Deputy Director, Strategy and Transformation

Job summary

The Strategy and Transformation function leads the strategic direction, long‑term planning and systems‑level change that enables the department to deliver on its digital, data and technology ambitions. The team defines the overarching vision for Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) across the Department for Education, ensuring it aligns with departmental strategy, the DSIT Blueprint for Digital Government and wider government priorities. This includes shaping enterprise‑wide strategy, identifying future capability needs, setting priority outcomes, and ensuring that major digital and data initiatives are coherently planned, governed and sequenced for maximum impact.

Working across the full DDaT system, the function provides strategic insight, policy alignment and robust challenge to ensure the department invests in the right things, at the right time, in the right way. It supports cross‑government engagement, informs Spending Review and business planning processes, and leads on the frameworks, operating models and governance structures that underpin delivery—helping the organisation make evidence‑based decisions, manage risk and track progress against transformation goals.

The team also plays a critical role in enabling cultural and organisational change. It brings together multidisciplinary expertise to shape strategic priorities, drive accountability, and champion modern ways of working across digital, data, technology, policy and operations. Through its transformation programmes, it ensures DfE is equipped with the structures, capabilities and mindset needed to deliver high‑quality digital services, strong data foundations and innovative technology solutions that support children, families, schools and wider sectors.

Job description

As Deputy Director, you will lead the development and delivery of key cross government digital strategy work, including the Digital and AI Roadmap, ensuring it aligns with the Blueprint for Modern Digital Government and wider GDS priorities.

You will oversee the full lifecycle of strategic programmes—from early design through launch, iteration, refresh, and the tracking of implementation—while building and maintaining strong relationships with senior leaders across departments, GDS, DSIT and other central government bodies to drive collective progress. Acting as a senior champion for the digital profession, you will provide strategic advice and agile support to senior stakeholders, offering expert guidance to help departments align with the Blueprint and deliver whole of government outcomes.

You will shape and support GDS delivery plans by offering strategic challenge and insight to ensure effective implementation. A key part of the role will involve engaging with HM Treasury during major fiscal events, such as Spending Reviews, to ensure digital and data priorities are embedded in departmental spending plans and to influence the evolution of modern funding and business processes.

Finally, you will lead a high performing multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of flexibility, inclusion and excellence, ensuring they are equipped to respond to shifting priorities and supported in their professional development.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

The following criteria are essential for the role:

• An ability to translate complex and broad material - both qualitative and quantitative - into clear written or oral analysis and communications, including briefings and presentations.
• Experience and knowledge of bringing strategic thinking, clarity and structure to broad and complex work across systems.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and bring clarity to complex, fast-paced, and politically sensitive environments.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to distil complex information into clear, compelling advice and briefings.
• Proven track record of delivering high-quality outcomes in dynamic and ambiguous settings.
• Experience leading high-performing, cross-functional teams, with a strong focus on coaching, development, and inclusive leadership.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior leaders across government.
• Service transformation experience.
• Experience of managing teams through significant change, and of demonstrating forward-thinking and innovative delivery.

Desirable Criteria:

The following criteria are desirable and will only be assessed at interview in the event of a tie-break situation, to make an informed decision:

• Experience shaping or leading cross‑government strategy, particularly in digital, data, technology, transformation or major change programmes.
• A strong understanding of public sector funding, governance and business planning processes, including the ability to contribute to Spending Reviews, fiscal events or strategic investment cases.
• Expertise in emerging technologies (e.g., AI, automation, data platforms, digital service design) and their application to large, complex organisations.
• A proven ability to lead through cultural and organisational change, fostering inclusive, high‑trust environments.

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.

To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on 22nd February 2026.

Application

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

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 2 sides or 1,000 words) detailing ‘why should we consider you for this role’ (up to 500 words) and why you have chosen the Department for Education (up to 500 words). You can choose to outline any further information you believe is relevant for the role or further demonstrates your suitability.

Failure to submit all elements will mean the panel only has limited information on which to assess your application.

Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will:

• Take part in a Staff Engagement Panel (which typically takes up to 1 hour to complete), to be held week commencing 2nd March 2026.
• Undertake an Individual Leadership Assessment with an Occupational Psychologist, to be held week commencing 2nd March 2026.
• Take part in a face-to-face, formal interview in our Manchester office on the 30th of March 2026. Candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation for the interview (further information will be shared with shortlisted candidates) and they will be asked questions to further assess their Experience and Strengths using the Civil Service Strengths Dictionary.

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.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

DFE Terms & Conditions - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 215kB)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)Deputy Director , Strategy and Transformation - Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1813kB)