Assistant Director of Business Applications in London

Modernise the digital platforms that power our borough and lead a unified team to deliver reliable, resident-focused technology. As our Assistant Director of Business Applications and Platforms, you'll lead the digital modernisation of our core systems. It's a role with genuine, council-wide impact - a chance to bring together previously dispersed teams, simplify our application estate and ensure the software supporting our services is secure, modern and reliable.

Your focus will be on providing visible, strategic leadership to modernise our Platforms and Applications function, uniting our technical teams into a single, cohesive service. By setting clear standards, establishing strong application lifecycle management and championing a product-led approach, you'll transform how we deliver and maintain software solutions.

A typical day will involve reviewing the performance, security and risk posture of our core applications, before moving on to unblock delivery hurdles or resolve supplier issues. Collaborating closely with senior stakeholders, service leads and ICT colleagues, you'll shape priorities, rationalise legacy systems to reduce duplication and oversee migrations to modern, cloud-based platform- and software-as-a-service solutions.

Crucially, you will deputise for the Chief Information Officer when required - providing clear, trusted advice to executive directors and members - and participate in our emergency leadership response rota.

You'll bring a relevant professional qualification or equivalent substantial experience in enterprise architecture, ICT governance, service management or cyber security, such as ITIL or TOGAF. With a proven track record of establishing and leading application-management or product-focused teams, you know how to guide and inspire multidisciplinary specialists, including developers, business analysts and product managers.

You have direct experience modernising legacy systems and delivering cloud-based platform- and software-as-a-service solutions, coupled with a deep understanding of digital, data and technology risk. Your strong financial management skills mean you are comfortable managing budgets and driving maximum value from our supply chain.

Most importantly, your experience of working in, or closely with, local government will be matched by a genuine commitment to equality, diversity and public service values.

At RBKC, we're all in - investing in our people, our communities and our future. We are committed to your professional development and offer continuous learning opportunities to help you succeed in this senior post. Alongside a competitive salary, we provide a collaborative and forward-thinking environment where your strategic vision is valued, your wellbeing is supported and your contribution directly helps us build a stronger, more resilient borough.

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.

As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. Building a brand-new applications function from scratch means getting stuck in to establish clear standards, unify teams and navigate mixed staff abilities. It won't always be smooth sailing, but every ounce of effort you put into rationalising our systems and modernising our platforms directly protects and supports our community, turning complex challenges into rewarding opportunities for growth.

Working Style: You'll be based in the borough for three days a week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you're advising senior leaders, guiding your teams or collaborating with service leads, you'll be part of a dedicated team working to provide high-quality, reliable services for everyone in our borough.

Please apply online, explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description. We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible. However, a higher starting salary may be negotiated where a candidate demonstrates exceptional skills, knowledge, or experience.