Deputy Director – Insights, Data Science, Economics and Analysis - Government Digital Service - SCS1

Location

Bristol, London, Manchester

About the job

Job summary

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government. 

Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government, by: 

1. joining up public sector services
2. harnessing the power of AI for the public good
3. strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
4. elevating leadership and investing in talent
5. funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
6. committing to transparency and driving accountability

We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government. 

We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol. 

The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you’ll be working with some of the world’s most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale. 

Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You'll solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need 

As Deputy Director, you’ll lead the Government Digital Service’s IDEA Unit – a high-performing, cross-disciplinary analytical capability at the heart of government’s digital and data reform agenda. 

You’ll provide strategic leadership for a team of analysts, economists, data scientists and researchers who deliver the insight, evaluation and evidence base behind some of the UK Government’s most ambitious programmes, including One Login, the National Data Library, AI adoption, service transformation and system reform. You’ll also build internal automation and AI solutions that help the organisation deliver. 

Job description

Former DSIT recruitment campaigns are continuing as usual, but candidates should be aware that following the Government’s announcement on the changes to some civil service departments, roles will be subject to the machinery of government moves and will ultimately be in one of the new departments. We will provide more information if you are selected for a role. This work remains of high importance to the civil service, and we thank you for your continued interest.

This is a system leadership role. You’ll champion the use of data and evidence across GDS and government, making sure decision-makers have the insight and confidence to invest in transformative programmes that deliver better services and outcomes for citizens. 

As Deputy Director,  you’ll: 

• provide collective leadership as part of GDS’s Senior Leadership Team, shaping strategy and direction and making sure IDEA’s work supports organisational priorities and government reform goals
• lead and inspire the IDEA Unit, creating an inclusive, high-performing culture across a multidisciplinary team of economists, analysts, researchers and data scientists
• set the strategic vision for analysis and evidence in GDS, making sure outputs are high quality, timely and influential with senior decision-makers across Whitehall
• oversee economic analysis and evaluation of major programmes, including One Login, the National Data Library and AI adoption, ensuring value for money, reduced risk and strong funding cases
• champion data science, automation and AI solutions that drive efficiency, productivity and innovation across GDS operations and government services
• ensure robust data infrastructure and governance, including pipelines, dashboards and performance frameworks that underpin strategic decision-making
• act as Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for major analytical programmes, such as the Digital Dashboard, the Data and Analytics Strategy or cross-government workforce insights
• represent and connect the system, building partnerships with senior leaders in government, academia and industry and shaping thought leadership in digital, data and AI
• develop talent and capability, building a sustainable pipeline of analytical leaders and embedding professional standards across the 4 analytical professions

Person specification

We’re interested in people who: 

• have proven system leadership across multiple analytical disciplines, overseeing and enabling work spanning economics, data analytics and AI or data engineering, and making sure each discipline is used to maximum effect in large, complex programmes
• bring strategic vision and thought leadership, with the ability to set direction, champion innovation and act as an authoritative voice on the role of data, economics and AI in transforming government services and delivery
• are inspiring people leaders, with a track record of leading diverse, high-performing teams across disciplines, creating inclusive and collaborative cultures and investing in professional development and future talent pipelines
• have delivered impactful analytical programmes at scale, leading analysis, modelling or evaluation that has informed senior decision-making, funding and strategy in a complex policy or operational delivery context
• communicate and influence with impact, explaining complex analytical and technical insights to Ministers, senior officials and non-technical audiences, shaping debate and securing buy-in at the highest levels
• have credibility in at least one analytical profession, or equivalent applied experience, with the confidence and authority to lead, inspire and challenge across other disciplines such as economics, data science and AI engineering