About the job

Job summary

This is a strategically important senior leadership role in DLUHC. This is an opportunity to lead a programme of change that will further improve how DLUHC works and how we interact with citizens, local authorities and other public bodies. We are looking for candidates who can apply on the ground experience of driving the transformation of organisations, not those who will maintain the status quo.

Job description

This role is about continuing the move away from using silo developed systems to delivering best in class digital services and technology. We are looking for a high-quality technological capability combined with an ability to lead and shape teams, and an aptitude for business understanding and engagement. The success of the chosen candidate will ultimately be measured against their delivery of technology that enables that Departments transformation programme. 

Key accountabilities 

• To represent the department in cross government forums 
• To drive utilisation of new and innovative technology working closely with colleagues in digital services and delivery to have clear use cases aligned to user needs 
• Leading and supporting the Department’s technology and information teams to deliver unprecedented levels of service and quality, via a lean and efficient end user focused department. 
• Using commercial acumen to assess value within externally contracted services, whilst partnering with, challenging and successfully managing external suppliers. 
• Leading our technology strategy and ensuring the continued adoption of digital best practise. 
• Influencing at all levels, including Ministerial, with both IT and non-IT colleagues. 
• Bringing new ideas to the utilisation and sharing of our data. 
• Delivering the adoption of a successful centralised shared service that supports Department and associated bodies with an unparalleled IT service. 
• Build on a strategic architecture of systems. 
• Identify and execute innovative technology solutions that drive greater efficiency and value for money 
• Maintain and deliver the internal SAP solution across finance, HR and Procurement and be the lead on the migration to the government cluster model. 

Person specification

This is a high profile Deputy Director role which requires a technical leader who is a strategic thinker, can work at pace, has the ability to develop a high performance culture and can effectively manage multiple senior stakeholder relationships be it across the Department at all levels and with the wider DLUHC Group.

The successful candidate will be an exceptional leader with the proven ability to set a strong direction and convey a persuasive future vision at all levels of an organisation.

You will be responsible for developing & implementing effective processes, delivery standards and governance ensuring that day to day operations run efficiently and results delivered –all with the end-user in mind.

You will be comfortable working with technology and budgets and able to advise with confidence how to ensure successful programme delivery, as well as demonstrating integrity in all you do.

You will have a strong focus on leading and developing your team to perform at its best, providing excellent customer service, giving constructive advice and challenge, and acting as trusted advisor and gateway into our policy teams where needed. 

Previous experience of leadership in government is not required, but you will be expected to quickly get up to speed with the Department’s culture and processes –not least so you are in a strong position to shape and develop it. 

As one of the Department’s senior leaders, you will also be a visible role model for the Civil Service leadership behaviours. These can be found in the Civil Service Leadership Statement which is available here.    

Essential criteria

• Excellent technical skills with proven experience of delivering multiple and varied end to end IT Solutions  backed up by strong domain knowledge. Broad knowledge of a variety of technologies and applications (such as AWS, Azure, AI, Cisco, ZScaler, SAP, Microsoft Tools) with coverage of core infrastructure, video, voice, end user computing and devices  
• Experience of delivering a transformation and modernisation agenda to achieve cost savings and service improvements for customers.  
• Demonstrable and practical experience of building capability (talent & technology) and improving processes whilst maintaining existing service levels 
• Leading, developing and motivating a team to drive productivity and long-term success. Experience of visible, inclusive leadership, establishing a strong direction and persuasive future vision, creating a place where IT professionals want to be 
• Managing senior stakeholders, both internally and externally, and confidence in dealing with, and influencing, senior officials.  You are also capable of producing clear and non-technical advice on complex issues, with the ability to articulate risks to senior officials and take quick, confident decisions at a strategic level to move things forward 
• Proven commercial expertise including experience of innovative approaches to sourcing services, and of managing relationships with large suppliers. 
• A ‘growth’ mind-set, combined with a pragmatic and well-disciplined ‘outputs focused’ approach to IT delivery.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £100,000, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities contributes £19,710 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

How to apply
Please click the Be Applied link to provide the required information and complete your application through the Be Applied website by 23:55 on Sunday 21st January 2024.

You will be asked to enter some personal details, upload your CV and to provide your responses to the role’s advertised essential criteria.​

When prompted to upload your CV, please upload a single document consisting of: ​

• a CV (including the names of 2 referees and your current remuneration) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities, achievements and your relevant qualifications. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. ​
• a statement of suitability explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria provided in the person specification. (max. 2 pages)​

Please remember to save these two items in one document.​

Please note that only completed applications through the Be Applied route will be considered and that any further progress updates will be sent through Be Applied.

The hiring manager, Gill Stewart, would be happy to have informal discussions with candidates who would like further information about the role before submitting an application. If interested, please contact scs.recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk 

The selection panel will be made up of:

• Gill Stewart, Chief Digital Officer, DLUHC
• David Knox, Chief Technology Officer, Central Digital and Data Office
• One additional panel member, TBC

Additionally, the panel will be joined by one of our staff representatives from a pool of volunteers as part of our commitments to diversity and inclusion.

Selection process and assessments

Candidates that are shortlisted may be invited to attend a staff engagement panel. 

At DLUHC we hold staff engagement panels as an integral part of the recruitment process for Senior Civil Servants (SCS) – they are designed to help us build up a rounded picture of each candidate and give us an insight into how you might engage and interact with your team should you be successful. The purpose of the session is to help us assess your engagement and communication skills and is not about testing your subject knowledge or expertise for this particular role. Feedback from the session is passed onto the selection panel for consideration alongside the final interview.

Candidates may also be invited to a meeting with a Minister or the Secretary of State, and/or other senior stakeholders. This is not a formal part of the selection process but an informal chance for candidates to find out more about the role and the organisation.

Shortlisted candidates will also be invited to give a short presentation or complete an exercise at the beginning of their final interview. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates when invited to interview. 

All of the evidence presented as part of the process will be considered in the final assessment.

Security Clearance

All DLUHC colleagues must meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard. This is a series of basic security checks to confirm identity and employment history.

In addition to the BPSS, the level of security clearance required for this role is Security Check (SC) and the process can take up to 8 weeks to complete. For more details of vetting levels and requirements please refer to the Cabinet Office HMG Personnel Security Controls.

Salary

For external appointments, remuneration for this role will be circa £100,000 pa plus a bonus opportunity depending on performance (within the normal Civil Service pay arrangements) and attractive pension.​

For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. If appointed on promotion you would get the higher of 10% uplift or the new minimum for Deputy Director, £75,000 pa.​​

Future pay awards will normally be made in line with current SCS performance-related pay arrangements.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.

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.