The Government Digital Service is seeking a technology leader to head up a newly established team, made up of recruits and redeployed staff and dedicated to managing the impact of Brexit on public sector digital transformation.
The role as deputy director, EU exit comes with a salary of up to £117,800. The successful candidate will “lead on the coordination of the digital function to respond to the UK’s exit from the European Union”, according to GDS.
“You will play a central role in implementing the government’s priorities for delivery of EU exit, in a way that supports the Government Transformation Strategy and digital [and] data manifesto commitments,” the organisation added.
The role comes with a remit to head up a specially created centralised team within GDS dedicated to addressing all “matters related to EU exit”.
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A spokesperson for GDS said: "GDS leads on digital transformation across government, including how it responds to the demands of exiting the EU. The deputy director will lead a new team resourced through a mix of current and newly recruited staff."
The digital Brexit chief will also be required to work closely “with other key teams in the centre of government, particularly the Infrastructure and Projects Authority as well as other functional experts in Cabinet Office and [the] HM Treasury spend team”.
The chosen applicant will be expected to “get buy in from across government – particularly DExEU”, to try and make sure that the process of leaving the EU is smooth and centrally coordinated. They will also have a wider remit to “help GDS in its mission to join up the centre of government and improve the chances of success for major government programmes”.
The overall goal of the GDS EU exit team will be to help government address the immediate digital demands presented by the ongoing Brexit process, while maintaining longer-term transformation strategies and initiatives.
“You will balance the differing needs of short-term EU exit priorities with the direction of travel set out in the Government Transformation Strategy, ensuring that departmental actions to deliver a smooth EU exit do not close off longer-term transformational opportunities, in particular, clearly articulating the risk and reward of different approaches – and their associated trade-offs – to senior officials and ministers," said GDS.
The deadline for applications is Monday 22 January. During the weeks commencing 29 January and 5 February GDS will conduct “individual leadership assessments” followed by “fireside chats” with remaining candidates. Final interviews will take place in London during the week beginning 12 February. The post will be based at GDS headquarters in London’s Whitechapel.