Deputy Director – Firmer Foundations Programme

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government — we are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government.

Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government, by:

• Joining up public sector services
• Harnessing the power of AI for the public good
• Strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
• Elevating leadership and investing in talent
• Funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
• Committing to transparency and driving accountability

We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government.

Please note that while this role is being recruited as part of DSIT to hit the ground running, DSIT is part of the Machinery of Government (MOG) changes. Please see the FACT SHEET HERE for further information.

We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol.

The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you’ll be working with some of the world’s most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale.

Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You'll solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need.

Within GDS, you will join the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO), reporting to Sonia Patel, the Government Chief Technology Officer.

The directorate has recently overseen a number of key departmental priorities, ranging from delivering the State of Digital Government Review, to the AI Playbook, to strengthening how Government does digital procurement, and protecting public sector website domains, amongst other priorities.

The Firmer Foundations Programme will lead the DSIT co-ordination of the remediation of legacy and outdated technology across the public sector and ensuring that future technical architecture is fit for a modern digital government.

In this role you will:

• Develop, shape and deliver the Firmer Foundation Programme to achieve the DSIT commitment to making a substantial impact in remediating legacy and outdated technology in the public sector
• Focus on the practical plans for delivery across the current SR period that balance long term strategic change and targeted interventions against the highest priority systems.
• Manage senior technical stakeholders across government on their outdated IT and legacy remediation plans.
• Maintain a close relationship with HM Treasury to ensure legacy remediation activity is funded appropriately through the current and future SR settlements.
• Make the case for investment in common capabilities and transformational technologies
• Build and inspire a diverse team of experts that are dedicated to delivering an enterprise level change in the way the public sector approaches technology
• Engaging with industry to build partnerships, gaining new insights and expertise, and influencing roadmaps.
• Play a key role in delivering the commitments made in our 2025 roadmap, Transforming for a Digital Future., particularly addressing legacy technology risk, enabling the reuse of common technology services, and introducing new technologies.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

SHORTLIST

Applications will be sifted to select those demonstrating the best fit with the post against the criteria set out in the person specification.

To apply for this role, please submit the following on CS Jobs no later than, 23:55 on Monday 31st August 2026:

• A CV detailing your career history, key responsibilities, and achievements.
• A Statement of Suitability (max. 1,250 words) outlining how your skills, qualities, and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role. Please refer specifically to the essential criteria in the person specification

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which a decision is expected to be made, and all candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Shortlisted candidates can request an informal conversation about the role with the vacancy holder This discussion does not form part of the assessment.

INTERVIEW

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview in person in London, to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

As part of the process there may be assessment of skills either by a presentation or simulated exercise with follow up questions. Full details of the requirements will be given to shortlisted candidates ahead of their interview.

SELECTION AND FEEDBACK

Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible, and will offer the opportunity to discuss feedback for all candidates who reached interview. A reserve list will be held for up to 12 months, which we may use to fill future suitable vacancies.

EXPECTED TIME LINE

We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, to meet the dates given.

Please note that these dates are only indicative may be subject to change. If you anticipate any difficulties attending, please alert scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk upon application.

The anticipated timetable is as follows:

Advert Closing date: 23:55, Monday 31st August

Shortlist: W/C 14th September

Panel Interviews: W/C 21st September

It is expected that interviews will be conducted in-person in London, however this will be confirmed during the shortlisting process and successful candidates will be informed accordingly.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DSIT Candidate Guidance. A DSIT Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.

We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Reserve lists

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, which the Civil Service may use to fill future suitable vacancies across government for candidates who are considered appointable following interview.

Further Information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Complaints

Civil Service Commission Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact; scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk and more information can be found at www.civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.