At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategy and policy for GOV.UK, shaping digital services for millions.
- Company: Join the Government Digital Service, a hub for innovation in public sector technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborate with top digital professionals and drive change on a national scale.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on how the UK government serves its citizens digitally.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategy leadership and team management in complex environments.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government. Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government by:
- joining up public sector services
- harnessing the power of AI for the public good
- strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
- elevating leadership and investing in talent
- funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
- committing to transparency and driving accountability
We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government. We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol.
The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you’ll be working with some of the world’s most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale. Within GDS, the Digital Products Group is responsible for running and evolving some of the UK government’s most critical digital products and platforms. This includes GOV.UK, the trusted source of authoritative government services and information. GOV.UK supports millions of individuals and businesses each week to find information and complete tasks that are essential to live, work and do business in the UK. The GOV.UK website supports an average of 88m visits per month, making it one of the most used digital services in the UK. But GOV.UK is now much more than a web platform, reaching users through an increasing variety of channels including GOV.UK Social, GOV.UK App and GOV.UK Chat. Together these form a core part of the UK’s digital public infrastructure.
The Head of Strategy and Policy will play a leading role both within the GOV.UK directorate - a team of approaching 300 people, which delivers the GOV.UK Website, Social, Content, Publishing, Insights and Analytics. It will also work across Digital Products Group, leading our channel strategy and Proposition across the GOV.UK product suite. They will lead a multidisciplinary team of c.13 people, comprising strategy, policy, service design, research and evaluation.
As the Head of Strategy and Policy, GOV.UK, you will be responsible for:
- working with the Senior Leadership Team to determine strategy for the GOV.UK directorate, as well as the multichannel strategy across the GOV.UK product suite
- working with the Heads of Product and Delivery to communicate and align the strategy with stakeholders, developing a compelling narrative and supporting materials, inspiring and motivate others to embrace and execute the strategy
- working with the Head of Programme to translate the strategy into business cases and secure funding for GOV.UK
Evaluation
- working with analysis colleagues, shape the development of the directorate's benefits model and evaluation strategy
- working with analysis colleagues, monitor and measure the progress and performance of the strategy via key metrics and recommend adjustments as needed
Policy
- leading the transformation of the GOV.UK Proposition - the policy for what must and must not go on GOV.UK - expanding from its current website focus to cover the full range of GOV.UK's channels and capabilities. This includes defining, agreeing, communicating and embedding the updated Proposition across government.
- leading the assurance and monitoring of exemption requests from other public sector bodies for the creation of new digital websites and channels
- overseeing all official correspondence and day to day policy work for the directorate, including parliamentary business and FOIs
Business relationship engagement
- managing and driving strategic engagement with priority stakeholders to ensure the directorate understands stakeholder needs and to enable delivery against the strategy in partnership with other government departments and external parties
Leadership
- leading a multidisciplinary team of user-centred design, policy, strategy, evaluation and engagement professionals, developing and supporting staff to be the best they can be and to achieve objectives
- acting as a valued and integral member of the GOV.UK Leadership team
- responsible for management of the GOV.UK directorate
- deputising for the Deputy Director for Strategy, Insights and Programme as required
- taking part in the out-of-hours on-call escalations rota for GOV.UK
Person specification
We’re interested in people who:
- have proven experience of setting and leading strategy in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment, with the ability to translate long-term vision into clear priorities and deliverable plans for large-scale digital public services
- have strong strategic judgement, including the ability to weigh evidence, manage risk, and advise senior leaders on trade-offs in politically and operationally sensitive contexts
- can demonstrate ability to build constructive relationships and exert influence across organisational and departmental boundaries, including with DSIT, GDS, policy teams, delivery organisations and external partners
- have credibility in engaging senior civil servants and teams, presenting complex issues clearly and persuasively to support collective decision-making
- have experience of leading, motivating and developing multidisciplinary teams, creating clarity of purpose and a strong culture of collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement
- have ability to set direction while empowering others, supporting professional development across policy, strategy, data and digital disciplines
- can demonstrate analytical rigour, pulling together strong evidence and testing assumptions with users, delivery partners and stakeholders
- are able to operate in an ambiguous and changing environment, identifying what's important and continuing to drive delivery
- are able to lead without authority, influencing and motivating peers and stakeholders to deliver outcomes and align plans
- have experience of shaping or implementing cross-government strategies or operating models
Head of Strategy and Policy, GOV.UK in England employer: Government Digital Service
The Government Digital Service (GDS) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration among over 1,000 talented professionals across the UK. As part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, employees benefit from opportunities for professional growth, engagement in meaningful projects that impact millions, and a commitment to transparency and accountability. With hubs in vibrant cities like London, Manchester, and Bristol, GDS provides a unique environment where your contributions can lead to significant advancements in digital public services.
Contact Details:
Government Digital Service Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Strategy and Policy, GOV.UK in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field on LinkedIn or at industry events. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Know their recent projects and how they align with your skills. This shows you're genuinely interested!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Head of Strategy and Policy. Keep it concise and impactful.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Strategy and Policy, GOV.UK in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Head of Strategy and Policy role. Highlight your experience in leading strategy in complex environments and how it aligns with GDS's mission.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We want to see how you've led multidisciplinary teams before. Share examples that demonstrate your ability to motivate and develop others, as well as how you’ve created a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language to present your ideas and experiences. Remember, you’re communicating with senior leaders, so make your points impactful and easy to understand.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at GDS!
How to prepare for a job interview at Government Digital Service
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the GOV.UK strategy and policy landscape. Familiarise yourself with their current initiatives, especially around digital services and AI. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading multidisciplinary teams. Be ready to discuss how you've motivated others and fostered collaboration in complex environments. They’ll want to see that you can inspire a team to execute a clear strategy.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think of specific instances where you’ve successfully engaged with senior stakeholders. Be prepared to discuss how you built relationships and influenced decisions across different departments. This is crucial for the role, so have those stories ready!
✨Demonstrate Analytical Thinking
Be ready to talk about how you’ve used data to inform strategy and decision-making. They’ll be looking for your ability to pull together evidence and test assumptions, so think of examples where your analytical skills made a difference.
