Chief Digital Technology Officer - Ministry of Defence - SCS2

Location

Location can be flexible within reason; for example, working or being based at other Defence sites within the UK (subject to line manager agreement and site availability / capacity).

About the job

Job summary

Defence Digital and the wider Digital Function are critical enablers for almost all aspects of Defence activity. Defence requires an exceptional and driven Director to lead the implementation and delivery of technology, innovation, and architectural standards, with a particular focus on accelerating AI adoption across Defence. The Chief Digital Technology Officer will require a broad technical knowledge, an understanding of the evolving technology landscape, and proven experience in leveraging the latest digital advances. As the senior functional lead, the post holder will drive and evolve common technology architecture and standards to support the realisation of Defence’s strategic intent. They will oversee strategy, transformation, design, and implementation, ensuring supporting architecture, standards, and compliance processes are maintained across Defence. Additionally, they will be accountable for tracking and advising on the reduction and prevention of obsolescence and technical debt. As an advocate for emerging game-changing technologies, including AI, the CDTO will provide leadership to ensure these innovations are integrated into solutions that deliver lasting military and business value. The role includes responsibility for an annual delivery budget of approximately £140.7M, c. 400 direct staff, and a broader workforce comprising Civil Servants, Military personnel, and contractors.

To provide an overview of the role and answer any questions, Charlie Forte will host an online Town Hall session at 09:30-10:30 Wednesday 25 March. You can access the meeting by clicking here. If you prefer, you may use your initials instead of your full name to maintain confidentiality regarding your interest in the role. Please note this session is not part of the formal assessment process. If you experience any issues accessing the session, please contact: People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Operating as part of the Functional Senior Leadership Team to promote and embed the Digital Strategy Defence. As part of the Functional Leadership operating model this post is responsible for leading strategic change, including implementing and governing standards, for technology, AI and architecture across Defence.
• Responsible for setting the architectural compliance that all digital projects across defence must comply with, using the CTO Council to bring the CTOs from Defence together to build relationships across Defence, International Partners, HMG and Suppliers and ensure understanding and strategic thinking across the group, prioritising core activities and agree the delivery aims from business initiatives and external influencers.

Technology & Futures

• Lead innovation efforts to access and integrate emerging technologies, such as AI and Quantum, to support Defence Strategy at pace.
• Collaborate across the Function, wider Defence, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and government to align innovation with business relevance and strategic goals.

Technology Exploitation

• Develop and oversee the compliance framework that ensures a continual evolution of modern capability that drives cohesion, integration, and interoperability, including exploitation of cloud.
• Manage the relationships across Defence and with relevant, high-profile, external stakeholders (including industry, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the Five Eyes (FVEY) community to strengthen relevance and access innovation.
• Define the technology compliance expectations.
• With Director Cyber Defence and Risk, ensure security technology fits with wider technology architecture.
• Define the technology compliance expectations.
• With Director Cyber Defence and Risk, ensure security technology fits with wider technology architecture.

Tech Governance and Risk

• Maintain and evolve a common enterprise technical architecture with supporting standards in explicit support of strategic outcomes.
• Maintain a supporting implementation plan and propose / agree the funding and oversee delivery.
• Manage the Architecture cadre, ensure its health and application to drive standards.
• Own the vision and design of a common digital technology architecture to support Defence Strategy, working with leaders across the function.

Foundry, Digital Services

• Lead the Digital Foundry (which is a software factory) and change capability that promotes the ability to build software solutions at pace and which demonstrates modernity.
• Support the Foundry to drive pace on exploitation and re-use of common technology.
• Drive up maturity of digital platforms and their use pan Defence.

Person specification

• Proven Senior Leadership: A confident and experienced leader with a track record of managing large, multidisciplinary teams and overseeing financial and workforce data. Demonstrated ability to inspire confidence, foster collaboration, and drive innovation, continuous improvement, and organisational success.
• Strategic Technology Leadership: Experience in developing and implementing enterprise-wide digital and technology strategies, with strong technical knowledge and awareness of evolving technologies. Proven ability to leverage advancements like AI, cloud, and quantum computing to drive transformation and deliver operational benefits.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of commercial functions, including contract management and supplier relationships, with the ability to ensure value for money and alignment with organisational goals.
• Project Delivery Expertise: Proven experience in managing large-scale projects, programmes, and portfolios, with a focus on delivering complex transformation initiatives on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Stakeholder Management and Communication: Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively, build relationships, and inspire confidence at all levels, including with senior leaders, international partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Strategic Judgment: Strong decision-making skills, with experience providing strategic advice, constructive challenge, and support to subject matter experts, including civilian and military policy teams.
• Translating Strategy into Action: Skilled in aligning strategy with transformation, operational delivery, and organisational design, translating strategic goals into measurable outcomes and enterprise-wide impact.