Deputy Director for Technology, Data & AI

Job summary

The Deputy Director for Technology, Data & AI will
provide strategic and operational leadership across all
technology, data and AI functions. They will be
accountable for the leadership and management of
the SIA’s existing technology function, and tech
assurance, as well as for developing a new Data
Insights and AI capability. They will play a key role in
shaping the SIA’s digital future ensuring that
technology services are reliable, secure, and usercentred, and that data is effectively governed,
integrated, and exploited to drive intelligence-led and
evidence-based decision making.
The Deputy Director for Technology, Data and AI is a
new post we are creating. The postholder will
establish and lead the new Data, Insights & AI
function, implementing a robust Data Strategy to
bring coherence across fragmented systems and
enable responsible and innovative use of data and AI.
They will also oversee core technology services,
including the Service Desk, Cloud & Infrastructure,
and outsourced suppliers responsible for businesscritical applications such as Microsoft Dynamics 365
and Microsoft 365.
Reporting Relationships
Reporting to the Chief Digital & Data Officer you will
have line management responsibility for two senior
team members leading the Technology and Data & AI
teams respectively. You will be responsible for a
combined team of around 20 staff at full capacity and
a delegated budget of around £2 million.
You will need to work closely with peers and the
Information Security & Governance, the Data
Protection Officer, and Cyber Security teams.

Job description

Strategic Leadership
– Provide senior leadership for the SIA’s technology, data
and AI services in alignment with the Digital & Data
Strategy.
– Develop and deliver a comprehensive Data Strategy
covering governance, architecture, integration, and
readiness for AI use.
– Champion the ethical, secure and value-driven use of
data and AI across the organisation.
– Support the CDDO in long-term planning for technology
modernisation, AI adoption and analytics maturity.
– Contribute to the successful delivery of crossorganisational transformation programmes, ensuring
digital and data components are embedded effectively.
– Represent digital and data interests in programme
boards and governance forums, supporting effective
decision-making and risk management.
Stakeholder Collaboration
– Work closely with business teams to understand needs
and translate them into effective technical and data
solutions.
– Working with the Deputy Director Transformation in
engaging senior internal stakeholders, contributing to
business cases, plans, and reporting.
– Maintain strong commercial relationships with external
suppliers, partners, and regulatory stakeholders.
Data, Insights & AI
– Establish and lead the new Data, Insights & AI team,
uniting data engineering, analytics and AI expertise.
– Drive improvements in data quality, accessibility and
consistency across multiple business systems.
– Develop enterprise data models and enable integration
to create a unified 'one-regulatory-view' of information.
– Oversee delivery of management information,
dashboards, and predictive insights that support
intelligence-led regulation.
– Identify and deliver high-value AI use cases such as
automation, risk scoring, and document analysis.

Technology & Service Management
– Lead internal IT operations (Service Desk, Cloud &
Infrastructure, M365) to ensure reliable, secure and usercentred services.
– Manage outsourced suppliers to ensure delivery of highquality business applications and services to agreed SLAs
and value-for-money standards.
– Oversee technical architecture and infrastructure to ensure
resilience, scalability and compliance with security
standards.
– Promote continual service improvement and innovation in
technology delivery.
Governance & Assurance
– Establish strong governance and assurance for technology
and data operations, including change control, risk
management and incident response.
– Ensure compliance with cyber security and information
governance frameworks (e.g. ISO 27001, NCSC CAF, GDPR,
GDS standards).
– Manage budgets and procurement for technology and data
services, maintaining effective financial control.
– Provide regular assurance and performance reporting to the
Executive Board and Audit & Risk Committee.
Cyber Security & Compliance
– Support the implementation of security and compliance
policies across systems and services.
– Work with security and data protection leads to embed
secure-by-design and privacy-by-design principles.
People & Culture
– Build and lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary team
across IT operations, data, and AI.
– Foster a culture of innovation, inclusion, and continuous
improvement.
– Develop the skills, capabilities and leadership potential of
staff within the directorate.
Deputy Directors also take on wider organisational
responsibilities and champion roles

Person specification

Essential criteria
- Experience leading digital, IT, or data teams
at a senior level in a transformation or
delivery environment.
- Proven expertise in data governance,
architecture, analytics and AI
implementation.
- Demonstrated success in managing hybrid
delivery models with internal teams and
outsourced partners.
- Proven track record in supporting or leading
programme delivery with digital and
technical elements.
- Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Azure,
Dynamics 365 and M365 enterprise
environments.
- Ability to translate complex technical issues
into business-focused outcomes.
- Evidence of sound management of
resources and budgets to achieve high
performing, value for money service delivery.
- Role model of inclusive behaviours, and
instilling organisational values and behaviours
that promote positive individual and team
cultures.
- Strong interpersonal skills, a team player
with good self-awareness, able to work under
own initiative with drive and at pace, resilient
under pressure,
- Excellent influencing and stakeholder
management skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £71,001, Security Industry Authority contributes £20,568 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A welcoming and innovative work environment.
• Continued support and development opportunities.
• Access to training for attainment of recognised qualifications.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Annual leave entitlement will be 32.5 days.
• A variety of discounts including Gymflex,
• Civil Service Pension Scheme – Employee contribution between 4.60% and 7.35% and Employer contribution between 26.60% and 30.30%

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

Application process
This appointment will be made based on the
quality of your written application and interviews.
The process will also include an engagement
exercise and psychometric tests which will help
inform the questioning in the final interview.
The final interview will include a presentation to
the panel.
To apply for this post please visit:
https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe12906
2
For a confidential discussion about the role, please
do contact the recruitment advisers on
russell.brandon@gatenbysanderson.com who will
be delighted to speak with you.
Register your details and submit the following no
later than Friday 20 March 2026 at 12pm (noon)
When applying, please ensure that you provide the
following information:
– Your CV setting out your career history, with
key responsibilities and achievements.
– A supporting personal statement (not more
than 2 pages) detailing how you meet the
criteria in the person specification and why you
are applying for this role.
– A completed diversity monitoring form, this will
appear on screen as part of the application
process.
– Should you have any queries about the
application process, please contact
Toria Lorman-Connolly on Toria.Lorman

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 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

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 : SIA Recruitment Team
• Email : Recruitment@sia.gov.uk
• Telephone : sia.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@sia.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints should be submitted to the Contact Us page on SIA website. If, after investigation by the SIA, the complainant remains dissatisfied, they may bring their complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Candidate Pack SIA Deputy Director Technology Data AI (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 1318kB)Deputy Director - Technology Data AI Opens in new window (pdf, 160kB)