At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead digital transformation and modernise services for a sustainable council.
- Company: Dorset Council, committed to innovation and community improvement.
- Benefits: Generous relocation package, competitive salary, and commitment to diversity.
- Other info: Join a supportive team dedicated to creating a fairer, more prosperous Dorset.
- Why this job: Shape the future of public services and make a real impact in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in digital strategy, data governance, and agile delivery.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 90000 € per year.
Dorset is a place that rewards the curious and frustrates anyone who thinks running a modern council is simple. We’re working hard to become a genuinely modern, sustainable unitary council, one where technology, data and customer experience aren’t afterthoughts, but the infrastructure that holds everything together. This role is how we get there.
About The Role
You’ll be joining the Senior Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive. Your directorate includes approximately 550 colleagues across Customer Experience, Technology, Digital and Data, Libraries, Revenues and Benefits, and the Transformation Management Office. The portfolio is broad and the work is real – this isn’t a strategy role that floats above delivery. You’ll be accountable for both.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Setting and delivering a modern, resilient digital strategy built around outcomes for residents
- Leading major transformation programmes with proper governance, honest benefits tracking and clear accountability
- Acting as the council's senior accountable officer for cyber security and information governance
- Championing user-centered design and ensuring our services work for everyone, not just the easy-to-reach
- Building digital confidence and practical capability across the workforce – including frontline teams who might not naturally identify as digital
- Representing Dorset at regional and national level in conversations about what modern public services should look like
- Overseeing significant technology and transformation budgets with real financial discipline
About You
You’ve done this before, or something close enough that you know where the hard bits are. You understand that technology is an enabler, not the point – and you know how to bring people with you when the change feels uncomfortable.
You’ll Also Bring
- A track record of shaping and delivering digital strategy at scale, across multiple service areas
- Expertise in data governance, interoperability and joined-up intelligence across partner organisations
- Hands-on experience embedding agile delivery, product management and service design in practice – not just on slides
- The political awareness to advise elected members and a Chief Executive with confidence and honesty
- A genuine interest in improving outcomes for communities, not just modernising systems for their own sake
Why this role, why now
Dorset Council has a clear direction – to become a modern, sustainable unitary council – and the investment and leadership commitment to back it. This role sits at the heart of that. You won’t be implementing someone else’s plan; you’ll be shaping what good looks like.
Further Information
If you’d like an informal conversation with the Chief Executive, Catherine Howe, please contact Jennifer Prince, Senior Executive Assistant, and we’ll get that arranged.
Benefits
We offer a generous relocation package of up to £8,000 (HMRC eligible elements) free of tax, including an initial advance of up to £2,500 on your start date, help towards buying or selling costs (up to £6,500), and support towards rent or mortgage costs in your first two years.
About Us
Dorset is a place of genuine beauty and strong communities. Our vision is straightforward: working together to create a fairer, more prosperous and more sustainable Dorset for people now and in the future. We’re looking for leaders who share that ambition and have the capability to turn it into something real. We’re actively working to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation, and we know that bringing in people with different perspectives and backgrounds makes us better. We welcome applications from everyone. We’re a Disability Confident Employer. We offer an interview to everyone who declares a disability and meets the essential criteria for the role, and we’re committed to making our interviews accessible. Let us know on your application if you need any reasonable adjustments.
Executive Director - Modernisation & Customer Delivery in Dorchester employer: Local Government Chronicle
Dorset Council is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and inclusivity, offering a unique opportunity to lead transformative digital strategies in a beautiful and vibrant community. With a commitment to employee growth, a generous relocation package, and a culture that values diverse perspectives, you will be at the forefront of shaping modern public services while making a tangible impact on residents' lives. Join us in our mission to create a fairer, more sustainable Dorset, where your expertise will be valued and your contributions will drive meaningful change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Director - Modernisation & Customer Delivery in Dorchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those already working at Dorset Council. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding the council's vision and values. Show us how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around modernisation and customer delivery.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills. We want to hear about your past successes in digital strategy and transformation. Make it relatable and relevant to the role!
✨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 are genuinely interested in joining us.
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Director - Modernisation & Customer Delivery in Dorchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Modernisation:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for modernising public services shine through. We want to see how you can contribute to our vision of a sustainable and tech-savvy council, so don’t hold back on sharing your ideas!
Be Specific About Your Experience:We’re looking for someone who’s been in the trenches before. Make sure to highlight your hands-on experience with digital strategy and transformation programmes. Use examples that demonstrate your ability to lead and deliver real change.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of this role. Show us how your skills align with what we’re looking for, especially in areas like data governance and user-centered design.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Dorset Council!
How to prepare for a job interview at Local Government Chronicle
✨Know Your Digital Strategy
Make sure you have a solid understanding of what a modern digital strategy looks like. Be ready to discuss how you've shaped and delivered similar strategies in the past, focusing on outcomes for residents. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory but have practical experience.
✨Showcase Your Transformation Experience
Prepare examples of major transformation programmes you've led, highlighting your approach to governance, benefits tracking, and accountability. This role is all about delivery, so demonstrating your hands-on experience will be crucial.
✨Emphasise User-Centred Design
Be prepared to talk about how you champion user-centred design in your previous roles. Share specific instances where you ensured services were accessible to everyone, not just the easy-to-reach. This aligns perfectly with the council's goals.
✨Demonstrate Financial Discipline
Since you'll be overseeing significant technology and transformation budgets, come equipped with examples of how you've managed budgets effectively in the past. Highlight your financial discipline and how it contributed to successful project outcomes.
