Deputy Director Technology Services - UKSA - SCS1

Location

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London – Canary Wharf (Core HQs)

About the job

Job summary

The Deputy Director for Technology Services will be responsible for leading the Technology Estate for UKHSA, including the delivery of software and infrastructure platforms and technical operations. 

They will be accountable for Workplace Platforms, which encompasses office productivity, end user devices and identity, telecoms, and for the resilience, security and cost-effective provision of these services.

They will also be Responsible for UKHSA’s Infrastructure and Networks, Infrastructure services include on-premises hosting (partnering closely with the Digital DevOps division), data centre services, and operating system management.  Networking responsibility encompasses LAN, Corporate WAN, Corporate WiFi, and secure access capability. 

The role is accountable also for IT Service Management, leading the provision of the common 1st line service desk, 2nd line on site support teams, service delivery design and management, and continual service improvement. 

This role has 4 direct reports with a wider team of approximately 100 full time staff, who are all nationally dispersed.  The post holder will also be expected to manage and be accountable for the delivery of consultancy services teams, managed services suppliers, etc and has full accountability for budget, capability, and service of the above functions.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.   

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

Key responsibilities will include:

The post holder will be expected to think strategically in terms of the Chief Data Officer (CDO) Group, operating model, governance, risk, security, resilience, tooling, partners, cost, performance, and transformation.

Thinking creatively, the post holder will be expected to understand and apply best practice from technology and service operations and more broadly, from outside these disciplines and the healthcare domain.  

They will need to exercise sound, pragmatic judgement, operationally (service integration, incident resolution and technical troubleshooting / problem solving), in delivery (both technology and change management aspects), and in managing third-party commercial relationships.  

The post holder will be a senior member of the Security, Data and Protection Services Directorate and part of the wider Chief Data Officer (CDO) Senior Leadership Team. They will contribute to UKHSA’s overall CDO strategy and offer, leadership of the function and the engagement of key stakeholders within and outside the UKHSA.

They will also be responsible for defining UKHSA’s product / platform offer to meet UKHSA’s business strategy and needs with respect to workplace applications / platforms, IT service management and infrastructure and networks., 

They will manage and improve the security, cost-effectiveness, availability and resilience of the service provision of workplace applications / platforms, IT service management, infrastructure (partnering with Digital DevOps), networks and transitional service agreements with receiver organisations on behalf of CDO for the consumption of all UKHSA staff and receiver organisations, as appropriate; ensuring quality and value for money, coordinating delivery internally and via third-party suppliers and outsourced service providers. Building, leading, and developing an inclusive, high-performing Technology Services team, ensuring that UKHSA’s values and culture, together with CDO’s customer-centric, agile ways of working, are embedded. 

Please find below additional areas of accountability that the post holder will be responsible for: 

Lead the provision of resilient secure and cost-effective infrastructure platforms and technical operations in the on-premises estate.
Leading the Technology Estate for UKHSA, including the delivery of infrastructure platforms and technical operations and, through coordination with the Deputy Director Cyber Security, ensuring the proportionate and timely reduction in cyber risk.?
The resilient, secure and cost-effective provision and operation of UKHSA’s Workplace offer, including productivity tools (Microsoft 365) and end user compute services.? This includes managing windows end user devices and windows servers operating system lifecycle (Gold image, software packaging, updates and upgrades).
Provision and management of identity and access management services (Microsoft Entra).
Networking services including LAN, WAN, WiFi and secure access capability.  Includes managing connectivity of IoT and laboratory scientific equipment (including IACS) secure connectivity to UKHSA WAN and relevant LANs.
IT service management (ITSM), including common 1st and 2nd line support functions, as well as   delivery design and management, and continual service improvement.
Workplace, Infrastructure & Networks and Service Management budget holder. 
Put in place the capability, technical architecture, and services to support the delivery of UKHSA’s strategy in relation to the above functions.  
Overarching accountability for stability, resilience, and security of the Technology Services estate across UKHSA, including oversight of Information Technology Service Management (ITSM). 
Set the direction for Technology Services development and delivery of the related Technology strategy. 
Overarching accountability for Technology Services delivery of software and infrastructure platforms, products, technical operations, and development. 
Lead on the procurement, supply and negotiation of Technology Services goods and services for UKHSA, in conjunction with legal and procurement professionals, as appropriate.  
Accountable for managing and controlling the life cycle of all Technology Services related products / platforms / infrastructure, in line with the Enterprise Architecture. 
Lead and develop UKHSA’s technology capability, giving clear guidance on priorities and generating commitment to the wider goals of the organisation.  
Accountable for the quality of technology’s products, platforms, infrastructure, services etc. 
Adopt a portfolio view, managing end-to-end services, which include multiple products and channels. 
Operate at scale and provide the connection between multidisciplinary business areas and stakeholders. 

This role will influence the following key stakeholders:

Internal

 Chief Data Officer 
 Director of Digital and Data 
 CDO SLT peers
 UKHSA CEO, together with other ExCo members and senior business leaders

External

Government departments and organisations (incl. CDDO, DHSC, NHSE, GDS) 
Devolved Administrations, Departments and Organisations
 International bodies and Governments
 Private sector leaders 
 Academic leaders and research bodies

Person specification

Essential criteria

A degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or other related field. An equivalent of the same in practical experience is also acceptable for the position. 

Have significant senior-level experience in an organization-wide, senior IT position and have demonstrable experience of the leadership, management, and provision of an extensive technology estate. 

Demonstrate exceptionally strong leadership skills, having an ability to influence a cross-functional group towards a unified direction, in the face of ambiguity, and having an ability to influence senior business leadership. They must also be able to inspire trust and confidence in others and have sufficient knowledge and gravitas to provide and champion advice / direction at all organizational levels, both internally and external.

Espouse a modern products / platforms / cloud-first approach. 

Be a proactive problem-solver, have advanced critical and strategic thinking skills, have strong attention to detail, have a strong understanding of business processes and the integration of technological processes, be self-motivated and proactive going beyond the call of duty, and have an ability to stay calm in the face of adversity and uncertainty. 

Desirable criteria

Additional postgraduate degrees in related subjects are advantageous, but not necessarily required. 

Experience of responding/inputting to assurance and audit requirements (experience of responding to DSPT/DFSPT-CAF or CAF a particular advantage)

Experience of working within a health organisation (particularly with a regard to prioritization, the importance of clinical response in an emergency etc)