The Home Office is recruiting for the director-general level role of chief digital and innovation officer, with a salary of up to £190,000 a year on offer to the successful candidate.
According to the department, the currently-vacant role is one of 11 executive committee posts that sit directly below permanent secretary Dame Antonia Romeo and second perm sec Simon Ridley.
The Home Office’s advertisement describes the job as “one of the most significant technology and innovation leadership opportunities in the UK public sector”, with a mission to transform services that touch millions of lives on a daily basis.
Recently-departed interim government chief digital and information officer Joanna Davinson served as chief digital and information officer at the Home Office earlier in her career.
The new Home Office CDIO will lead a team of around 4,000 people and have oversight of an annual budget of roughly £1.8bn.
They will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for digital, data, science and technology across the department, championing the integration of cutting-edge technologies, data science, and research into operational delivery and policy development.
As part of their work they will be accountable for delivering mission-critical live services, modernising national-programmes such as biometrics and digital identity, and driving innovation to strengthen both operational delivery and citizen outcomes.
The Home Office’s advertisement states that the successful candidate will require “exceptional leadership and people management skills” and a “proven ability” to build high-performing, inclusive teams and “lead through others in complex environments”.
Writing in the candidate pack for would-be applicants, Home Office perm sec Romeo said the new CDIO would “shape the department’s long-term transformation vision” and drive progress in making it more efficient and productive.
“You will bring together the Home Office’s overall digital and transformation strategy and make sure the capability is in place to deliver it,” she said. “This role is about more than technology – it is about shaping the future of the department and our crucial public services, ensuring our services are responsive, resilient, and rooted in evidence and innovation.”
The London-based role is open to applications until 11:55pm on 25 September.