The Department for Communities and Local Government is on the hunt for a senior official to overhaul its approach to technology as it implements the tight spending settlement handed down at last year’s Spending Review.
DCLG is already half the size it was in 2010, and has been asked to make further resource savings of 29% on 2015 levels over the course of the current parliament.
To try and meet that target, DCLG – which moved into the Home Office’s Marsham Street HQ during the last parliament – is looking to further shrink its office space, and renegotiate key contracts.
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But the department has also vowed to crack down on duplication by bringing together the delivery of IT services across the department and its partner agencies.
DCLG is now recruiting for a group chief technology officer who will, according to the department, be responsible for designing and leading on that tech shake-up.
The group CTO will, according to a DCLG job specification, oversee a review of the department’s current tech infrastructure, including a move to providing “unparalleled IT service” through centralised shared systems for DCLG and its organisations.
They will oversee a team of six direct reports, and answer to the department’s finance director Jacinda Humphry.
Humphry said the new CTO would be responsible for “resetting” the department’s approach to technology in line with other parts of government.
“In the past, senior technology leaders in the public sector have become too focused on the maintenance of large-scale, long-term outsourcing contracts,” the finance chief said.
“Systems and services have suffered from inflexibility, complexity and inefficiency. This is an opportunity to lead a programme of change that will further improve how DCLG works and how we interact with citizens, local authorities and other public bodies.
She added: “We are looking for candidates who can apply on the ground experience of driving the transformation of organisations, not those who will maintain the status quo.
"Their task will guided by some fundamental principles; putting the needs of users first, focusing on delivery and outcomes over process, and making the most of emerging common technology services, cloud technology and open standard solutions.”
The Pay Band 1 job will command a salary of between £63,000 and £117,800, with the successful candidate expected to be able to influence “at all levels, including ministerial, with both IT and non-IT colleagues”.
As well as leading on the DCLG’s technology strategy, the new group CTO will also be responsible for the department’s performance on freedom of information and departmental record-keeping.
According to the job specification, applicants will be expected to demonstrate experience “of working with senior colleagues to deliver transformational change to business processes and systems” in the public or private sectors.
Candidates have until September 19 to put their names forward, with the role open to both existing civil servants and outsiders.