Chief Data Officer

We are seeking a visionary Chief Data Officer to lead a bold transformation in how we collect, store and harness data-turning it into a powerful, accessible asset that drives smarter decision-making across the organisation. You will revolutionise the way information flows, ensuring that the right data is at the fingertips of everyone who needs it, exactly when they need it.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping how the Department adopts and applies artificial intelligence, using emerging technologies responsibly and creatively to unlock new insights, improve services and strengthen outcomes. Your leadership will not only enhance our internal capability but also influence the wider education sector, helping partners, providers and institutions make better use of data and AI to drive innovation and improve opportunities for learners.

You will foster a culture where data protection and privacy are balanced with access, sharing and experimentation. As the champion of our data strategy, you will lead transformative initiatives that ensure the Department uses data effectively, ethically and securely-accelerating our core mission of creating opportunity for all., * Strategic data planning: Leading strategic data transformation across the education and care sectors, ensuring that our data strategy supports effective public service delivery including the departmental mission of Opportunity for all, and ensuring alignment with government-wide data standards.

• Enterprise Data Leadership and AI: Provide strategic oversight of the Department's data architecture to ensure it is robust, secure, interoperable, and scalable ensuring the Department's data architecture supports its strategy, innovation, data-sharing and AI objectives.
• Data Governance Leadership: Drive excellent data governance, ensuring an appropriate level of risk tolerance. Ensure compliance with relevant data protection, privacy, security, and transparency regulations such as GDPR.
• Data Risk Management: Create an environment where risk standards, policies and processes are valued, enabling data to be used and shared while protected.
• Data Innovation: work with Ministers and policy and delivery officials to identify and implement innovations in how data can support policymaking and drive delivery of outcomes for children and adult learners, and represent the Department in cross-government data initiatives and collaborate with other departments to share best practices and drive consistency.
• Data Capability Building: Ensure the Department has the specialist data skills it needs and champion a culture of data literacy and evidence-based decision-making across the Department., Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above., * 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)
• 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

Do you have experience in Presentation skills?, * Strategic Leadership in Data and AI: Proven experience in defining and delivering a department-wide data strategy that drives evidence-based policy, operational efficiency, and public service outcomes, while harnessing emerging technologies, including AI and machine learning, ethically and effectively. Proven people leadership for data professionals, supporting professional development and ensuring effective delivery across teams and increasing capability for all DFE colleagues and the education sector.

• Governance, Risk, and Compliance Expertise: Strong track record of leading data governance, ensuring compliance with data protection, privacy, cybersecurity, and transparency regulations, while balancing innovation with robust risk management and ethical data use.
• Enterprise Data Capability and Infrastructure Oversight: Experience providing strategic oversight of enterprise data platforms, architecture principles, and systems to enable interoperability, scalability, and secure data sharing, while ensuring the organisation has the necessary digital, data, and technology capabilities.
• Culture and Stakeholder Leadership Demonstrated ability to champion a data-driven culture, improve data literacy, foster trust in data use across the organisation, and influence senior leaders, external partners, and cross-government initiatives.
• Delivery of Impactful, Scalable Data Solutions: Track record of delivering cost-effective, reusable, and innovative data solutions that measurably improve organisational performance and decision-making, embedding best practices at scale in complex, multi-stakeholder environments., A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1,000 words), detailing how you meet the essential criteria outlined in this pack. Should we receive a high volume of applications, then we will sift on the essential criteria relating to experience of strategic leadership in data and AI.

It is important that throughout your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for the essential criteria listed.

Applicants will be assessed against the essential criteria. If there is a high volume of applicants, preliminary sifting will be done using only the criteria relating to experience of strategic leadership in data and AI., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Alongside your salary of £155,000, Department for Education contributes £44,903 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department's transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years' service. In addition, all staff receive the King's Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days' bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances, but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities., Shortlisted candidates will be invited to:

• Take part in a virtual Staff Engagement Panel (which typically takes up to 1 hour to complete), to be held week commencing 5th or 12th January 2026.

• an Alternative Leadership Assessment with an Occupational Psychologist, to be held week commencing 5th or 12th January 2026.

• A formal interview which will include:

• A presentation (details will be provided to shortlisted candidates)

• Interview questions based on the essential criteria to further assess your experience.

The interviews will take place from the week commencing 19 January 2026 in Sanctuary Buildings, London.

The Department for Education does not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

Please note that at interview stage we may ask if you have any conflicts of interest to declare., 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 candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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 applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should