Director of Data and Technology

Salix; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous life assurance

Hybrid working – office day minimum

28 days annual leave

Cycle to work

Transport cost support

Training budget

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Salix seeks an Interim Director of Data and Technology to steer the data, technology and change agenda. Based in Manchester with London meetings, you will lead the team to deliver digital, data and cyber security improvements in line with government plans.

The role requires strong government sector experience, strategic vision, and ability to manage complex programmes and partners while ensuring security and compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience leading data, technology and change portfolios in government/public sector.
• Proven ability to align data initiatives with enterprise goals and gov standards.
• Strong governance, cyber security, and risk management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the data, technology and PMO team (currently 32 people).
• Oversee data and technology strategy and architecture aligned to business goals.
• Lead major change programmes in line with government requirements.
• Ensure compliance with financial, reporting and assurance controls.
• Develop data products and tools for internal and external partners (e.g., Salesforce).
• Manage stakeholder engagement with government partners and executive teams.

Skills

Leadership

Govt Experience

Data Strategy

Change Management

Cyber Security

AI & Data

Stakeholder Engagement

Team Development

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

INTERIM DIRECTOR OF DATA AND TECHNOLOGY - Initially a 12-month FTC

Salary SCS band 1 (£90k to £115k)

At Salix, our aim is to deliver decarbonisation, create clean power and lower energy bills for consumers.

We enable people to live in warmer and healthier homes and we help deliver resilient public buildings which are better places to work, visit or use.

Our work means homes and buildings are cheaper to run as they benefit from cleaner and more sustainable energy.

We deliver and administer the government funding that unlocks greater energy efficiency and lower costs for councils, schools, housing associations, hospitals and universities.

We are a trusted delivery partner to the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments, regional combined authorities and public sector organisations across the country.

Overview

As the most senior data, technology and change professional in the organisation you will support Salix to lead our data and technology team and to navigate major change, linked to the governments Warm Homes Plan. This will involve working with government partners and devolved administrations to support tenants, homeowners and public sector organisations to lower energy costs and decarbonise.

You will ensure Salix employees have the tools they need to undertake the various schemes that we run on behalf of government and devolved authorities, exploiting the data we manage to drive greater impact in the work we do, and ensure we stay safe with a particular focus on the continuing improvements around cyber security. Your responsibilities will include leading major change programmes including meeting the digital, data and technology requirements set out by government as the organisation supports execution of the Warm Homes Plan.

You will be a senior member of the executive leadership team, attending executive meetings in both London and Manchester and board meetings when required. You will also attend meetings both in-person and online with government partners involved our work.

This role requires travel between our Manchester & London offices for in person meetings periodically and there may on occasion be a requirement for wider travel within the UK, all of which may require occasional overnight stays where necessary.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the data, technology and PMO team (currently 32 people).
• Oversee a data and technology strategy and supporting technology architecture to ensure alignment with its business goals.
• Provide expert guidance to colleagues and continue to adopt best practice approaches, aligned to government functional standards and other industry frameworks.
• Develop data products and tools for both internal and external strategic partners and clients, ensuring the team deliver on time and to high standard. (For example, Salesforce)
• Apply good project management disciplines and ensure these are followed across the whole organisation.
• Lead Salix fast and compliant AI acceleration programme.
• Develop robust approaches to data management so that Salix can continually improve and increase the impact of the work we do.
• Lead internal and external stakeholder engagement around data, technology and transformation. Ensure the development of our operating model and systems are in line with both current and future needs of our work, plans are grounded in reality and well tested, issues arising are worked through and stakeholders and partners are actively engaged.
• Assume accountability for all data and technology programmes, working in partnership with operational teams, providing key insights to the Board, ELT and other senior leaders.
• Lead continuous improvement across Salix, routinely engaging with internal teams, DESNZ, ICS and delivery partners to elicit and plan activities designed to deliver measurable improvements.
• Accountable for ensuring all information systems and data related activities are compliant with financial, reporting and assurance controls.
• Develop business cases for change, that are aligned to organisational priorities.
• Assure and approve purchases of technology and software, establishing partnerships with IT providers and other 3rd parties.
• Direct and co-ordinate the development, evaluation, and recommendation of procedures, rules, and regulations for the effective operations of all data and technology.
• Lead on horizon scanning for new opportunities, and data and technology approaches that can support Salix becoming increasingly effective and impactful.
• Lead D&T directorate to meet operational goals of speed and compliance and manage trade-offs where required.
• Maintain a critical focus on cyber security and ensure the balance of risk vs cost is well articulated so that Salix remains safe.

Key skills and competencies required

• Significant experience of working with government departments or agencies and ensuring compliance to government standards around transformation, project management and the creation and use of digital, data and technology services.
• Significant experience of managing a large portfolio of change work including digital, data and technology projects, ensuring priorities are aligned to organisational need.
• Ability to professionally represent Salix with senior staff from the net zero community, government partners, and devolved authorities.
• Set a high professional bar around the ways of working and values for the data, technology and PMO team and colleagues across Salix.
• Self-motivated and have good organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Can demonstrate and understand equal opportunities.
• A willingness to learn and have a commitment to ongoing professional development and training.
• Ability to think strategically, aligning data, technology and project management activities with organisational objectives, identifying future opportunities, and driving sustainable improvements that deliver business value.
• Experience of leading and developing teams, providing clear direction, coaching and support to drive performance, engagement and continuous improvement.
• Contributory company pension scheme, with employer contributions
• Generous life assurance coverage
• Hybrid working – minimum one office day a week – and flexible working
• 28 days annual leave
• CSSC benefits platform
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee support with public transport costs
• Supported training budget for staff
• Access to Employee Assistance Program

Salix encourages applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation where different perspectives are valued. To monitor our processes, all applicants are asked to complete a diversity and equality form via the link provided here: