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- Tasks: Lead digital transformation and create innovative resident experiences in a modern local government.
- Company: Southwark Council, a vibrant and diverse local authority in London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Shape the future of public service delivery and make a real impact on residents' lives.
- Qualifications: Strong digital leadership experience and a passion for community-focused services.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team dedicated to tackling inequalities and enhancing resident experiences.
The predicted salary is between 102000 - 126000 ÂŁ per year.
The Director of Digital & Resident Experience is not a maintenance role. It’s a creation role. Southwark is inviting a senior leader to “write the playbook” for what modern local government can be in a digitally evolved borough. Our role blends enterprise technology leadership with human-centred design, giving you the space, authority and ambition to build a digitally safe, inclusive and future-ready environment for thousands of residents and staff alike.
You’ll operate at the intersection of technology, experience and trust leading a transformation that looks outward to residents and local businesses, not inward to systems. With a refreshed digital strategy, a live transformation agenda and the freedom to innovate, this is a rare opportunity to shape the next era of public service delivery at Southwark Council.
Why This Role Stands Out
- Create, don’t inherit: A genuine greenfield moment with insourcing new technologies, integrated platform development and an impact transformation agenda.
- Human-first digital leadership: Redefine resident journeys, access and inclusion while maintaining a digitally safe environment for thousands of people.
- Freedom to innovate: Lead AI adoption, digital evolution and technology services in a borough that backs bold thinking.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Set the vision for all our resident experiences as a single, joined-up system focused on outcomes, not processes.
- Lead Southwark’s end-to-end digital and technology transformation journey, moving to modern, intelligent and responsive services.
- Create a digitally safe environment, embedding cyber resilience, ethical technology use and strong information governance by design.
- Redesign resident and customer journeys across all channels, ensuring end to end access is simple, inclusive and intuitive for everyone.
- Drive a digital revolution through automation and AI, using technology to remove friction, unlock insights and improve productivity that impacts customer experience.
- Lead the transition to a new, insourced technology environment, maximising opportunity, creativity and organisational capability.
- Support the transition from our current shared infrastructure arrangements to a fully internally led model, ensuring our systems support, not constrain, service excellence.
- Champion digital inclusion and digital skills, ensuring no resident or colleague is left behind as services evolve.
- Refresh and steer a Microsoft led digital strategy annually, keeping pace with AI innovation, user need and organisational priorities.
- Act as Southwark’s most senior digital voice, advising the Chief Executive Office, Corporate Management Team and Cabinet Members with confidence and clarity.
What We’re Looking For
- A strong digital and ICT leadership background with the credibility to lead enterprise-scale technology and experience transformation.
- A proven ability to look outward – designing services around residents, communities and partners rather than organisational boundaries.
- Experience leading complex change programmes that balance ambition with operational stability.
- Deep understanding of cyber security, information governance and building trust in digital environments.
- Practical experience of AI, automation and modern collaboration platforms in live service environments.
- A track record of building inclusive, high-performing teams and inspiring people through change.
- Strategic confidence to shape vision, influence at the top table and turn opportunity into delivery.
- A strong grasp of IT service design, accessibility and inclusion, with a track record of improving customer outcomes.
- Experience using automation, analytics and emerging technology to modernise services and unlock value.
- Confidence operating at executive and political level, shaping strategy and advising on risk and investment.
- A strategic mindset that connects long-term ambition to practical delivery in a public sector context.
- Flexibility to blend home working with on-site collaboration at our vibrant London Bridge HQ.
About Southwark Council
Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.
At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.
Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.
Benefits And More Information
Salary Range: ÂŁ119,553 - ÂŁ150,333 + JNC Benefit of ÂŁ3503
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care or have previously been in care.
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.
Director of Digital and Resident Experience employer: Southwark Council
Contact Detail:
Southwark Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Digital and Resident Experience
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their digital strategy and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as someone who’s genuinely interested in making a difference at Southwark.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've led digital transformations or improved resident experiences in the past. This is your chance to demonstrate that you can create, not just inherit, innovative solutions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and contributing to Southwark’s mission of creating a digitally inclusive environment.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Digital and Resident Experience
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for digital transformation and resident experience shine through. We want to see how your passion aligns with our mission at Southwark Council!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in digital leadership and transformation. We’re looking for someone who can create, not just maintain, so show us how you've done that in the past!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on how your skills and experiences directly relate to the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive your details and can consider you for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Southwark Council
✨Understand the Vision
Before your interview, take time to really grasp Southwark's vision for digital transformation. Familiarise yourself with their current strategies and think about how you can contribute to creating a digitally safe and inclusive environment. This will show your genuine interest and alignment with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership approach, especially in terms of building high-performing teams and driving change. Think of specific examples where you've successfully led complex programmes or initiatives that balance ambition with operational stability. This will demonstrate your capability to lead at an executive level.
✨Emphasise Human-Centred Design
Since this role focuses on resident experiences, be ready to talk about your experience with human-centred design. Share examples of how you've designed services around users rather than organisational boundaries, highlighting your ability to create intuitive and inclusive experiences.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Innovation
Innovation is key in this role, so come prepared with ideas on how to leverage AI and automation to improve services. Think about past projects where you've implemented new technologies and how they positively impacted customer experience. This will showcase your forward-thinking mindset and readiness to drive a digital revolution.
