Director General Chief Digital and Innovation Officer - HO - SCS3

Location

London

About the job

Job summary

The Home Office is seeking an exceptional leader to become their Director General – Chief Digital & Innovation Officer (CDIO), a pivotal Executive Committee role at the heart of government. This is one of the most significant technology and innovation leadership opportunities in the UK public sector, with a mission to transform services that touch millions of lives every single day.

As DG CDIO, you will set the strategic direction for digital, data, science and technology across one of government’s most complex and high-profile departments. With responsibility for a team of around 4,000 and oversight of a budget of approximately £1.8bn, you will be accountable for delivering mission-critical live services, modernising national-scale programmes such as biometrics and digital identity, and driving innovation to strengthen both operational delivery and citizen outcomes.

The Home Office plays a vital role in keeping the UK safe and secure. As CDIO, you will ensure its digital and innovation ecosystem is equipped to meet future challenges, working across government, industry, academia, and international partners. You will build on strong foundations to deliver transformation at pace and scale - embracing cutting-edge technologies while ensuring security, value for money and public trust.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

As Director General – Chief Digital & Innovation Officer, your specific responsibilities will include:

• Strategic Leadership: Lead cross-departmental digital services, harnessing digital technologies and data to transform services for users.
• Live Service Operations: Deliver mission-critical live services at scale.
• Digital, Scientific, Data and Research Innovation: Champion the integration of cutting-edge technologies, data science, and research into operational delivery and policy development.
• Cross-Government Engagement: Represent the Home Office in senior forums, influencing policy and delivery across Whitehall and with international partners.
• Operational Oversight: Provide strategic direction and governance for major programmes such as Home Office Biometrics and Digital First, ensuring delivery excellence and risk management.
• Organisational Development: Build and nurture high-performing, inclusive teams, and develop future leaders across all functions.
• Budgetary Responsibility: Accountable for a combined budget exceeding £1.8bn, ensuring value for money and alignment with spending review commitments.
• Strategic Partnerships: Foster collaboration across government, academia, industry, and international stakeholders to enhance service transformation outcomes.

Person specification

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

• Proven experience operating at Board or Executive Committee level in a large, complex organisation, with a track record of strategic leadership and delivery.
• Demonstrable ability to lead and integrate diverse functions—such as digital, science, research and international engagement—to deliver coherent, high-impact outcomes.
• Strong corporate and political acumen, with experience advising senior stakeholders such as C-Suite executives or Ministers on sensitive, cross-cutting, and high-profile issues.
• Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with a proven ability to build high-performing, inclusive teams and lead through others in complex environments.
• Deep understanding of governance within large organisations, operational delivery, programme management and risk oversight, including experience of leading in high-pressure or crisis situations.
• A strong track record of innovation and transformation, including the use of digital technologies, data and AI to improve services and achieve value for money.
• Outstanding communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across government, with delivery partners, and on the international stage.

*To learn more about the essential and desirable criteria for this role, please refer to the candidate pack located at the bottom of the advert.