Senior Director - Global Impact

Salary: £127,000 - £142,000 (depending on experience)

Location: United Kingdom (Hybrid)

Job Type: Permanent

Working pattern: Full time

We’re open to exploring other working patterns on a case-by-case basis, where possible and in line with business needs.

Closing date: 23/03/2026 (09:00am) – We encourage early applications as we reserve the right, if required, to close this role ahead of the date advertised.

Please note the following dates for in-person interviews: 22/04/2026 and 23/04/2026

Who we are

Public Digital is a digital transformation consultancy helping global institutions thrive in the internet era. We work with governments, international organisations and mission-driven institutions to help them adopt the ways of working needed to design, build and run excellent digital services. Our teams combine expertise in strategy, service design, technology, delivery and organisational transformation. We operate globally, advising governments and institutions on six continents. Our work ranges from improving critical public services to helping countries build digital public infrastructure and shaping how emerging technologies such as AI are used responsibly for public impact. We are a values-driven organisation. Attitude matters as much as skill, and we look for people who bring curiosity, kindness, initiative and a willingness to contribute to a collaborative and supportive culture. Transformation is ultimately about people, and we believe lasting change comes from building great teams and empowering them to succeed.

About the Global Impact sector

Our Global Impact team works with major global institutions including philanthropic foundations, multilateral development banks, international organisations and governments. Together we tackle complex challenges such as:

• improving the digital maturity of governments and public institutions
• designing and scaling digital public infrastructure
• strengthening local digital capability
• advising global funders on how digital investment can create sustainable public impact

This work takes place across diverse contexts, from advanced digital governments to emerging economies undergoing rapid digital transformation.

About the role

As Senior Director, Global Impact, you will play a leading role in delivering and growing Public Digital’s work with global institutions. This is a senior delivery leadership role. You will lead complex transformation engagements, oversee multidisciplinary teams and build trusted relationships with senior client leaders across governments, foundations and international organisations. You will help shape the direction of major programmes, guide organisations through complex digital transformation challenges and ensure our work delivers meaningful and sustainable impact. Alongside delivery, you will contribute to the growth of the Global Impact sector by developing new opportunities with existing clients, shaping new service offerings and supporting proposal development. You will work closely with the Head of Sector for Global Impact and play a key role in sector leadership, helping guide the development of our work globally.

How you’ll make an impact

As Senior Director, Global Impact at Public Digital you’ll:

• Lead complex global engagements - Provide strategic leadership for major client engagements, guiding organisations through complex digital transformation challenges across diverse global contexts.
• Build trusted client relationships - Develop strong relationships with senior leaders across governments, philanthropic foundations, multilateral organisations and international institutions.
• Lead high-performing teams - Support and mentor multidisciplinary teams of designers, technologists, policy specialists and transformation practitioners delivering complex global work.
• Ensure delivery excellence - Maintain strong portfolio health across engagements, ensuring delivery quality, commercial sustainability and positive client outcomes.
• Shape new opportunities - Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and contribute to the development of new proposals and partnerships.
• Develop Public Digital’s service offering - Help evolve our capabilities in emerging areas such as digital public infrastructure, AI for public impact and digital sovereignty.
• Support organisational growth - Contribute to the development of Public Digital’s people, culture and global reputation as a trusted partner for digital transformation.

What we’re looking for

• Senior leadership experience - You have operated at a senior level within consulting, advisory or transformation environments and are comfortable working with senior leaders in complex institutions.
• Global transformation experience - You have experience supporting digital transformation in governments, international organisations or large institutions, ideally across multiple countries or regions.
• Complex delivery leadership - You are experienced in leading multidisciplinary teams delivering complex programmes in challenging and fast-paced environments.
• Commercial awareness - You are comfortable contributing to proposals, shaping programmes of work and navigating contracts, pricing and delivery models.
• Strong relationship builder - You can build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and work effectively across diverse cultural and organisational contexts.
• Influential communicator - You are able to communicate complex ideas clearly and confidently with a wide range of audiences.
• Team leadership and mentoring - You enjoy developing others and helping teams grow and succeed.
• Commitment to inclusive teams - You are committed to creating open, collaborative and inclusive working environments where people can do their best work.

Expertise we are particularly interested in

We are especially interested in candidates who bring deep expertise in areas that are increasingly important to our global clients, including:

• Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, particularly the responsible and practical application of AI in complex public systems
• Quantitative and economic analysis, including financial modelling, economic evaluation or data-driven approaches to policy and investment decisions

How you will be assessed:

We want to understand your background, experiences, perspective, and what motivates you to work with us. We start with an initial sift of all applications, assessed against the What we’re looking for criteria in the advert. If you’re shortlisted, the selection process will include:

• A short phone interview (up to 30 minutes) with members of our hiring team.
• An in person panel interview (22/4/2026 and 23/4/2026), which includes a case study exercise. You’ll receive the case study in advance, along with full details about the format.
• An informal peer chat, giving you the chance to speak with someone in a similar role at Public Digital.

Each stage is designed to be a two-way conversation, giving you the chance to get to know us too.

Please note that we have seen an increase in candidates using AI to complete their answers; we use tools designed to detect AI generated answers and will reject candidates if we suspect they have used this technology.

Why you should apply

• Opportunity to grow and progress rapidly within an engaged, supportive environment.
• Be entrepreneurial and contribute to the growth and success of Public Digital.
• Deliver high-impact work with leading institutions around the world.
• Emphasis on learning, development, and progression.
• Build and develop your expertise and profile through publishing blog posts, presenting at events, and sharing knowledge.
• Empowerment to do your best work.
• Home and remote working, with flexibility in how you deliver work.
• Buddy system and prioritised mental health.
• Generous holiday allowance of 30 days, plus an additional office closure over the Christmas period.
• Private healthcare cover.
• Flexible benefits allowance.
• Be a part of our amazing work culture.

We are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone can be their best. Public Digital's mission is to help institutions thrive in the internet era - to do that well, we aim to hire and empower people who reflect the diversity of the users, communities and organisations we work with. We actively encourage applications from under-represented and minoritised groups, including those with lived experience of the challenges we’re working to address. We’re keen to hear from curious, collaborative and thoughtful people regardless of gender, age, ethnic identity, religion, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, neurodiversity or physical disability.

If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement in the job description, please apply anyway, you may just be the right candidate for this or other roles in our wider team.

Things you need to know

Salary: We’ll offer a salary that reflects your experience and the skills you show throughout the process. We aim to be as competitive as possible based on what you bring to the role.

Flexible working: We support flexible working, and you can split your time between home and our London office. Most of the team comes in around once a week to collaborate, but there’s no set requirement to be in regularly. However, as this is a client-facing role, there may be times when you’ll need to travel to a client’s office or attend in-person meetings, depending on the needs of the project. While we offer flexibility where we can, we also appreciate the same in return when it comes to meeting client expectations.

Right to work: You’ll need to already have the right to work in the UK when you start. We’re not able to sponsor visas for this role.

Reserve list: If the current live roles are filled but we consider you right for PD, you will be offered the chance to join our reserve list. This means we can get back in touch if a similar opportunity comes up within that time, and you won’t need to reapply.

Closing date: We encourage you to apply early, as we review applications on a rolling basis. Due to the high volume of applications we’ve been receiving, we may close the role before the advertised deadline and won’t be able to accept applications once it’s closed. We aim to give at least 24 hours’ notice of early closure by updating the job advert where possible. Reviewing applications as they come in also helps us get back to candidates sooner, so you’re not left waiting.