How to apply:
Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.
The selection process for this role will be:
Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement
Stage 2: Assessment
Stage 3: Interview
You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.
Stage 1: Sift
At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
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Experience you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (1000-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:
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Demonstrable experience of leading large-scale digital services in a fast-paced, Agile/Lean/Continuous Delivery environment, delivering user-centred, financially sustainable solutions.
- Proven track record of creating and executing digital strategies, leading cross-functional teams, and driving measurable improvements in service quality, efficiency, and customer outcomes.
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Exceptionally strong digital and technical literacy, with broad knowledge across modern technologies including software engineering, cloud computing, data and security. Able to engage effectively with technical teams, architects and stakeholders to shape service design, guide solution development, and ensure robust, scalable and secure digital services.
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Significant experience leading large, complex, multi-disciplinary teams across internal and supplier ecosystems, both directly and virtually in a matrix structure environment.
- Proven ability to manage multiple suppliers and delivery partners, while building sustainable digital capability through a blend of insourcing, outsourcing, and talent development strategies.
The sift will take place week commencing 29/06/2026.
Stage 2: Assessment
The assessment will be in the form of a 45-minute engagement exercise with members of the digital senior leadership team.
For the assessment, you will be expected to deliver a 10 minute presentation to outline your approach to leadership and working together philosophies that your peers can expect to see as you step into the role. This will be followed by a Q&A.
The assessment will take place online via Microsoft Teams. You will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
Behaviour
- Leadership
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Working Together
The assessment stage will take place week commencing 13/07/2026
Guidance will be provided if you are invited to the assessment.
Stage 3: Interview
At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
Behaviours:
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Seeing the Bigger Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
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Managing a Quality Service
- Changing and Improving
Experience:
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Demonstrable experience of leading large-scale digital services in a fast-paced, Agile/Lean/Continuous Delivery environment, delivering user-centred, financially sustainable solutions.
- Proven track record of creating and executing digital strategies, leading cross-functional teams, and driving measurable improvements in service quality, efficiency, and customer outcomes.
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Significant experience leading large, complex, multi-disciplinary teams across internal and supplier ecosystems, both directly and virtually in a matrix structure environment.
The interviews will take place week commencing 27/07/2026
This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
Further information on the selection process
Feedback on your application can only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
We will also hold a 12 reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.
Should we receive a large number of applications, we may invite a shortlist of the highest performing candidates to interview. This means that some applications that meet the required standard could be placed on hold after the sift and invited to interview if the vacant position(s) remain unfilled. You will be notified if your application is being put on hold once the sift has been completed.
Appointments for this position will be made in order of merit. If you are successful in the selection process but there are no further available posts for the advertised role, you may be contacted to discuss an offer for a lower graded role (with similar experience and responsibility requirements).
If you are unsuccessful in the selection process, your application may be considered for a lower graded position if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. Candidates will be considered in order of merit.
AI Tools and Platforms
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Document Accessibility
This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert or the information on our website, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.
If your application is successful but you have been dismissed from the Civil Service, your application could be removed at the pre-employment checking stage depending on the nature of the dismissal.
Pre-employment Checking
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
All External applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:
Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour
Threats or acts of violence
Illegal activity or substance misuse
Sexually explicit material
Extremist views or affiliations
Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public.
Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. Its not about judging your personality or lifestyleits about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture.
If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail whats being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.
Vetting
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
