Job Description

Details

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Reference number

430087
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Salary

76,184 - 78,879
A Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) up to 10,000 may also be offered on top of the basic salary. It is awarded based on specialist skills, knowledge and experience related to the role.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
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Job grade

Grade 6
C1###

Contract type

Permanent###

Business area

UKHO - Technology###

Type of role

Architecture and Data

Digital

Information Technology###

Working pattern

Full-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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Taunton

About the job

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Job summary

This is a critical role within the Senior Technology Leadership team, reporting to the Chief Digital and Technology Officer.



The technology division comprises approximately 250 colleagues (of which, approximately 70 are contingent contractors) and works with several strategic third party suppliers to deliver the strategic objectives for the division and wider organisation.



The technology estate is complex, and the organisation is undergoing considerable transformation. The technology division is pivotal to these changes.


The primary responsibility of the Head of IT Corporate Operations is to lead and manage the delivery of high-quality, reliable, and secure IT services across the UKHO (approximately 1,000 employees working on a predominately hybrid basis).



The Head of IT Corporate Operations is responsible for ensuring operational excellence and readiness, continuous improvement, and alignment with strategic business objectives.



The role is accountable for designing and delivering first-in-class service and requires engagement with senior colleagues, the Executive Leadership team within the UKHO, as well as senior stakeholders across MoD.



The role is responsible for overseeing service desk operations, corporate IT provision including first and second line support, incident and problem management, change control, service performance monitoring, contract management and business relationship management.



As part of the Technology Senior Leadership team this role will provide overarching leadership and be a role model for technology managers and specialists to create a high-performing, customer-centric division with continuous improvement and service at the heart of the culture.



As a senior leader within the UKHO, the post holder will also actively contribute and participate as a member of the wider UKHO Senior Leadership Team to lead, manage and drive the transformational change required in order to deliver the UKHO's vision, plus business and technology strategies. This role holder will be required to foster the leadership and cultural behaviours and values required of a senior leader within the organisation.



For further information, please check Senior Technology roles at the UKHO

Hybrid working

Given this is a senior leadership role there is the expectation to be on site 3 days a week.

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Job description

The technology estate is hybrid and highly complex and this role will lead multi-disciplinary teams that are accountable for diverse and challenging tasks. The estate has a significant proportion of legacy and technical debt. This role will be accountable to supporting the teams in setting the bar high for robust root cause and resolution - driving an environment and culture of continuous improvement and service excellence. Diagnosing complex service disruptions and coordinating rapid resolution. Balancing competing priorities across multiple service areas. Designing and implementing service improvements in a live operational environment. Fact-finding and analysis of service performance data to identify root causes. Creative input into service transformation and automation initiatives. Managing a complex legacy estate whilst transitioning to new transformative solutions. Ensure the UKHO is seen as a strategic partner in all vendor relationships. Driving evidence-led customer and service focussed, high-performing and engagement culture. Ensuring solutions and services are comprehensively documented and knowledge is centrally and consistently managed. Ensuring corporate IT services are cost effective and drive value for money from the investments made. Driving innovation and continuous service improvements across the corporate systems. Providing leadership and guidance to teams, especially at times of complex change and service impacting incidents. The teams require a leader that is accessible and visible to them providing the guidance they require whilst role modelling the desired behaviours and values of the organisation. This role needs to set the bar for a high performing technology teams, and provide support and direction to the team managers and specialists to drive the desired behaviours and values in achieving a high-performing, customer-centric, high-value culture.

This role requires DV clearance and SC clearance at the start.

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Person specification

Proven experience in IT service management, operating at a senior level within a complex and technology driven organisation. Proven experience of turnaround performance and service delivery. Experience with service desk tools monitoring platforms and reporting dashboards ###

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:


Seeing the Big Picture Changing and Improving Making Effective Decisions Leadership ###

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:


Relevant qualifications in computer science, engineering, or related fields; professional certifications (e.g., TOGAF, ITIL, CISSP) desirable.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 76,184, UK Hydrographic Office contributes 22,070 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
At the UK Hydrographic Office, it's very important to us that our people feel valued.


We offer a huge range of benefits such as training and development, well-being support, flexible/ homeworking, a fantastic state of the art building, high spec equipment, and so much more.


See our attached Candidate Information Pack for more details.

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply:

When you click "Apply Now" at the bottom of this page, you will be required to attach your CV and asked for 750 word supporting statement demonstrating the criteria below.

Artificial Intelligence:

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Timeline:

Advert Closes for applications: Friday 31st October 2025


Shortlisting: week commencing: 3rd November 2025


Interviews:


week commencing: 24th November 2025 (3 stages to the interview process)


Stage 1 - 1st interviews w/c 24th November 2025


Stage 2 - Stakeholder engagement session with the team - w/c 01st December 2025


Stage 3 - 2nd interview is a fire side chat - w/c 8th December 2025


We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Pre-sift Criteria:

Please read the Civil Service Nationality rules - are you eligible to work in a reserved post?

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

All applications are processed anonymously. You will be short-listed against the following criteria:


Experience:

Proven experience in IT service management, operating at a senior level within a complex and technology driven organisation (lead criteria). Proven experience of turnaround performance and service delivery. Experience with service desk tools monitoring platforms and reporting dashboards

This criteria will be scored against your CV and supporting statement.


Lead criteria will be used in the event of a large volumes of applications and in the event of tie-breaks in scoring. The lead criteria is: Proven experience in IT service management, operating at a senior levels within a complex and technology driven organisation.

Interview Criteria:

You will be interviewed against the following criteria:


Experience:

The technology estate is hybrid and highly complex and this role will lead multi-disciplinary teams that are accountable for diverse and challenging tasks. The estate has a significant proportion of legacy and technical debt. This role will be accountable to supporting the teams in setting the bar high for robust root cause and resolution - driving an environment and culture of continuous improvement and service excellence. Diagnosing complex service disruptions and coordinating rapid resolution. Balancing competing priorities across multiple service areas. Designing and implementing service improvements in a live operational environment. Fact-finding and analysis of service performance data to identify root causes. Creative input into service transformation and automation initiatives. Managing a complex legacy estate whilst transitioning to new transformative solutions. Ensure the UKHO is seen as a strategic partner in all vendor relationships. Driving evidence-led customer and service focussed, high-performing and engagement culture. Ensuring solutions and services are comprehensively documented and knowledge is centrally and consistently managed. Ensuring corporate IT services are cost effective and drive value for money from the investments made. Driving innovation and continuous service improvements across the corporate systems. Providing leadership and guidance to teams, especially at times of complex change and service impacting incidents. The teams require a leader that is accessible and visible to them providing the guidance they require whilst role modelling the desired behaviours and values of the organisation. This role needs to set the bar for a high performing technology teams, and provide support and direction to the team managers and specialists to drive the desired behaviours and values in achieving a high-performing, customer-centric, high-value culture.

Civil Service Behaviours (Grade 6 level):

Seeing the Big Picture Changing and Improving Making Effective Decisions Leadership

See here for further information: Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK


Technical Skills:

Relevant qualifications in computer science, engineering, or related fields; professional cert
ITIL v4 or equivalent required qualifications.

Interview Process:

First Stage Interviews are virtual and will be approx. 60 minutes in duration. Second stage interviews are face-to-face. Third Stage interviews are virtual. You will be contacted to book a suitable time and date if you are shortlisted. PRESENTATION - you will be required, in the first stage interviews, to give a 15 minute presentation - more details will be given on invitation to interview.

Onboarding Checks:

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. Security Clearance (SC) will need to be obtained prior to the role commencing. You will also need to apply for Developed Vetting (DV) which can be completed while working for us but the offer will remain conditional until DV is gained. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Residency Requirements:

DV - reserved


This is a Ministry of Defence reserved post and open to sole UK nationals only. Successful applicants will require Developed Vetting (DV) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 24 consecutive months within the last 10 years.




Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.###

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 developed vetting .



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

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.###

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 : ukho@mayfleet.co.uk Email : ukho@mayfleet.co.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : ukho@mayfleet.co.uk ###

Further information

The Department's recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk or view more details at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk