Chief Digital and Information Officer – National Policing

Please note: Standard Cabinet Office rules on pay will apply to civil servants appointed on level transfer or promotion. Their salary will increase to the minimum of the SCS PB2 range or by a promotion award of up to 10% more than their current basic salary, excluding all allowances (whichever is the greater). Individuals appointed on level transfer will retain their existing basic salary, excluding all allowances. Location: London, Croydon, Manchester or Sheffield (regular travel to London will be required) Appointment: This post is open to existing Civil Servants, secondees from accredited Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs), and external applicants. The appointment is offered on the basis of a 2 year loan, secondment, or fixed term appointment to deliver a defined programme of work for the 2 years. Existing Civil Servants are eligible to apply on either a level transfer or promotion basis, and secondees from accredited NDPBs are also eligible to apply. Why this role matters The National Policing Service (NPS) is being established as part of the Government’s ambitious police reform agenda, bringing together national capabilities to strengthen the response to serious, complex and cross-border crime. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of digital policing across all 43 police forces in England and Wales. We are supporting the Home Office in appointing an exceptional Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) to lead national digital and technology reform, unite a fragmented landscape and build the secure, sustainable and future-ready capabilities that modern policing needs. At the heart of this transformation, you will provide executive leadership for the integration of existing national policing IT organisations, services, systems and ways of working into a coherent, sustainable and future-ready national digital capability. With an estimated £850m–£1bn in budgetary oversight or influence, approximately £200m per annum in programme investment, a further £200m per annum supporting and operating live policing services, and responsibility for three designated components of critical national infrastructure, this is a role of exceptional scale, complexity and public impact. You will help ensure that digital, data and technology are not ends in themselves, but powerful enablers of safer communities, effective policing and better outcomes for the public. The role During the initial two-year appointment, you will operate at the highest levels of policing and government, working closely with the Director General of the Public Safety Group, the Director General of the Digital and Innovation Group and the NPCC Lead for Digital Data and Technology. The role will be accountable to the Director General of the Public Safety Group, Director General of the Digital and Innovation Group and NPCC Lead for Digital Data and Technology, working closely with APCC and Police Digital Service to ensure a coherent, aligned and effective approach. At a mutually agreed point, line management responsibility is expected to transfer to the NPS Commissioner. As CDIO, you will be accountable for the strategic direction, delivery and operation of national policing digital services, products, platforms and enabling capabilities. You will own and drive the National Police IT Reform Strategy, providing the system leadership needed to align national, regional and local policing. Your priorities will include: Leading national digital transformation: Develop and deliver innovative digital, data and technology strategies that support the NPS, Home Office and wider police reform objectives, establishing a credible national vision and direction. Driving organisational convergence: Lead the digital and technology transition into the NPS operating model, shaping the structure, capability and operating model for national police IT and overseeing the controlled and sustainable transition of live services, people and delivery responsibilities. Strengthening live services: Ensure the safe, secure and effective operation of critical policing services, improving resilience, reliability, performance and continuous improvement across the service estate. Modernising technology: Sponsor major transformation and modernisation programmes, including product, platform and service redesign, technology renewal, and the reduction of legacy risk, duplication and technical debt. Championing innovation: Identify and respond to emerging technologies and operational needs, enabling responsible, ethical and inclusive innovation while maintaining security and resilience. Establishing effective architecture: Ensure data and technology architecture supports scalability, reusability and interoperability across policing, law enforcement and, where appropriate, wider government. Providing executive accountability for policing’s cyber security posture: ensuring national police technology capabilities remain safe, secure and resilient to cyber threats and attacks. Securing and prioritising investment: Negotiate and secure investment, make the case for change and balance competing demands, risk, affordability and benefit realisation to maximise outcomes and value for money. Strengthening governance: Establish and maintain robust governance across digital investment, enterprise architecture, cyber security, data management, portfolio management and delivery assurance. Building national capability: Ensure policing technology has the leadership, skills, operating models and organisational capacity required to meet changing operational demands. Leading through influence: Act as a trusted adviser to senior leadership, building alignment across policing organisations, government departments and delivery partners, and driving coherence, standardisation and interoperability where these improve outcomes. You will also lead and develop high-performing multidisciplinary and multi-organisation teams, creating a culture of trust, accountability, inclusion and innovation. Championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion will be central to your leadership, ensuring inclusive culture and workforce practices are embedded across national policing digital, data and technology functions. What we're looking for We are seeking a mission-led digital leader who understands how technology, data and digital services can strengthen policing, create safer communities and deliver public value. You will bring substantial experience of leading large-scale digital, data, technology or transformation functions, alongside the strategic judgement, credibility and influence to lead in a complex, highly scrutinised environment. You will be able to establish a compelling national vision amid competing priorities, complex governance and established ways of working. As a positive disruptor, you will challenge established thinking constructively, build consensus across organisational boundaries and turn strategic ambition into tangible results. Essential criteria The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the following: Mission-led digital leadership A clear understanding that digital, data and technology are enablers of safer communities, effective policing and public value, rather than ends in themselves. The ability to align policy, operational priorities, investment and service design into a coherent national direction. Scale and track record Substantial experience of leading large-scale digital, data, technology or transformation functions. A demonstrable track record of using technology, data and emerging tools to improve services and secure value for money. System leadership and influence A proven ability to lead across organisational and institutional boundaries as a positive disruptor. The ability to challenge established thinking constructively, influence senior stakeholders, and build consensus and shared ownership across policing, government and delivery partners. Enterprise governance Experience of using portfolio management, enterprise architecture and robust governance and risk management to guide investment, prioritise change and manage dependencies, ensuring national capabilities evolve as an integrated system. This must include experience in high-pressure, highly scrutinised environments. People and culture Exceptional people leadership, with a proven ability to build high-performing, inclusive teams, develop future leaders and create a culture of trust and accountability. An understanding of how to widen diversity and opportunity across the digital workforce. We welcome exceptional leaders from other sectors who can demonstrate the relevant experience, credibility and ambition to lead transformation at this scale. Policing or law enforcement experience is advantageous, but the essential criteria are focused on the leadership, transformation and governance experience required to deliver this role. This initial two-year fixed-term appointment offers the opportunity to shape a new national capability at a pivotal moment in public service reform. We are looking for a leader with the vision to redefine what national digital policing can achieve, and the influence, judgement and determination to bring people together to make it happen. Security clearance: The successful candidate must be cleared to Security Check (SC) level before they are able to start the role, and a requirement to obtain Developed Vetting (DV) and NPPV3 Clearance once in post. For further information, see here. If you are interested in applying for this vacancy or wish to have an informal conversation about the role, please reach out to Lauren O’Brien or Ben Tuckfield via email at HO-DCDIO@global-resourcing.com.