - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 325kB)Reasonable Adjustments guide 05_2025 - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 723kB)DFE Terms & Conditions - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 215kB)