Deputy Director, Digital Strategy - HO - SCS1

Croydon, Manchester or Sheffield. The role may require travel to London/Croydon and possibly other Home Office locations for meetings if/when required.

The Home Office Digital function is at the heart of one of the UK's most critical government departments. We design, build and operate over 640 digital systems that support millions of users across the UK and around the world enabling public safety, national security, and operational excellence.

Our mission is to deliver secure, resilient and user-centred services that transform how the Home Office operates and how the public interacts with government. From identity verification and visa applications to policing systems and counter-terrorism infrastructure, DDaT underpins the services that keep the UK safe and functioning.

At the centre of HO Digital is the Chief Technology Office (CTO). The strategic engine room responsible for architecture, engineering, transformation delivery, and setting the standards for digital, data and technology across the department. The CTO leads technology direction for all our major digital transformation programmes, drives innovation, and builds professional capability across the organisation.

As Deputy Director, you will be a key member of the CTO Senior Management Team. As we look to take our Digital 2030 Strategy forwards you will be the lead on the implementation, shape its future direction, and monitor and communicate our progress towards our aims. Ensuring that digital transformation is embedded across the department and aligned with both operational priorities, policy direction, and cross-government ambitions.

We are seeking an exceptional digital leader to drive the implementation of the Home Office 2030 Digital Strategy and lead the development of its successor post-2030. This is a high-impact, high-visibility role that will shape the future of digital public services and internal operations across one of the UK's most complex and high-profile departments.

You will lead a cross-functional team to embed the strategy's eight strategic shifts ranging from AI and automation to cyber resilience and digital skills across the department. You will also be responsible for developing the next iteration of the strategy, ensuring it reflects emerging technologies, evolving user needs, and cross-government ambitions.

As Deputy Director, you will act as a strategic bridge between DDaT and the wider Home Office. You will work closely with senior business and operational leaders across the department and at the highest levels of government to align digital transformation with core policy and operational priorities. Your leadership will be critical in enabling the digitisation of services across the entire Home Office embedding digital thinking into the heart of how the department designs, delivers, and governs its services.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end implementation of the Home Office 2030 Digital Strategy, ensuring alignment with operational, policy and delivery teams across the department.
• Translate strategic ambitions into measurable outcomes, working closely with product, data, technology and policy leaders.
• Establish and lead a cross-cutting programme of engagement to embed the strategy's eight shifts within the business of the Home Office:
• Monitor delivery progress, risks and benefits, reporting to the Chief DDaT Officer, Executive Committee, and Ministers.
• Lead the development of the replacement strategy from mid-2027, including horizon scanning, stakeholder engagement and alignment with cross-government priorities.
• Represent the Home Office in cross-government forums and with external partners on strategic digital matters.
• Build and lead a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

For the full list of responsibilities, please check the candidate pack attached at the bottom of the advert.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate their knowledge, experience, capability and behavioural approach to a high standard against the following key criteria:

• Proven leadership in shaping and delivering digital, data, and technology strategies across complex organisations with diverse senior stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of HO Digital's role in public service delivery and emerging technologies such as AI, automation, and cloud platforms.
• Extensive experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and delivering transformation at scale.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, operating confidently at senior technology, operational, policy, and Ministerial levels.
• Commitment to user-centred, inclusive, accessible, resilient, and secure digital services.
• Ability to translate strategic vision into actionable plans, supported by analytical and problem-solving expertise, with experience in government or similarly regulated environments.
• Familiarity with and the ability to contribute to wider government strategy around digital, data and technology.
• Familiarity with the Government Digital Service (GDS) standards and frameworks.
• Experience working in or with security, immigration, policing or public safety domains.