Director General for Digital Transformation - Department for Science, Innovation & Technology - SCS3

Location

Bristol, London, Manchester

About the job

Job summary

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is looking for a Director General for Digital Transformation.

This isn't just a leadership role; it's a platform to fundamentally rewire how the UK government serves millions of citizens. We have a clear mandate: public services must be quick, accessible, and simple.

This is for a leader who wants to forge new ways to do things in Government, work with agility, and build coalitions that deliver real change.

Job description

What you will drive:

• The Blueprint for a Modern Digital Government: Lead the development and delivery of the national vision. You will set the standards for coherent, user-centered service design, embedding interoperability and security principles to provide a clear roadmap for departments to modernize at scale.
• Strategic Ministerial Influence: Represent DSIT at the heart of government. You will advise Ministers and central departments on transformation priorities, lead cross-government boards, and influence policy and investment decisions at the highest level.
• Frontier AI Adoption: Launch AI programs targeting £100m+ in productivity gains. You will sponsor exemplar pilots in casework automation and predictive analytics, ensuring successful prototypes are scaled across the public sector.
• The National Data Library: Launch and scale this flagship commitment, unlocking economic value and supporting better public services through secure and ethical data access.
• Funding & Performance Reform: Implement the Digital Performance Framework to track service quality and cost. You will work with HM Treasury to pilot agile investment models, ensuring digital teams can deliver iteratively while maintaining value for money.
• Commercial & Capability Excellence: Oversee the Digital Commercial Centre of Excellence to reset supplier contracts and expand regional digital hubs to build AI confidence across all levels of government leadership.

Person specification

Who we are looking for:

• Proven track record of large-scale digital transformation in complex organisations, with a track record of delivering measurable improvements in service outcomes.
• Deep understanding of agile delivery, service design, AI integration and digital performance management.
• Exceptional judgement and decision-making under uncertainty, with the ability to balance innovation, risk and public value.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience aligning priorities across departments, regulators and delivery bodies.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and building inclusive, high-performing cultures.
• Financial and commercial fluency, with confidence in shaping investment strategies and assurance frameworks.