Job Description

Details

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Reference number

429299
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Salary

81,000 - 100,000
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
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Job grade

SCS Pay Band 1###

Contract type

Permanent###

Business area

Building Digital UK (BDUK###

Type of role

Digital

Senior leadership###

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time###

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Salford, (Darlington & London by exception)

About the job

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Job summary

Building Digital UK (BDUK) is a directorate of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), with the mission to ensure fast and reliable digital connectivity for homes and businesses across the UK. BDUK delivers fixed gigabit-capable broadband networks through Project Gigabit and expands mobile coverage through the Shared Rural Network.


The Chief Digital Information Officer will transform how BDUK uses technology, data, and digital services. This role encompasses internal business transformation, professional oversight of standards across BDUK, and ensuring the stability and continuous improvement of existing BAU services. The Chief Digital Information Officer will oversee digital and technology teams and lead cultural change to establish BDUK as a data-led organisation.


Building Digital UK (BDUK) are seeking an exceptional Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO) to join their work delivering one of the most ambitious national programmes in government - tackling digital exclusion, driving economic growth, and ensuring that people and businesses across the UK benefit from world-class connectivity.


BDUK has developed one of the most advanced data capabilities in government, with over seven trillion mature and accessible data points. As CDIO, you will have the opportunity to harness this capability, shape innovation, deliver large-scale digital change, and play a pivotal role in closing the UK's digital divide. You will provide strategic leadership across core functions including data, cyber security, and service operations, while being a key member of BDUK's senior leadership team. This role requires someone able to influence senior executives within BDUK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and across government, while also engaging with technical teams to drive delivery, build capability, and help shape the use of AI and other emerging technologies.


We are seeking a leader with the credibility and experience to drive complex transformation, influence at the highest levels, and inspire multidisciplinary teams. You will bring a proven track record of leading large-scale digital change, excellent communication and collaboration skills, and the resilience to deliver outcomes at pace.

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Job description

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Key Responsibilities

Define and deliver BDUK's Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) strategy, aligning it with organisational priorities and advising senior leaders on opportunities, risks and investment decisions Lead the design, build and running of digital services and applications that power BDUK's core programmes, and embed user-centred design, accessibility and continuous improvement Build on BDUK's data capabilities, ensuring data is secure, well-governed and high quality, and drive the use of data, automation, AI and machine learning to generate insight and improve decisions Oversee the performance, reliability and security of core systems and platforms, ensuring robust operations, risk management and compliance with government standards Lead and develop a skilled, multidisciplinary DDaT workforce, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement Represent BDUK's DDaT agenda across the organisation and the wider government community, championing excellence and capability building ###

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Broad leadership experience across DDaT functions Proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams through complex organisational change or integration Ability to set strategic direction and translate vision into clear priorities, while empowering experts across diverse technical domains Experience applying data, AI, machine learning and automation to drive innovation and improve outcomes Strong grasp of cyber and information security principles, with the ability to manage risk and ensure resilience at a strategic level Skilled at influencing and collaborating with senior stakeholders across government and beyond.

Desirable Criteria

Experience of overseeing a technical telecoms team.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 81,000, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes 23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours. Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%. A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30. An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue. Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts. A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

For further details or to apply, please contact Eleri Morgan via BDUK-CDIO@global-resourcing.com or on 0208 253 1806, before the closing date of Monday 20th October 2025.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.




As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.###

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.###

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
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Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.###

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.###

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : BDUK-CDIO@global-resourcing.com Email : BDUK-CDIO@global-resourcing.com
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Recruitment team

Email : BDUK-CDIO@global-resourcing.com ###

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance dsitresourcing.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/

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Follow link to apply

BDUK-CDIO@global-resourcing.com