Job Advert: Director of Digital Services Location: Chelmsford, Essex Salary: £150,612 per annum plus benefits Working Pattern: Remote/Hybrid (Presence with Purpose) Contract: Full-time, Permanent Lead the Digital Future of Essex County Council Essex County Council is on a mission to deliver outstanding outcomes and experiences for the residents of Essex, which is enabled by modern, secure, compliant and connected technology solutions. With a very bold transformation agenda, digital innovation is at the very heart of that ambition. Essex County Council is seeking a visionary and experienced Director of Digital Services to join the Senior Leadership Team and drive forward its digital transformation agenda. This is a rare opportunity to shape the digital direction of a large, complex organisation, going through a period of unprecedented change through Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). and Devolution. Purpose Youll set the vision, leading the development and delivery of a cutting-edge digital strategy and technology roadmap for the organisation, shaping the future of Essex during LGR. Youll be highly resourceful, experienced with delivery at pace, with the emotional intelligence to guide a large department through this change. The transformation agenda you ll be leading is all about driving efficiencies, transforming the resident experience and developing the workforce. Delivering solutions that are scalable, repeatable, and accessible, with user experience and operational excellence at the core. The Role Reporting into the Executive Director, this role acts as the organisations digital ambassador. Youll foster a culture of digital innovation across all departments, collaborate with internal and external partners, and ensure that technology continuously drives value, efficiency and inclusivity. Shaping and executing a strategic vision for digital services across the future state of Essex County Council through LGR. Leading a large, multidisciplinary team of around 250 professionals, including five direct senior reports. Managing a substantial budget portfolio: £12m in staffing, £17m in services, and a 5-year investment programme of up to £40m. Overseeing the design and delivery of innovative digital services and infrastructure that improve customer experiences and achieve measurable outcomes. Leading on transformation programmes and service redesign initiatives which modernise how the Council works. Ensuring robust and cost-effective technology operations which support service delivery and safeguard public funds. Youll be a thought leader across the Council and the wider public sector digital ecosystem, embracing and promoting new technologies, ideas and methods. About You The ideal person will be a proven digital leader with a track record of delivering transformation at scale within a complex organisation. You will bring: Experience in leading large digital teams and portfolios with significant budgets - 250 FTE, £40m Transformation agendas Experience in guiding IT and Digital Teams through significant transformation and change. Strong understanding of how to aggregate & disaggregate systems Ability to communicate complex technical strategies with clarity, gravitas and influence at all levels, including political and corporate stakeholders. Passion for public service and a commitment to equality, accessibility and user-focused innovation. The skills to inspire a digital culture shift across a diverse workforce. Why Join Essex County Council? At ECC, youll have the platform, support and authority to make a lasting impact on the lives of over 1.5 million people in Essex. On offer is flexible hybrid working pattern (presence with purpose), a collaborative leadership environment, and a genuine opportunity to lead one of the UKs most ambitious local authority digital agendas through an exciting period of change. Ready to shape the future? Be part of a digital shift which places better outcomes for residents at the centre. Apply today. Essex County Council is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.