This is an opportunity to lead meaningful change across one of the country’s largest unitary councils - at a pivotal point in our journey to modernise, simplify and enable the organisation for the future.
As our Chief Digital and Data Officer, you will lead development of our strategy a broad digital, data and technology service and influence how we use data, insight, automation and AI to improve services, support better decisions, and deliver more sustainable outcomes for Dorset’s residents, communities and colleagues.
You will join us at an important and exciting point. We have listened to colleagues, built an honest picture of where we are and identified what needs to change. You will have a strong foundation to build from, visible senior support and colleagues across the council who want this work to succeed.
This is a chance to develop talented teams, build capability that lasts and help Dorset Council turn ambition into practical, visible change.
What you will be doing
You will provide strong leadership for our Digital, Data and Technology service, its management team and employee groups, developing the workforce, culture and capability we need for the future. You will drive our future DDaT strategy, making sure the service is clear, confident and central to how Dorset Council modernises and enables the organisation.
You will provide clear professional advice to senior leaders and elected members, helping the council make confident decisions about the opportunities, choices and risks associated with digital, data, technology and AI.
In this role you will have the opportunity to:
- establish clear ownership, stewardship and standards for the council’s data, so it is trusted and used with confidence
- improve the quality, accessibility and safe reuse of information across services
- strengthen our analytics, business intelligence and forecasting capability, helping insight drive better decisions
- reduce manual reporting so colleagues can spend more time producing insight that improves decisions
- establish a product-led, user-centred approach to designing and running digital services
- make sure our digital services are accessible and inclusive by design
- develop responsible approaches to automation, low-code technology and AI, focused on practical service improvement
- maintain clear enterprise architecture principles, standards and roadmaps, supporting joined-up and sustainable technology choices
- improve the security, resilience and sustainability of our technology
- reduce legacy systems, duplicated technology and technical debt
- strengthen how we manage technology contracts and supplier relationships
- protect the council’s access to its data, including portability and exit arrangements
- build digital, data and technology capability across the council, not only within your own service
- develop professional career pathways and grow our internal expertise, building a stronger and more confident DDaT workforce across the council
You will lead the service responsible for this work, but success will depend on your ability to influence and build support across services that do not report directly to you.
We are not looking for a strategy that sits on a shelf. We need someone who can turn ambition into practical change and build capability that lasts.
About you
You will have significant experience of strategically leading a digital, data or technology service in a large and complex organisation with the confidence to set direction, develop people and work across organisational boundaries.
You will understand that the hardest challenges are rarely about technology alone. They are about ownership, governance, culture, capability and bringing people with you - building trust, confidence and shared commitment to change..
You will bring:
- experience of leading and developing multi-disciplinary digital, data and technology teams
- the ability to shape strategy and turn it into clear priorities, delivery plans and measurable progress
- experience of improving how an organisation manages and uses its data
- experience of building capability that continues beyond individual projects or people
- in-depth knowledge of data governance, architecture, analytics and information management
- a strong understanding of cyber security risk, information governance and operational resilience
- knowledge of the ethical and legal considerations surrounding data, analytics and AI
- experience of managing technology contracts and supplier relationships
- the ability to influence people and build support across organisational boundaries
- the ability to explain complex and technical subjects clearly, without jargon
A leadership, management or professional qualification relevant to digital, data or technology would be valuable, although we will also consider equivalent demonstrable experience.
Experience in local government is not essential. What matters is that you understand the value of effective public services and want to use your expertise to improve outcomes for residents.
What’s in it for you
You will have the opportunity to lead a broad professional service while influencing change across the wider council.
You will benefit from:
- a role with significant scope across digital services, data, technology, architecture, cyber security and resilience
- the opportunity to shape an important area of the council’s future direction
- recent discovery work that gives you an evidence-based starting point
- support from senior leaders and colleagues who are invested in change
- the freedom to turn strategic ambition into practical and visible improvements
- the opportunity to develop talented teams and create career pathways for digital, data and technology professionals
- the chance to reduce dependence on individual experts and external support by building lasting internal capability
- work that can improve colleagues’ working lives and make a difference to services for residents
- hybrid working, offering flexibility alongside opportunities to work with colleagues in Dorset
This post is appointed under Dorset Council’s generic Head of Service job description, supported by a context statement setting out the specialist responsibilities of the Chief Digital and Data Officer.
Make Dorset your home
Dorset offers an exceptional place to live and work, combining lively towns and historic communities with beautiful countryside and coastline.
If you are relocating for the role, support may be available whether you are looking to buy or rent, depending on your circumstances.
Our relocation package can include:
- an initial advance of up to £2,500 when you start
- support with eligible costs associated with buying or selling a home, up to £6,500
- the option of support towards rent or mortgage costs during your first two years
Up to £8,000 of eligible relocation costs may be paid free of tax, subject to your circumstances and HMRC rules