Chief Digital Information Officer (interim)

I am currently recruiting for an Interim Chief Digital Information Officer role to work across a shared service, leading on two councils based in the south of the UK reporting directly to the Chief Executive. The role will be to provide strategic and operational digital and technology leadership to two local authorities in support of the councils' objectives and priorities.

You will come in to lead and direct the IT Digital Function, ensuring that professional and technical processes, practices and behaviours are in place to provide a highly performing service and good end user experience across the partnership. You will also work collaboratively with the Director of Digital Innovation to support the operational delivery of technology fundamentals.

Leading two large scale teams with differing requirements, you will have the following attributes for the role:

• Proven ability to create and lead an IT and Digital service to meet customer needs by developing and shaping technology, Digital and Data strategies.
• Able to display exceptional leadership at the highest levels of the organisation and negotiate and agree the expectation for IT and Digital services.
• Ability to work within a public sector environment with political acumen to develop productive and collaborative working relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to develop positive relationships with Directors, Officers, Members and partners at a senior level.
• Ability to lead a geographically dispersed, hybrid working workforce, whilst promoting service unity and a culture of high performing teams.
• A clear, strategic and creative thinker, able to lead, motivate and inspire others.
• Ability to handle conflict and manage sensitive issues to achieve positive outcomes.
• Commercially aware and able to identify opportunities for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of IT and Digital services.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• As a Member of senior management teams, you will support effective corporate leadership and management within the IT and Digital service ensuring effective joint working across the councils.
• To oversee the provision of foundation, operational IT support and infrastructure services.
• To lead the development and delivery of technology and digital strategy and associated capabilities for the councils, including the exploration and adoption of new and emergent technologies such as AI and automation.
• Ensure that strategies and technology architecture are continuously reviewed to support and encourage the long-term innovation and delivery of both Councils' objectives and in accordance with legislative requirements.
• Provide vision, strategic direction and professional leadership to staff in the IT and Digital teams across the councils maintaining industry best practice competencies, processes and practices.
• Manage the IT and Digital staff and budget across the councils in order to deliver best value from the resources available. This will include the multi-skilling of resources and an emphasis on performance management.
• Develop, provide and maintain a cost effective, resilient IT and Digital infrastructure and promotion of efficient and effective use of information and knowledge.
• Work with the services and management teams across the Councils to identify scope and prioritise opportunities to develop existing and new technologies to deliver service redesign and innovation in line with business priorities.
• Ensure that all IT and Digital investment proposals are suitably business-justified and that operational services are regularly benchmarked for efficiency and effectiveness.

If interested in this role and available to start mid-June, please apply today. Must be happy to travel between two locations in the south of the UK when required but with part home based working also.