Deputy Delivery Director, Home Office Biometrics (HOB) - Home Office - SCS1

Location

Croydon, Manchester, Glasgow and Sheffield. Other travel to key HO hubs may be required.

About the job

Job summary

Home Office Biometrics provides critical biometric capability across UK law enforcement, immigration, border security and HM Passport Office. Biometrics underpins core national functions, enabling the capture, verification, search and matching of individuals’ biometric and forensic data to solve crime, protect borders and prevent terrorism. These capabilities are deeply embedded across policing and the Home Office, supporting activities from visa and passport applications to frontline policing and border operations.

The Delivery Director for the Home Office Biometrics Programme (HOB) sits within the Police and Public Protection Technology Portfolio (PPPT) Senior Management Team and is part of the Home Office Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) function. The role supports both major transformation programmes and live operational services for a user community of over 45,000 people across more than 50

organisations. HOB is a high‑profile GMPP programme in its final years, delivering a suite of biometric products that will transform how policing and the Home Office missions identify individuals and assess risk.

Biometrics is an internationally recognised capability, with the programme actively engaged in data sharing across Europe and with Five Eyes partners. Close collaboration with Home Office policy and science teams is essential due to the ethical, legal and technical challenges involved. The role is responsible for day‑to‑day leadership and successful delivery of the programme, while also establishing the enduring biometric service that will succeed it. The Programme Director reports line‑management wise to the PPPT Portfolio Director and is accountable to the Senior Responsible Owner, working closely with senior leaders across PPPT, Migration and Border Technology, and DDaT Enterprise Services to deliver secure, high‑quality digital services that meet user and business needs.

Job description

Key responsibilities

• Lead a multi‑disciplinary workforce of ~120 civil servants, contractors and suppliers, setting clear direction, building capability, and recruiting and retaining critical skills.
• Provide clear senior reporting and assurance, keeping the HOB SRO and Director of PPPT fully informed of progress, risks and key developments.
• Build strong strategic partnerships across the Home Office (Migration and Borders, Public Safety, Homeland Security, Science, Data and Identity) and with policing leaders, PCCs, Chief Constables, NPCC and wider law‑enforcement partners.
• Support police forces through technology migration, ensuring effective consultation, adoption and maximised utilisation of new biometric capabilities.
• Deliver the programme to plan and strategic intent, managing milestones, scope and the transition to a sustainable successor organisation to operate and enhance live biometric services.
• Maintain strong programme control and governance, managing risks, dependencies and change; working with internal and external suppliers to deliver outcomes, share risk, drive innovation and ensure alignment with Home Office data and technology standards.

Person specification

Essential Criteria  

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate their knowledge, experience, capability and behavioural approach to a high standard against the following key criteria:

• A proven track record in delivering, high profile projects and programmes and managing large capital budgets.
• An inspiring and coherent leadership style enabling the HOB programme team to deliver.
• Experience with strategic programme and project management methodologies such as Merging successful programmes (MSP), Project Leadership Programme (PLP), and Prince 2 in addition to business case development, planning and application of good practice processes.
• Extensive experience in the design and development of IT systems and management of their successful transition into Live environments.
• Proven experience of senior stakeholder management in a political, pressured environment and evidence the building of credible and respected relationships.
• A sophisticated approach to commercial and supplier management within the context of technology change, able to establish and maximise effective working relationships with suppliers to stimulate innovation and guarantee successful delivery whilst delivering value for money from investment.

Desirable Criteria  

• An understanding of UK Borders, Immigration and Citizenship, Policing and Biometrics.
• A graduate of (or clear willingness to complete) the IPA’s Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA).