Deputy Director, Digital and Data - GLD - SCS1

Location

Bristol, Croydon, Leeds, London, Manchester

About the job

Job summary

About the Government Legal Department

From healthcare to artificial intelligence, energy to national security, we provide legal advice to government departments on nation-changing subjects.

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfil our potential. 

Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters.

Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.

GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 3000 people, including over 2600 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.

GLD also depends on a range of cross-government professionals to provide our corporate services. These play an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.

This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service. 

To find out more about what we do you can view our introductory film here and visit the GLD’s microsite. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.

Job description

About the Digital and Data Division

Thank you for your interest in this pivotal leadership role at the heart of government. 

The Government Legal Department (GLD) operates on a scale equivalent to one of the largest law firms in the UK providing the full range of legal services needed by government. We enable delivery of the government’s missions, including policy making, legislation and helping the government to govern well within the rule of law.

This role sits within the Finance, Operations and Digital Directorate and them Chief Operating Officer’s Group. Our vision is a simpler, faster and better Digital and Data function We are committed to user-centred design, cloud-first principles, and alignment with government-wide standards such as the Digital Service Standard and the Technology Code of Practice.

I am looking for an outstanding leader with robust operational skills and a strategic approach to digital and data. You will join my Senior Leadership Team at a crucial time, as we deliver our GLD Strategy 2024-2027 and our Spending Review commitments. Your responsibilities will include improving cyber resilience, managing technology risks and ensuring operational continuity, all while demonstrating strong financial acumen.  

As a key member of my senior team, you will lead a programme of digital and technology refreshment, including developing and implementing a new legal practice and matter management system. You will also collaborate across functions to ensure GLD aligns with the Shared Services for Government strategy, by replacing and transforming back-office IT systems that are reaching the end of their lifecycle.

Why should you work with us?

• The Directorate’s culture of autonomy, mastery, and purpose ensures that individuals are empowered to grow, lead, and make a lasting impact. 
• Our work is challenging, our user and stakeholder environment is complex, and the problems we solve are some of the most interesting that you will find anywhere in government.
• The role offers a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of government transformation and to deliver efficient, productive public services that make a real difference to people's lives.

I am keen to see applications from individuals representing as broad a range of views and backgrounds as we have in UK society. Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to an effective, modern Civil Service that delivers policies and services for all of our citizens.

I hope you will be excited by the opportunity this role presents and if you think you fit the bill, we would like to hear from you. 

Carmel Thornton

Director – Finance, Operations and Digital

About the Role

This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity to play a key role in GLD, across-cutting Department at the heart of government. As the most senior Digital and Data professional, you will play a significant role in shaping GLD’s future direction and providing GLD with the professional digital and data services it needs to enable the delivery of high-quality legal services to central government.  You will partner with senior stakeholders to ensure delivery of GLD’s strategic objectives. 

This is an exciting moment in the evolution of GLD as it seeks to significantly enhance the capacity and capability of its non-legal professions and functions which provide the foundation on which our legal services are delivered. The effectiveness and efficiency of GLD, and by virtue the wider government legal function, matters to every strand of government and is crucial to helping the government realise its priorities for citizens. 

GLD is unique in that over two thirds of its staff are co-located in other government departments. GLD is leading the way on the government’s interoperability initiative by ensuring that no matter where staff are located, they are able to access GLD systems.

As the Deputy Director for Digital and Data, you will provide a critical interface between the business needs, user needs, and how the technology is used in GLD.  Your ability to build strategic, collaborative and constructive relationships is essential. You will also lead the Digital and Data Function in GLD, inspiring others and leveraging engagement at all levels to drive Digital and Data transformation. 

You will provide technical direction for the delivery of GLD’s services, setting the vision and direction for the technology strategy and technology professionals.

This role provides an exceptional opportunity to lead the delivery of GLD’s replacement legal case management system. The project is currently in its Alpha stage and the first stage will be to mitigate the risk of replacing our legacy systems seamlessly.

This is an exclusive opportunity to lead the Digital and Data function for a smaller department ahead of future bigger scale opportunities. As such, this role represents a particularly attractive opportunity for individuals seeking to develop and diversify into Chief Digital Information Officer appointments.

Key Responsibilities 

The role of SCS1 Deputy Director of Digital and Data combines both a strategic leadership role, developing and executing a digital strategy that drives long-term success as well as an operational focus; ensuring operational support, software development, cyber security and assurance, and commercial and financial management activities are maintained to a high standard. Key responsibilities include but are not limited to; 

• Leading the Digital and Data function, enabling GLD to realise its strategic objectives through effective and innovative use of digital technologies
• Playing a critical role in delivering the organisation’s digital systems with a focus on areas such as Legal Practice Management and enterprise level operational systems covering all areas of corporate services
• Responsibility for maintaining the organisations wider industry ISO certifications, as well as maintaining the cyber security accreditations and reporting to Departmental Boards (ExCo, ARAC and GLD Board) for the standard of security
• Direct line management of 6 Digital, Data and Technology experts and indirect management of circa 70+ Digital, Data and Technology professionals
• Working with colleagues to build the right culture within the digital function and in GLD more broadly
• Overseeing the digital budget, ensuring value for money
• Accountable for leading the organisation’s technical strategy, including the design, build and management of core infrastructure, ensuring that the organisation remains secure and resilient
• Accountable for developing and delivering the Digital and Data architecture strategy, designing technical services, and selecting platforms and technologies to meet GLD’s requirements and user needs
• Accountable for leading and delivering all aspects of Digital and Data programmes and portfolios. Deliver outcomes as outlined in GLD’s strategy, prioritising and resourcing work activities as required
• Identifying, experimenting with, and creating demand (where appropriate) for emerging technologies and innovation that help the organisation to deliver its outcomes, including in artificial intelligence
• Shaping our approach to legacy technology, including measuring and improving business critical services, and replacement of services
• Iterating an approach to digital development including blueprints, patterns, standards, governance arrangements and tooling
• Ensuring that the delivery and business impacts of all digital decisions are aligned to the organisations and wider government digital standards
• Building strategic, collaborative and constructive relationships with key stakeholders and suppliers to drive maximum success
• Improving core technical competencies such as enterprise, solution, data, cyber security and business architecture

Person specification

It is important through your CV and Statement of Suitability that you provide evidence and examples of proven experience of these selection criteria.

• Demonstrable experience in successfully establishing, leading and scaling a high performing Digital and Data function, with a track record of delivering complex technical solutions at pace. (Lead)
• Deep expertise across a range of technologies, including (but not limited to) software engineering, cybersecurity, data integration, data management and AI
• Significant experience in software development and infrastructure architecture, with a portfolio of designing and delivering large scale digital services.
• Proven experience defining and implementing a clear strategy for digital and data transformation, including the design and delivery of the core infrastructure needed to enable long term success and future proofing. 
• Experience in building and maturing enterprise architecture functions, including appropriate governance, processes and tooling to enable scalable and sustainable design decisions.
• Demonstrated success in recruiting, developing and leading diverse and inclusive multidisciplinary teams of digital and technology professionals.
• Skilled in building trusted relationships and working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior leaders, executive boards and delivery partners across complex organisations.
• Experience in managing large scale supplier relationships and overseeing complex budgets, ensuring value for money and alignment with strategic goals.