The Department for International Trade is searching for a technology transformation director who will be responsible for “resetting” its approach to technology.
It said a key feature of the role, which comes with a salary “circa £90,000”, would be developing a single IT solution for UK and overseas-based staff tasked with striking new trade deals in the wake of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
The recruitment drive comes as the department, led by Liam Fox, moves to a new home and prepares for permanent secretary Sir Martin Donnelly to hand over to successor Antonia Romeo.
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The job description for the role says the department wants to “eliminate inflexibility, complexity and inefficiency” in its systems and services, and cites the range of different devices and services used by staff that have been imported from other Whitehall departments.
It said DIT staff were currently working with technology brought in from the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which needed to be replaced with a “practical and holistic solution”.
It added: “The departmental executive board has tasked our IT Transformation Team with finding a solution to this situation – replacing access to as many services as possible via a single device, improving interoperability between groups in the department and offering a high quality, lightweight and secure service that is as good as people are used to using at home.”
Michelle Thorp, DIT’s managing director responsible for global transformation, digital and technology, said the new director would be “a key enabler” of the department’s work as it geared up to negotiate new trade agreements around the world.
“Delivering technology solutions in government has changed considerably over the past few years and I am looking for someone who has the ability to lead an inclusive and high performing team to deliver a secure and modern solution that builds department’s long term capability,” she said.
The deadline for applications for the role is midday on April 3.