Director General (Digital and Infrastructure) - Department for Education - SCS3

Location: Bristol, Cambridge, Coventry, Darlington, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Department for Education (DfE) in a senior leadership role, driving a step-change in how digital, AI, data and infrastructure are used across the education and care sectors.

You’ll lead transformation that reaches millions, embedding digital and data into how services are designed, delivered and improved. From classrooms to care services, your work will directly influence outcomes for children and learners across the UK.

About the role

As Director General for Digital and Infrastructure, you’ll lead a major, multidisciplinary group bringing together digital, technology, data and analysis functions across the Department. This is a high-profile role where you’ll shape strategy, influence policy and deliver large-scale transformation across a complex national system.

You’ll be responsible for ensuring digital, AI and data are at the heart of every major priority, not as a separate function, but as a core driver of outcomes. Alongside this, you’ll lead the education estates function, helping transform how infrastructure is planned, funded and delivered using data-driven approaches.

This is a role that operates at pace and scale, requiring strong leadership, strategic thinking and the ability to make high-stakes decisions that impact services nationwide.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead a transformational digital, AI and data strategy across education and care sectors
• Embed digital and data into every major departmental priority and programme
• Oversee a large DDaT function delivering user-centred, agile digital services
• Strengthen cyber resilience and security across systems and the wider sector
• Drive strategic data transformation, including building a powerful, connected data spine
• Enable better insight, services and decision-making through improved data use
• Lead delivery of major education infrastructure and capital programmes
• Transform how education estates are managed using data-driven approaches
• Work with senior stakeholders across government, education and industry
• Make high-impact decisions balancing risk, safety and delivery at scale

What we’re looking for

Strong experience in:

• Leading large-scale digital, data and AI functions
• Delivering transformation programmes across complex organisations or systems
• Setting strategy that drives measurable improvements in outcomes

Experience of:

• Embedding digital and data into core organisational strategy and policy
• Influencing at the most senior levels across government or large organisations
• Leading high-performing teams through change at scale

You’ll also bring:

• Strong leadership and the ability to inspire and motivate large teams
• Excellent judgement in managing risk, complexity and competing priorities
• A strategic mindset with the ability to operate at pace

Interested?
This partner post gives you a quick overview

Click through to the full Civil Service Jobs advert to find out more and apply.