Director – Data Policy

The Data Policy Directorate is one of 10 directorates within the Digital, Technology and Telecoms Group (DTG).

DTG is an exciting and innovative group that deals with the cutting edge of policy and economic change. Our flagship legislative agenda – including the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill and the Digital Markets and Consumer Competition Bill – is one of the busiest in government. Our group is also responsible for three of the five priority technologies for HMG – Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductors and Future Telecoms alongside a very broad cross-cutting digital agenda including on cyber security, data policy and digital standards. This focus is reflected in how we work and how we engage, across government and across the economy. 

The group has approximately 1200 staff (including the Executive Agency, Building Digital UK) following the Machinery of Government change in February 2023 that moved most of the Group from DCMS into DSIT. We have a vibrant corporate culture and are committed to inclusive and open working practices. 

The Data role is a critical one in our wider agenda: leading one of the largestteams in the Group, sponsoring a major public body (the InformationCommissioner’s Office) and taking forward innovative programmes on the use of data in public services and the wider economy.

The directorate’s ambitious programme of work includes delivering primary legislation, delivering a suite of bilateral and multilateral international agreements, designing new and ambitious investment packages and managing national security risks.

You will lead a team of c. 150 officials advising the DSIT Secretary of State on UK domestic and international strategy and policy for data’s use in our economy and society. You will set the directorate’s strategy, helping the team navigate competing goals for data policy of growth, security and individual rights. You will drive high levels of ambition and quality of work across your team in support of ministers’ ambition. You will create the culture and conditions for your team’s success, including through sound financial and people management.

As part of the most senior, decision-making policy layer in DSIT,  you will also help set the UK’s policy direction on data use, AI, cyber security, digital infrastructure and online harms.

To achieve the above, a great candidate will be able to: 

• Create a compelling vision and build the strategic case for how data should be treated in a modern, knowledge-based economy. You will need to drive how data policy contributes to the government’s economic, science and technology, and security agenda.
• Maintain strong working relationships at all levels, including at ministerial level: None of our work can be achieved alone. Success in this role will mean you build trusted relationships across industry, government, international partners and the UK Intelligence Community. There will be regular engagement with ministers.
• Show positive leadership and the ability to embed a culture of openness, respect, fair treatment and inclusion for all. You will excel at inspiring and motivating teams to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role.

Build capability, expertise and ambition to deliver within your team and the wider stakeholder community in and outside of government and through your policy sponsorship of the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The successful candidate must hold or be willing to obtain DV (Developed Vetting) and STRAP clearance.

Whilst not essential, it is desirable that the successful individual has experience of:

• Working on large scale security issues, navigating complex intelligence and security considerations and building trusted relationships with national security partners.
• Collaborating with international partners to tackle common goals.
• Designing effective regulatory regimes, including through or influencing legislation.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders at ministerial level or their equivalent in the private sector.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above.
This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions.
Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and
conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your
personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any
absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you
to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Job contact :

• Name : SCS Recruitment Team
• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk