Chief Digital and Technology Officer

Department for Education; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 155,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK government department is seeking a Chief Digital and Technology Officer to lead its digital transformation initiatives. The role involves developing a departmental digital strategy, ensuring compliance with cyber security standards, and fostering agile methodologies. Ideal candidates will have a strong leadership background, experience in digital strategy implementation, and a commitment to user-centred design. This position offers a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

Generous leave entitlement

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Proven experience in developing and delivering digital strategies in complex organisations.
• Strong understanding of technology governance and cyber security principles.
• Excellent leadership skills to motivate and guide diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a departmental digital strategy.
• Champion agile methodologies and user-centred service design.
• Ensure digital services meet security and compliance standards.

Skills

Leadership in digital transformation

Agile delivery methodologies

User-centred design

Cyber security management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

We are seeking an inspiring and talented Chief Digital and Technology Officer (CDTO) to lead the next era of our digital transformation. This is a rare opportunity to harness the power of emerging technologies - AI, automation, data intelligence, and modern digital platforms - to dramatically increase the number of learners we can support and reshape how our organisation works from the inside out.

In this role, you will set and deliver an ambitious departmental digital strategy that puts innovation, user-centred design, and agile delivery at the heart of everything we do. You will champion bold new ways of working, empowering teams to experiment, iterate, and collaborate across disciplines while maintaining strong governance and smart risk management.

We are looking for a leader who can turn technological possibility into operational reality-driving efficiency, unlocking new service models, and creating a measurable impact on learners across the country.

Digital & Technology Services Leadership

• Provide expertise across a range of digital and technology services and policy areas for the Department of Education and the education sector, ensuring seamless integration and reusability, and driving AI adoption across the department. Show leadership for digital and technology Deputy Directors, supporting their professional development and ensuring effective delivery across teams and increasing capability in digital skills for all DFE colleagues.
• Champion a user‑first agile approach, ensuring services meet user needs and are accessible, intuitive, and inclusive. Drive continuous user research and iterative service improvements.
• Define and oversee the department's technology and associated architecture, ensuring interoperability, resilience, and alignment with cross‑government standards.
• Ensure digital and technological solutions are built with scalability, reusability, and efficiency in mind, reducing duplication and driving value for money and championing departmental service standards.
• Establish a balanced approach to delivery, ensuring all digital, technology and data services are secure by design, compliant with cyber and privacy standards, and resilient to threats and incidents.
• Ensure the provision, management, and continual improvement of end‑user computing services, including devices, collaboration tools, and support, to enable efficient, secure, and accessible work for all staff.
• Proven experience in developing and delivering digital and technology strategies, in large, complex organisations. Throughout the implementation journey, the ability to achieve alignment with organisational and user objectives and securing the buy‑in of a diverse range of stakeholders. Proven people leadership, leading motivated teams to work effectively with non‑specialist colleagues.

Additional Requirements

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.

Assignment Duration

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. See our vetting charter. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard 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)
• 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.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme 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 the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Key Competencies

• Delivery and Innovation: Track record of leading multiple agile delivery teams, embedding best practices at scale, and delivering cost‑effective, reusable, and secure digital and technology solutions.
• User‑Centred Service Design and Data Insight: Expertise in user‑centred design, service design, accessibility standards, and using data and analytics to inform decision‑making and continuous improvement.
• Governance, Risk, and Cyber Security: Strong understanding of technology governance, data protection, risk management, and cyber security principles, with experience balancing innovation with compliance and operational resilience.
• Stakeholder, Supplier, and Cross‑Government Collaboration: Demonstrable ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels, manage complex supplier relationships, and work collaboratively across government or large organisations.

Application Documents

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 pages maximum).
2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1,000 words), detailing how you meet the essential criteria outlined in this pack. Should we receive a high volume of applications, then we will sift on the essential criteria relating to experience of strategic digital and technology leadership. It is important that throughout your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for the essential criteria listed. Applicants will be assessed against the essential criteria.

Practicalities and Use of Technology

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, applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

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 may be 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 [e-mail] 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

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 [e-mail] soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Benefits and Salary

Alongside your salary of £155,000, Department for Education contributes £44,903 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.

Interview Process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to:

1. Create a virtual Staff Engagement Panel (which typically takes up to 1 hour to complete), to be held in week commencing 5th or 12th January.
2. Take part in an Alternative Leadership Assessment with an Occupational Psychologist, to be held in week commencing 5th or 12th January.
3. Attend a formal interview which will include a presentation (details will be provided to shortlisted candidates) and interview questions based on the essential criteria to further assess your experience. The interviews will take place from the week commencing 19 January in Sanctuary Buildings, London.

The Department for Education does not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated. Please note that at interview stage we may ask if you have any conflicts of interest to declare.