Digital Strategy Lead

As a Digital Strategy Lead you’ll do one of the following:

• Lead implementation of ‘A blueprint for modern digital government’, ensuring commitments are built into business planning and Spending Review work and setting up clear tracking and communication processes
• Lead development of the government’s digital and AI roadmap, working closely with senior leaders across government to set a compelling vision and co-design a detailed implementation plan
• Lead coordination and execution of Spending Review 2025 for GDS and the digital and data function, including developing bids, assessing proposals from across government and influencing stakeholders including HM Treasury to secure good outcomes

You will also:

• Shape and influence strategic direction on government’s digital transformation, working strategically to shape and set priorities and drive progress towards them
• Contribute to briefings for and discussions with senior officials and ministers, including creating and delivering high quality written submissions, slide decks and other strategic products
• Build trusted relationships with and influence senior leadership in GDS and across government, working with them to co-create plans and resolve challenges quickly and with confidence

Person specification

This role requires:

• Experience and knowledge of broad and complex strategic work across systems, with an ability to think strategically and bring clarity and structure to uncertainty
• Ability to translate complex and broad material - both qualitative and quantitative - into clear written or oral analysis and communications, including briefings and presentations
• Excellent quality in delivery and an ability to operate effectively and flexibly in a fast paced, political and complex environment
• Strong skills in establishing and maintaining excellent stakeholder relationships, and engaging credibly with and influencing senior leaders and external stakeholders
• Experience and enthusiasm for leading a team, including coaching and developing others, to ensure a high performing, highly engaged and happy unit

Benefits

The benefits of working at GDS

There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to children's holiday play schemes across different locations in central London
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

GDS offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to Government Digital Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Things you need to know

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 500 words. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “person specification” section above
• a 50 minute video interview

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the lead criteria which is:

• Experience and knowledge of broad and complex strategic work across systems, with an ability to think strategically and bring clarity and structure to uncertainty

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• Seeing the big picture
• Communicating and influencing
• Delivering at pace
• Leadership

Recruitment Timeline

Role closes: Sunday 23rd February

Sift completion: Wednesday 26th February

Panel interviews: starting Thursday 6th March

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

You may be aware that there are plans for the Government Digital Service (GDS) to move into the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT). This move is to bring together the digital transformation of public services into one core department. The move itself will offer huge opportunities whilst allowing DSIT to lead the way and drive forward the new Government's digital agenda. 

As the announcement is relatively new, we are awaiting more detailed information. Therefore, we encourage you to apply for this role, and will keep you informed with updated information throughout the application process.

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