Head of Technology Operations & Strategy

Job summary

Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT)​
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We are transforming DCMS to meet the demands of an agile,​ delivery-focused department leading on some of the highest priority work for the government’s agenda to drive growth, enrich lives and level-up society.​
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Our modernisation plans include critical investment in our systems, ensuring they are fit for purpose and reducing the manual input required, as well as the ongoing development of a new central function to transform the way DCMS uses technology, data and digital services.​
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We also want to transform how we solve policy challenges by having user centred design and collaboration within multi-disciplinary teams at the heart of what we do.​
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This is an incredibly exciting time to join the team within DCMS. Our mission is to digitally enable how DCMS delivers its priority outcomes which can adapt and respond to the changing needs of the sectors and partners​ we work with. Can you help us get there?

Job description

The Head of Technology Operations & Strategy is a new role in DDAT, reporting to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) as their strategic advisor. You will lead on developing and implementing a Technology Strategy and oversee the technical design of systems and services. ​

You will ensure teams deliver high quality, secure, scalable architecture design and will provide architectural assurance over internal functions, partners and suppliers. This role will be a key part of ensuring that digital technologies are an enabler and catalyst for DCMS’s missions:​

• Secure and scalable service-oriented architecture​
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills​
• Capability to assess business requirements, make sound technical decisions, provide practical solutions and advice. ​

You will bring experience of leading technical teams and implementing operational technology and cyber security frameworks and standards, including endpoint detection services, SIEM and SOAR, and reviewing existing SOC capabilities to optimise and respond to cybersecurity threats. You will also take ownership of technical processes, governance and technology policies, and establish and own technology governance and decision making.​

You will act as a deputy and advisor to the CTO, providing leadership for architects across DDAT, representing DCMS at senior and cross-government forums, contributing to the wider DDaT Senior Leadership team, and building strategic relationships with technology suppliers to optimise commercial arrangements.

Person specification

The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience, please note that the desirable skills will only be considered in the event of tied candidates:

Essential requirements:

• Experience working with public cloud platforms (Microsoft Azure and Google GCP)​
• Experience defining and implementing technical strategies, roadmaps, standards, patterns and policies, and evidence of measuring success.
• Evidence of guiding operational decisions with high risk and complexity.​
• Strong communication skills, with experience communicating with and influencing senior technical and non-technical stakeholders, mediating difficult decisions, and gaining support for complex initiatives.​
• Experience supporting selection and procurement of technology systems and suppliers, managing supplier contracts and relationships. ​
• Demonstrated ability to manage and review budgets/spending, and evidence capability to maximise investments. ​
• Experience working in multidisciplinary agile delivery teams.

Desirable skills

• Experience leading the identification and analysis of IT system capabilities, and the ability to explore, learn and apply new technologies. ​
• Experience producing technical documentation and architecture diagrams.​
• Experience designing technical architecture for internal/public-facing systems, balancing technology against cost, user experience, operational support experience and strategic outcomes.​

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by David Booth, and will take place on:​ Tuesday 28th July at 11.45

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

Please register your interest by filling out this Registration form and you will be sent an invitation. Invites will only be sent after this deadline has passed.

Please note that the session will not be recorded and will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process - please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to [email removed]

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Community collaboration
• Strategy design

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,203, Department for Culture, Media and Sport contributes £18,020 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home

• 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice

• 3 days of paid volunteering leave

• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave

• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year

• Occupational sick pay

• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice

• Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks

• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work

• Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!

Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been i