Job description

Locations: Bristol, London, Manchester

Advertised working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Job summary

The Deputy Director of Digital Standards and Inclusive Design is one of three Deputy Director portfolios within the Government Digital Enablement (GDE) directorate, alongside Digital Devolution and Workforce & Capability. Together, these teams are responsible for improving how public services are designed and delivered, strengthening digital capability across the public sector, and supporting the government’s ambitions for digital transformation and devolution.

The role sits at the heart of an increasingly interconnected agenda. Alongside leading work on standards, accessibility and inclusive design, you will work closely with colleagues driving digital devolution, workforce reform, capability development, data sharing, interoperability and digital commercial approaches. Together, these portfolios help create the conditions for more joined-up, effective and user-centred public services across central and local government.

As part of the wider GDS and Digital Transformation landscape, the successful candidate will collaborate with colleagues across policy, service transformation, data, architecture, AI, capability and commercial functions, helping ensure that standards and inclusive design support the delivery of better public services and meaningful real-world outcomes.

This is an opportunity to join a growing and high-profile directorate at a time of significant ambition and change, helping shape work that influences how public services are delivered across the wider public sector.

Job description

As Deputy Director for Digital Standards and Inclusive design your key responsibilities will include:
– Develop and incubate innovative ideas that drive comprehensive service transformation across government, including through evolution of the digital Service Standard, accessibility and inclusive design work
– Identify and seize opportunities to enhance public service delivery from an end to end perspective, including through AI-enabled solutions
– Pilot new concepts to demonstrate effective and efficient public service models
– Develop the means by which we set standards for and measure the quality and accessibility of digital government services
– Monitoring a portfolio of products, service standards, accessibility and transformation initiatives through to delivery
– Oversee the timely responding to parliamentary, NAO reporting and Public Accounts Committee correspondence associated with this portfolio
– Drive up service quality, embedding service and product centred ways of working, to ensure continuous improvement.
– Collaborate with government departments, academia, think tanks, and
industry partners to generate and test new ideas
– Drive different ways of working across public and private sectors, using innovative procurement and commercial methods to build mutually beneficial partnerships and (build and) access SMEs and scale ups
– Engage with Senior Leaders across DCMS and public sector more widely ensuring service standards and accessibility opportunities are identified and developed
– Identify and prioritise opportunities to create simple, joined-up, and proactive experiences with a focus on driving the delivery of solutions and experiences that transcend departmental boundaries

Person specification

Essential requirements – the successful candidate will demonstrate:
– Able to set a clear strategic direction, build effective partnerships and influence stakeholders at all levels across the public sector, bringing people with them to deliver change.
– Recognised thought leader on service design, service transformation and standards, working openly to share expertise and drive adoption of best practice across government.
– A visible and credible advocate for digital government, championing data-led decision making, experimentation, continuous improvement and modern ways of working.
– Proven ability to build, lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams, fostering an inclusive and high-performing culture across digital, data, accessibility, standards and research disciplines.
– Strong understanding of end-to-end service delivery and user-centred design, with experience of incubating and piloting innovative ideas that improve outcomes within complex organisational environments, including a commitment to accessible and inclusive design.