Join to apply for the Director Service Transformation role at Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Join to apply for the Director Service Transformation role at Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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This role can be based in London, Manchester or Bristol. With the potential for travel to London and other DSIT locations.
Job Summary
The new Government Digital Service (GDS) was announced by the DSIT Secretary of State earlier this year, as a catalyst for the digital transformation of public services. GDS is responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government. It serves departments and the wider public sector and is the home of specialist expertise in digital technology, service design, AI and other areas.
The Director for Service Transformation plays an essential, cross-cutting role in GDS. You will spearhead the delivery of essential reforms within the Blueprint for Modern Digital Government to support more joined-up services. You will lead teams that run digital talent programmes and lead work on reforms to how central government recruits, retains and develops digital civil servants. The scope of this role also includes support to service teams through the Service Standard, the Service Manual, and communities of practice.
This role is pivotal in shaping the future of how GDS supports service transformation right across the public sector. You will work across GDS to ensure we’re making the most of our collective capabilities to support deep service transformation across and beyond central government. You will also be expected to develop relationships with local government, following the recent Local Government Collaboration Sprint.
The Director for Service Transformation will also oversee the delivery of a high profile new digital transformation initiative, working closely with No 10, and across and beyond departmental boundaries.
Job Description
The Director, Service Transformation is a high-profile role, reporting to the Director General, Digital Centre Design and sitting as part of their senior leadership team.
As Director, Service Transformation You Will:
* oversee the delivery of essential components of the Blueprint for Modern Digital Government, exemplifying a fast-paced, ‘test and learn’ approach to delivery;
* have the unique opportunity to work closely with committed and purpose-driven civil service leaders from across the 27,000 strong digital, data and technology function to lead an ambitious service transformation programme;
* work closely with digital, data and technology leaders, and expand the Government Digital Service’ impact within the broader senior digital leadership community. This will involve extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders from other government departments, the wider public sector, service providers, and external thought leaders (e.g. think tanks, civil society groups);
* be enabling best-practice to be shared between departments; identify and capture opportunities to drive collective efficiencies wherever possible; support and guide our cross-government programmes to build digital, data and capability and make government a destination of choice for digital, data and technology professionals.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
As Director, Service Transformation, your main responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
* leading cross-departmental commitments and collaborations as part of the Blueprint for Modern Digital Government;
* scaling and leading the role of GDS in relation to local government, working closely with Cabinet Office Public Service Reform team, MHCLG and local authorities to establish GDS’ local government offering over the next SR period;
* leading and scaling a new high-profile digital transformation initiative, which will involve close working with No 10, the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, the DSIT Secretary of State and other ministers;
* leading on cross-government and cross-functional engagement to build and retain business sponsorship of the Service Transformation agenda;
* delivering a programme of work to fulfil the Prime Minister’s commitment to 1 in 10 civil servants being digital, data, technology or cyber specialists by 2030; including the recruitment of 2000 new tech apprentices; collaborating with the Cabinet Office on ensuring the remaining 9 in 10 civil servants have the skills and working environment they need to thrive in the digital era.
* working closely with the policy profession to embed digital approaches and cross functional teams into policy design and delivery; designing government’s policy and interventions required to modernise legislative barriers to efficient digital service design and delivery - taking a ‘digital first’ approach to policy making as outlined in the Blueprint.
The Director, Service Transformation is a high-profile role, reporting to the Director General, Digital Centre Design and sitting as part of their senior leadership team.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
As Director, Service Transformation, your main responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
* leading cross-departmental commitments and collaborations as part of the Blueprint for Modern Digital Government;
* scaling and leading the role of GDS in relation to local government, working closely with Cabinet Office Public Service Reform team, MHCLG and local authorities to establish GDS’ local government offering over the next SR period;
* leading and scaling a new high-profile digital transformation initiative, which will involve close working with No 10, the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, the DSIT Secretary of State and other ministers;
* leading on cross-government and cross-functional engagement to build and retain business sponsorship of the Service Transformation agenda;
* delivering a programme of work to fulfil the Prime Minister’s commitment to 1 in 10 civil servants being digital, data, technology or cyber specialists by 2030; including the recruitment of 2000 new tech apprentices; collaborating with the Cabinet Office on ensuring the remaining 9 in 10 civil servants have the skills and working environment they need to thrive in the digital era.
* working closely with the policy profession to embed digital approaches and cross functional teams into policy design and delivery; designing government’s policy and interventions required to modernise legislative barriers to efficient digital service design and delivery - taking a ‘digital first’ approach to policy making as outlined in the Blueprint.
Person specification
Within Your CV and Statement Of Suitability, It Is Important That You Give Evidence And Examples Of Proven Experience Of Each Of The Following essential Criteria:
* proven success in leading and executing large-scale digital transformation initiatives showcasing the ability to modernise systems and services effectively;
* extensive experience in senior digital technology or transformation leadership roles, demonstrating a strong track record of delivery at pace, and of managing and optimising complex functions or organisations;
* a demonstrated ability to adopt and champion agile working practices while navigating regulatory environments, managing complex projects, and collaborating effectively with diverse stakeholders;
* inspiring and coherent leadership style: ability to engage and win the cooperation and support of multiple internal and external parties, holding them to account through rigorous performance management to achieve common goals;
* proven experience of senior stakeholder management in a political, pressured environment and evidence of building credible and respected relationships at board level.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
* Communicating and Influencing
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Delivering at Pace
Alongside your salary of £130,000, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £37,661 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead. You’ll benefit from a wide range of training and development opportunities, regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits.
This includes
* 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service. This is in addition to 8 public
holidays and one day’s leave for the King's birthday.
* A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire;
* Flexible working patterns including part-time or time-term working and access to Flexible Working Schemes allowing you to vary your working day as long as you work your total hours;
* Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers;
* Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle;
* The opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable); and.
* Occupational sick pay.
Any move to DSIT from another employer will mean you can no longer access 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
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
To apply for this post please follow the online application process which includes completing the following documents no later than 23:55 Monday 4th August 2025.
* 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.
* A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.
Applications will be sifted on CV and statement of suitability.
Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only has limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.
As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say'. The information you provide when submitting your application will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming the most inclusive employer.
TOWN HALL CANDIDATE ENGAGEMENT SESSION
Emily Middleton - Director General for Digital Centre Design, DSIT will be holding an informal information session via MSTeams on 28th July between 11.00-12.00pm for potential applicants to find out more about the role Director, Service Transformation. Whether you are contemplating an application, or simply want more insight into the role and its potential impact, this session will provide you with a much better understanding of the environment, expectations and ambitions of DSIT’s digital and AI agendas.
Looking to join anonymously? Here’s a how-to-guide:
* Click on the MSTeams link.
* Select Join.
* Select Change at the top of the meeting pre-join screen.
* Select Join without signing in.
* Type your name in at the top of the pre-join screen.
* Select Join to enter the meeting.
We hope you can join us for this insightful session. Please use the following link to join us here Meeting invite link
Please note that we are unable to provide feedback to those candidates who are not shortlisted for an interview.
Written feedback will be made available (on request) to those candidates who attend the interview.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
SHORTLIST
Paul Kernaghan - a Civil Service Commissioner, will chair the process. The Civil Service Commission has two primary functions:
* Providing assurance that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. For the most senior posts in the Civil Service, the Commission discharges its responsibilities directly by overseeing the recruitment process and by a Commissioner chairing the selection panel.
* Hearing and determining appeals made by civil servants under the Civil Service Code which sets out the Civil Service values – Impartiality, Objectivity, Integrity and Honesty – and forms part of the relationship between civil servants and their employer.
More detailed information can be found on the Civil Service Commission website. www.civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/
Other Panel Members Will Include:
* Emily Middleton - Director General for Digital Centre Design, DSIT
* Leanne Cummings - Director, GOV.UK Products and Services, DSIT
* TBC
The panel will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application. Applications will be sifted to select those demonstrating the best fit with the post against the criteria set out in the person specification. Please ensure you keep this in mind when writing your CV and supporting statement.
The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which a decision is expected to be made, and all candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
ASSESSMENT
If you are shortlisted, you will be required to participate in a Staff Engagement Exercise members of the leadership team at DSIT as part of the assessment process prior to the final panel interview. This exercise is an assessed component; it will be evaluated to inform the panel’s decision-making and to identify areas for further exploration during the interview. It does not, however, constitute a pass or fail.
INTERVIEW
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification and behaviours outlined in page 14.
On the day of interviews, candidates will be asked to complete a short scenario exercise and present their responses to the interview panel. Full details of the assessment process will be made available to all shortlisted candidates at a later date.
Interviews are expected to be held in person in the London Office. Unfortunately we will not be able to reimburse you for any travel expenses incurred during the recruitment process.
SELECTION AND FEEDBACK
Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible, and will offer the opportunity to discuss feedback for all candidates who reached the interview.
A reserve list will be held for up to 12 months, which we may use to fill future suitable vacancies.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
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 security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
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 security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) 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) (opens in a new window)
* 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 (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) 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.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
* Name : SCS Recruitment Team
* Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance dsitresourcing.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/
Seniority level
* Seniority level
Director
Employment type
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Part-time
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Management and Manufacturing
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Government Administration
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