Director General for Digital, Data and Technology - ONS - SCS3

Manchester Digital; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A national statistical institute in the UK seeks a Director General for Digital, Data and Technology. This role involves leading digital transformation, safeguarding data, and influencing organizational strategy. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in strategic leadership within the tech sector and skills in collaboration and communication. This position offers a hybrid working model and requires significant experience in navigating complex environments.

Qualifications

• Track record of strategic leadership in data, digital and technology.
• Deep understanding of digital capabilities and cyber threats.
• Exceptional ability to communicate and influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Accountability for digital and technological transformation.
• Lead AI strategy development and implementation.
• Champion innovation-focused culture and data skills.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Digital transformation

Cyber security management

Communication skills

Stakeholder collaboration

Job description

Director General for Digital, Data and Technology - ONS - SCS3

The ONS operates a flexible hybrid working model across the UK, with colleagues linked to one of our contractual locations working between office and remote throughout the week. The locations for this role are Newport, Titchfield (Fareham), Manchester, Darlington, London.
All colleagues are required to work from their contractually allocated site for at least 60% of their working time. The induction process for the role will be conducted in person.

About the job

Job summary

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics and the UK's recognised national statistical institute. The ONS plays a hugely important national role through mobilising the power of data to help Britain make better decisions. They are responsible for collecting and publishing statistics related to the economy, population and society at national, regional and local levels. ONS also conducts the census in England and Wales every 10 years. Their main responsibilities are collecting, analysing and disseminating statistics about the UK's economy, society and population.

ONS is independent of ministers and instead reports through the UK Statistics Authority to Parliament and the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. ONS is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, which is responsible for promoting and safeguarding the production and publication of official statistics which serve the public good.

As the Director General for Digital, Data and Technology, the postholder will set the strategic direction for the organisation’s data, digital, and technology policy, and will be accountable for the protection and mobilisation of the vast amount of data and information held by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The postholder will demonstrate an expert understanding of the risks and opportunities across the digital and technology space. They will ensure that ONS is well positioned to effectively navigate this rapidly evolving landscape, building on our expertise in data to deliver our strategic priorities. Among the responsibilities will be the delivery of digital services and operations and the transition away from legacy technology through large-scale transformation of the ONS’s digital infrastructure. With accountability for the protection and security of the organisation’s information, the postholder will implement a resilient data and technology architecture that ensures the systems underpinning the production of ONS statistics are fit for the future.

The postholder will be a key member of the ONS Executive Committee, playing a crucial and highly visible senior leadership role, setting strategic direction and driving the culture, behaviour and performance of the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Accountability for digital and technological transformation, moving the organisation away from outdated, legacy technology to a model which provides reliable, sustainable infrastructure and digital solutions.
• Navigate a changing organisational context to provide strategic direction across all areas of the organisation’s digital and technology landscape.
• Lead the development and implementation of a coherent and impactful organisation AI strategy.
• As a senior leader, embed the value of advanced digital, data and technology capabilities into wider organisational strategies.
• Foster a collaborative culture to increase the digital capabilities of our people, ensuring the organisation has the capability and capacity required to drive delivery and innovation.
• Champion the ability of new and evolving technologies to meet organisational priorities, establishing an innovation-focused culture that promotes the building of digital and data skills.
• Negotiate and secure investment for digital, data and technology.
• Hold accountability for the protection and security of the organisation’s data and information assets amidst growing cyber security risks.
• As a respected leader in this field, build partnerships across government, the private sector and beyond, harnessing this collaboration to support delivery of the organisation’s strategic priorities.
• Manage competing demands, risks and opportunities to maximise the value of investments in people and infrastructure, ensuring value for money.
• As a key member of ONS’ senior leadership team, play an active role in driving forward the organisation’s wider priorities, including breaking down institutional barriers and building a culture of inclusive and collaborative leadership.

Further information on this role can be found in the candidate pack attached.

Person specification

• Track record of strategic leadership at the most senior levels in the data, digital and technology space, navigating changing organisational context to lead large-scale digital and technological transformation, achieving successful outcomes.
• Deep understanding of how to utilise digital and technology capabilities, leveraging the opportunities, and mitigating against the risks, to build the infrastructure required for organisations to deliver their priorities, and to protect against cyber threats.
• An expert ability to navigate the trade-offs associated with investments across people, systems and infrastructure, extracting maximum value for public money.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with a proven ability to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders to create partnerships needed to meet the organisation’s digital and technology priorities.
• Demonstrable experience of creating high-performing teams, and an innovation-focused culture, to drive forward delivery.