Director of Technology, Innovation and Enterprise

Manchester Digital; Manchester; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading regulatory agency in the UK is seeking a senior leader to oversee Technology, Innovation, and Enterprise departments. This role requires strategic vision, strong communication skills, and an ability to drive alignment with governmental and regulatory bodies. You will shape the regulatory approach to emerging technologies while fostering a high-performance culture within the agency. The position offers an opportunity to influence UK digital regulation at the highest levels.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in senior leadership roles.
• Proven ability to manage multiple departments and drive strategic objectives.
• Strong communication skills for engaging with government and industry stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to three departments.
• Oversee major programmes on technology and innovation.
• Ensure effective governance and risk management.

Job description

Overview

You will provide senior leadership to three departments – Technology, Innovation and Enterprise – and act as the ICO’s sponsor Director for the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF), forging alignment with Ofcom, the CMA and the FCA on systemic digital issues. You will have intellectual authority, visible leadership and the ability to deliver at pace, representing the ICO credibly at the highest levels of government, industry and civil society. You will have the opportunity to shape the UK’s regulatory approach to emerging technologies for the decade ahead.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership of the Technology, Innovation and Enterprise directorate, ensuring delivery of ICO25 priorities and alignment to corporate objectives.
• Lead and inspire the directorate’s three departments (Technology, Innovation and Enterprise), setting vision, allocating resources and ensuring a high-performance culture.
• Oversee delivery of major programmes including online tracking, AI and biometrics, children’s privacy, and innovation services, ensuring impact and value for money.
• Ensure structured horizon scanning and anticipatory policy development, positioning the ICO on frontier technologies such as agentic AI, neurotechnology and quantum computing.
• Act as the ICO’s sponsor Director for the DRCF, ensuring effective cross-regulatory collaboration and alignment on systemic issues across the digital regulatory landscape.
• Provide authoritative advice and representation to senior government, parliamentary and industry stakeholders, securing trust and influence for the ICO on matters of technological risk and innovation.
• Lead the development of a statutory regulatory sandbox and ensure continuous improvement of the ICO’s innovation services portfolio.
• Manage risk across the directorate, ensuring effective governance, robust assurance and timely escalation to the Executive Team.
• Promote professional development, inclusion and wellbeing across the directorate, creating an environment that attracts and retains high-calibre staff.
• Contribute actively to the ICO’s Senior Leadership Team, supporting collective decision-making and corporate responsibilities.
• Represent the ICO nationally and internationally, building strategic partnerships and enhancing the organisation’s external profile.
• Adapt the directorate’s scope and structure as the ICO’s operating model evolves, leading organisational change with clarity and confidence.