Chief Digital & Data Officer Full Time

At the SIA, public protection is at the heart of everything we do. We are a government body, responsible for regulating the UK private security industry.  Our core purpose is to protect the public through effective regulation and the raising of standards in the private security industry, which plays an important role in public safety.

As an organisation of c.400 people, we operate with substantial reach across the UK, driving up standards in private security provision without legislative levers. We ensure that the UK’s 434,000 licensed private security officers, who operate 24/7 in a broad range of settings to protect people, property and premises, are properly trained and licenced.   We have two main duties: the compulsory licensing of those individuals, and the operation of a voluntary business approval scheme.

Reporting to the CEO, as our new Chief Digital and Data Officer, on both our unitary Board and a member of our Executive Directors Group, you will play a key role in realising our strategic plans. Our licensing services are all online. By continually improving the digital experience for applicants and licence holders, we aim to resolve straightforward applications quickly and easily online, freeing us to manage more complex decisions. We work across the UK with Government and the devolved administrations to meet our goal. Our front line inspection and enforcement teams depend on technology to do their job. In leading delivery of our Digital and Data Strategy,  and SRO of the Transformation Programme,  you will be making a difference to both our front line operational licensing and enforcement teams, as well as members of public that use our digital services. The executive leadership of this is critical as this also carries a significant responsibility for delivering the SIA’s targeted efficiency savings over the next few years.

We think this is an exceptional career opportunity and will ensure you have all the support you need to be successful. If you have the skills, experience, and personal values to take up this significant role, we look forward to receiving your application.

Job Role:

• Strategic Development: Enhance and promote the SIA’s digital and data transformation aligned with our overarching goals, enhancing our platforms and integrating future technologies within budget.
• Transformation Leadership: Drive digital transformation across the SIA, ensuring technology initiatives sync with business objectives through effective collaboration with senior leadership, the Board and partners.
• Governance and Security: Ensure top-notch compliance with IT, data, and security legislation and best practices (such as ITIL 4, MSP, PRINCE 2) Develop and implement stringent cyber security strategies, managing risks proactively.
• Operational Excellence & Business Continuity: Lead the charge in improving our operational technology, boosting efficiency, and supporting a new experience-led approach for our staff and community, whilst ensuring business continuity.
• Data-Driven Innovation: Bring new dimensions to our data capabilities with Data Science and analytics whilst also leveraging analytics and AI revolutionising how we use data both operationally and strategically.
• Vendor Management & Financial Acumen: Manage key vendor relationships, harnessing external expertise and technology to benefit the SIA whlist also shaping and managing budgets
• Inspiring Leadership: Lead and nurture our Technology, Digital & Data team whilst also being a visible leader at Board level, fostering a high performance and a collaborative, inclusive culture.

Essential Criteria:

• Recent Director or C-suite experience such as a Chief Information Officer / Chief Technology Officer or equivalent with prior senior leadership experience of enterprise IT leadership across information, digital, data and technology fields, working in complex, matrix stakeholder environments, uniting multiple stakeholders
• Prior experience of the successful designing, driving, communicating and delivery at pace of transformation programmes focused on adapting the culture of an organisation and the resulting client / member / stakeholder experience.
• Experience and understanding of continuous business planning processes and programme/ project management disciplines
• Excellent leadership skills; able to inspire and motivate staff in an environment of change to deliver high quality results, coaching teams to communicate complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audience, and promoting a team culture of team-working, effectiveness, innovation, collaboration and efficiency
• Proven commercial expertise and business acumen including contract negotiation and supplier management, establishing and improving supplier performance standards and managing budgets
• Working knowledge and understanding of industry standard security issues and processes

How to Apply

To apply for this post please click Apply.

When applying, please ensure that you provide the following information:

• Your CV
• A supporting statement (of not more than 2 pages) detailing how you can address the Essential and Desirable criteria in the Person Specification
• Contact telephone numbers as well as your personal email address
• A completed diversity monitoring form, this will appear on screen as part of the application process.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please do contact our recruitment advisers at GatenbySanderson who will be delighted to speak with you: Sarah Luxford on 07812 150 386/sarah.luxford@gatenbysanderson.com or Martyn Brereton on 07586 715531/martyn.brereton@gatenbysanderson.com

Should you have any queries about the application process, please contact Toria Lorman-Connolly  on 0113 205 6084 or via Toria.Lorman-Connolly@gatenbysanderson.com.

Closing date: Sunday 11^th August (23:55)

C1DO