Director – Building Digital UK

Frequent travel to London would be required if based in one of the other locations

Working Pattern

Full Time, Flexible Working, Job Share

Job Summary

As CEO (SCS2) for Building Digital UK, you will be responsible for delivering two of the Government’s major infrastructure programmes: Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network (SRN). These programmes are central to the UK’s ambitions to kickstart economic growth, reduce the digital divide, and ensure that new and existing technologies are safely developed and deployed across the country, with benefits shared widely. BDUK’s work is highly visible, with significant political interest and impact on national policy.

You will also lead BDUK as it completes its transition from an Executive Agency, to a Directorate within DSIT. Reporting to the Digital Foundations Director General, you will line manage Deputy Directors and play a key part in DSIT’s senior leadership team.

Job Description

Responsibilities

• Lead BDUK’s digital infrastructure responsibilities as an operational delivery directorate within DSIT, working closely with the BDUK chair and Advisory Board.
• Provide strong people leadership to BDUK staff, fostering effective communication, engagement, productivity, and collaborative working relationships.
• Ensure the successful delivery of the £5bn Project Gigabit Programme and £1bn Shared Rural Network programmes - ensuring they meet their targets of 99% gigabit‑capable broadband coverage by 2032, and 95% 4G coverage by 2027, as well as overseeing the closure of legacy programmes.
• Work with DSIT corporate teams to ensure the smooth running of BDUK corporate functions following BDUK’s integration into the department.
• Oversee business case development, programme planning, governance, risk management, supplier and contract management, benefits realisation, and evaluation.
• Lead the executive team to support BDUK and DSIT’s corporate objectives, securing resources and an effective operating model.
• Manage senior supplier and partner relationships, acting as a point of escalation as needed.
• Ensure effective stakeholder engagement across government, industry, trade bodies, parliament, and the wider public interest.

Key challenges for the role

• Providing strong leadership of over 200 staff. Navigating the integration of BDUK into DSIT, ensuring continuity of delivery and effective change management whilst knitting the team into a new organisation. Playing a wider leadership role as part of the senior leadership of the Digital Foundations Group.
• Delivering on ambitious targets for Project Gigabit (99% UK premises with gigabit‑capable connectivity by 2032) and the Shared Rural Network (95% geographic 4G coverage), both of which have already achieved significant milestones ahead of schedule.
• Managing complex delivery risks, including supplier capacity, operational challenges, and financial pressures, especially in the context of macroeconomic uncertainty and evolving funding settlements.
• Responding to political and reputational risks associated with high‑profile, high‑value programmes.
• Maintaining strong relationships with industry partners, HMG and parliamentary stakeholders, and local communities, particularly in the face of delivery challenges and evolving programme requirements.

Person Specification

• Experience of delivering major infrastructure programmes and of complex project delivery at large‑scale.
• Excellent leadership experience and skills, with a track record of leading high performing, diverse teams.
• An ability to quickly gain and maintain credibility with a wide range of stakeholders, including with Ministers and parliamentarians, or senior stakeholders in industry and across large organisations.
• Proven evidence‑based strategic and analytical skills, with experience of formulating, leading and implementing programmes, including when under pressure, and a proven understanding of delivering value for money when managing budgets.
• Highly‑developed communication skills, with the ability to brief on complex and often sensitive issues, presenting in a clear and concise manner and identifying key messages.
• Experience of operationalising policy and working with senior policy makers.
• To either hold or be willing to obtain MPLA qualification.
• Experience in the telecoms and/or infrastructure sectors.