Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO)

About us

At Wiltshire Police, we are dedicated to making our community a safer place for everyone. Our team is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and service. We believe in creating a supportive and inclusive environment where every member can thrive and make a meaningful impact. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to advance, Wiltshire Police offers a range of opportunities to grow and develop. Join us, and be part of a team that values courage, compassion, and dedication to public service.

Senior Leadership Team | Digital, Data and Technology

We are seeking an exceptional Chief Digital & Information Officer (CDIO) to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead the strategic transformation of our Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) function. This is a pivotal executive leadership role. You will be responsible for inspiring the team and ensuring Wiltshire Police are supported by modern, resilient and secure technology, and that digital, data and information are fully embedded as core enablers of effective policing and public service delivery. Reporting to the Chief of Corporate Services, you will be a visible, credible and an influential leader—creating a supportive, professional environment with clear direction, assurance and a progressive culture of ongoing development.

Policing is operating in an increasingly complex, digital and data rich environment. Demand continues to rise, crime is increasingly technology enabled, and national reform is placing greater emphasis on consistency, interoperability, ethical use of data and value for money.

As CDIO, you will lead the Force’s response to these challenges—shaping and delivering a DDaT strategy that enables operational effectiveness today, while building the foundations required for future national and regional models of policing.

What you will be doing

• Provide strategic DDaT leadership
• Set and deliver a clear Digital, Data and Technology strategy aligned to organisational priorities and national direction.
• Ensure the Police Digital Strategy 2030 is delivered.
• Translate strategic ambitions into a modern Target Operating Model with measurable outcomes, benefits and performance indicators.
• Act as a trusted adviser to key stakeholders providing assurance on digital performance, risk, compliance and innovation.
• Lead modern, resilient and secure services
• Provide executive accountability for the availability, resilience and security of all technology and digital services supporting policing operations.
• Strengthen cyber security, information assurance and operational resilience, ensuring proportionate and effective risk management.
• Ensure technology and data architecture supports reuse, interoperability and scalability.
• Enable effective use of data, automation and AI
• Improve how data is governed, shared and exploited to support decision making and operational insight.
• Lead the ethical and responsible adoption of AI and automation to reduce administrative burden, improve productivity and enhance service delivery.
• Ensure and continually develop strong governance, assurance and benefits realisation for emerging technologies.
• Deliver value for money and strong commercial control
• Direct a balanced portfolio of “run” and “change” activity, prioritising investment where it delivers the greatest operational and organisational benefit.
• Ensure effective supplier, contract and commercial management, with clear accountability for performance and outcomes.
• Develop credible multi‑year investment plans and business cases.
• Build capability and culture
• Lead and develop a high performing, inclusive DDaT function with clear accountabilities and modern ways of working.
• Strengthen professional capability across digital, data, cyber, service management and delivery disciplines.
• Promote a digital mindset from the top down, building confidence, adoption and engagement across the organisation.
• Represent the Force externally
• Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with partners and stakeholders at local, regional and national levels.
• Represent the organisation on relevant boards, programmes and governance forums.

Essential criteria

• Significant senior leadership experience in digital, data and technology within a large, complex or operationally critical organisation.
• A strong track record of delivering large scale digital or organisational transformation, including modernising legacy environments and reducing technical debt.
• Executive level experience of cyber security, information risk management and operational resilience.
• Proven ability to inspire, lead, motivate and develop large, multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including portfolio prioritisation, investment planning and supplier management.
• Practical expertise across modern digital and data domains, including cloud, enterprise architecture, data governance, analytics and automation.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to influence at board and executive level.

Qualifications and professional credibility

• Proven leadership of high-performing DDaT functions.
• Track record of developing capability and fostering continuous improvement.
• Experience delivering high-quality digital, data and technology services.
• Extensive experience in digital and organisational transformation.
• Experience operating user-centred, product-led and data-driven models.
• Evidence of effective partnership working.
• Extensive expertise across Cloud, Data, AI, Cyber Security, digital service design and enterprise architecture.
• Transformational leadership mindset.
• Ability to challenge existing practices and drive excellence.
• Ability to enable organisational and cultural change.
• Highly effective stakeholder engagement skills.
• Able to build strong, trusted relationships at local, regional and national levels.
• Able to drive individual and team collaboration, service excellence and innovation.
• Exceptional strategic capability with proven ability to shape and contribute to organisation wide strategy.
• Ability to translate innovation into practical and ethical use cases.
• Ability to manage budgets, contracts, suppliers and risk.
• Ability to influence Executive and Board-level decision-making.
• Ability to build, inspire and sustain diverse, high performing teams.
• Relevant professional qualifications or accreditations (e.g. ITIL, ISO27001, PRINCE2/MSP, Agile, data/privacy) are desirable but not essential.

Please submit a covering letter (maximum two pages) with your application, which explains how you meet the essential criteria and describing a significant digital or technology enabled change you have led, including the outcomes achieved.

What we offer

• Excellent career development opportunities
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 30 days
• Hybrid working
• Flexi hours scheme
• Free On-Site Gym membership
• Physical and mental well-being support
• Generous Pension scheme

Please note, all roles will be subject to a vetting procedure, some roles due to the nature of their work, will require additional security clearance. Depending on the number of applications received, we reserve the right to close this role early.

We are proud of being a truly inclusive organisation who provides fair and equal consideration to all of our applicants. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, disabilities, sexual orientation, religions or beliefs and of neuro divergence.