Job summary
This is a critical role within the Senior Technology Leadership team reporting to the Chief Digital and Technology Officer.
The technology division comprises approximately 250 staff (of which, approximately 70 are contingent contractors) and works with several third party suppliers to deliver the strategic objectives for the division and wider organisation.
The Head of Technology is responsible for setting and delivering the UKHO's technology vision and strategy, along with delivering the technology platforms that enable this. This role ensures that technology allows the organisation to achieve its strategic objectives, fosters creative solutions, and provides a secure, resilient, and future-ready digital infrastructure.
This role leads the evaluation, adoption, and integration of technologies that enhance operational effectiveness and data-driven decision-making across the organisation.
The role will support and work with the Chief Digital and Technology Officer to deliver the technology strategy and strategic objectives of the UKHO. In close partnership with the Chief Digital and Technology Officer, this role has specific accountability for the technology platforms.
As part of the Technology Senior Leadership team this role will provide overarching leadership and be a role model for technology managers and specialists to create a high performing division.
As a senior leader within the UKHO, the post holder will also actively contribute and participate as a member of the pan UKHO Senior Leadership Team to lead, manage and deliver the transformational change required in order to deliver the UKHO's vision, business and technology strategies. The role holder will be required to foster the leadership and cultural behaviours and values required of a senior leader within the organisation.
For further information, please check Senior Technology roles at the UKHO
Hybrid working
Given this is a senior leadership role there is the expectation to be on site 3 days a week.
Job description
* This role leads a complex technology estate that has significant technical debt and legacy that needs to be transformed and made ready for significant cloud implementation (in line with wider MOD policy).
* Assessing emerging technologies and their relevance to the UKHO's strategic direction; evaluating legacy systems for replacement or integration.
* Designing a future-proof technology architecture; introducing innovative digital solutions to meet hydrographic and geospatial challenges.
* Assessing and understand complex technical and integration challenges across a legacy estate.
* Ensuring solutions remain fit for purpose and are continuously meeting the needs of the business and customer.
* Working with cyber colleagues to ensure systems remain up to date, free of known vulnerabilities and are compliant with relevant standards and legislation.
* Ensuring robust procedures are in place to effectively manage demand and where needed work with partners to scale out capacity.
* Providing leadership and guidance to teams, especially at times of complex change and service impacting incidents. The teams require a leader that is accessible and visible to them providing the guidance they require whilst role modelling the desired behaviours and values of the organisation.
* This role needs to set the bar for a high performing technology teams, and provide support and direction to the team managers and specialists to drive the desired behaviours and values in achieving a high-performing, customer-centric, high-value culture.
This role requires DV clearance and SC clearance at the start.
Person specification
* Proven experience in successfully leading enterprise wide technology strategy and delivering value and transformation.
* Deep understanding of technology architecture, cyber security and digital delivery.
* Experience in building high-performing digital and data teams.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Changing and Improving
* Making Effective Decisions
* Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Relevant qualifications in computer science, engineering, or related fields; professional certifications (e.g., TOGAF, ITIL, CISSP) desirable.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £76,184, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £22,070 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
At the UK Hydrographic Office, it's very important to us that our people feel valued.
We offer a huge range of benefits such as training and development, well-being support, flexible/ homeworking, a fantastic state of the art building, high spec equipment, and so much more.
See our attached Candidate Information Pack for more details.
Experience:
* Proven experience in successfully leading enterprise-wide technology strategy and delivering value and transformation -assessed by presentation in the first stage interviews.
* Deep understanding of technology architecture, cyber security, and digital delivery.
* Strong financial acumen in technology investment and procurement.
* Demonstrated ability to evaluate and adopt emerging technologies.
* Experience in building high-performing digital and data teams.
* Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
* Relevant qualifications in computer science, engineering, or related fields; professional certifications (e.g. TOGAF, ITIL, CISSP) desirable.
* Proven experience of both technology stack and culture transformation
* Proven experience of performance turnaround and creating a high performing culture
* Proven commercial experience of Strategic partnership and vendor engagement
Civil Service Behaviours (Grade 6 level):
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Changing and Improving
* Making Effective Decisions
* Leadership
See here for further information: Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK
Technical Skills:
* Relevant qualifications in computer science, engineering, or related fields; professional certifications
* (e.g. TOGAF, ITIL, CISSP) desirable.
Interview Process:
* First Stage Interviews are virtual and will be approx. 60 minutes in duration. Second stage interviews are face-to-face. Third Stage interviews are virtual.
* You will be contacted to book a suitable time and date if you are shortlisted.
* PRESENTATION - you will be required, in the first stage interviews, to give a 15 minute presentation - more details will be given on invitation to interview.
Onboarding Checks:
In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. Security Clearance (SC) will need to be obtained prior to the role commencing. You will also need to apply for Developed Vetting (DV) which can be completed while working for us but the offer will remain conditional until DV is gained. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.
Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.
Residency Requirements:
DV – reserved
This is a Ministry of Defence reserved post and open to sole UK nationals only. Successful applicants will require Developed Vetting (DV) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 24 consecutive months within the last 10 years.
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 developed vetting (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
Open to UK nationals only.
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.