Westmorland and Furness is a place like no other. A young and ambitious council serving one of the most beautiful and diverse areas in the UK – from our fells and lakes to vibrant towns and coastal communities. We are proud of our heritage, strong sense of community and growing national profile.
Established in 2023, we have already delivered significant progress against our Council Plan priorities – from strengthening services for children and families to investing in connectivity, sustainability and local growth. As a relatively new unitary authority, our journey is evolving. We are now entering a pivotal phase as we build a council that is financially sustainable, modern and resilient, while continuing to deliver excellent outcomes for our residents.
Like councils across the country, we face increasing demand, financial challenges and rising expectations from residents and communities. Our response is ambitious. We are accelerating organisation-wide transformation – designing services around residents, strengthening prevention and making the most of digital, data and technology to work smarter, faster and as effectively as we can. This is not just about efficiency; it is about creating a council that is insight-led, customer-focused and able to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
We are now seeking an exceptional Chief Innovation, Technology and Digital Officer to help lead this next stage of our journey. This is a pivotal, organisation-wide leadership role at the heart of our transformation. You will shape how we harness digital, data and technology to modernise services, improve customer experience, strengthen decision-making and empower our workforce.
Working as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will be a visionary and strategic leader who can drive a council-wide transformative approach to digital, data and technology – building the foundations, culture and capabilities we need to succeed. From advancing our use of data and AI, to embedding user-centred design and strengthening our digital infrastructure, you will ensure that innovation translates into real, measurable outcomes for residents and communities. From cyber security, information governance and resilient infrastructure to enterprise architecture and service reliability, you will ensure that innovation is built on secure, trusted and sustainable foundations.
We are looking for someone who combines vision with delivery at pace, innovation with pragmatism and ambition with strong stewardship. Someone who can help us move faster, think differently and deliver better outcomes for the people of Westmorland and Furness.
In return, you will join a talented and committed organisation with the ambition to transform how we deliver for residents and communities. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a new council, drive organisation-wide transformation at scale and play a central role in building a modern, efficient and forward-thinking authority, helping to make Westmorland and Furness a truly great place to live, work and thrive.
For more information about this opportunity, and for details of how to apply, please visit: Chief Innovation, Technology and Digital Officer | Careers
