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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Head of Technology - Digital & Data Services - **Company:** Department for Culture, Media and Sport - **Location:** Manchester, UK (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £62,203.0 - £72,686.0 - **Contract:** Temporary contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft Azure, Cloud Engineering, Continuous Delivery, Continuous Integration, Data as a Services, DevOps, Google Cloud - **Published:** July 2, 2026 - **Apply:** https://uk.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=7e2b72b4f27beed4 ## About the Role * Designing architecture for complex digital services, including internal and public-facing systems, and making sound choices about the right technology approach for user needs, value for money and long-term support. * Leading cloud-based technical design, particularly in Azure and Google Cloud Platform with a strong understanding of cloud-native architecture and secure design across infrastructure, platforms and software services. * Setting technical direction across teams, including shaping strategy, roadmaps, standards, patterns and policies, measuring, monitoring and evaluating, and making or guiding architectural decisions in complex, high-risk environments. * Working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and communicating clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including influencing senior leaders and building support for difficult decisions. * Delivering through others with good commercial judgement, including analysing system capability, producing clear technical documentation, working effectively with suppliers, and managing budgets or spend to get the best return on investment. Desirable skills: * Familiarity with the UK Government Service Standard and service assessments. * Deep understanding of agile and devops culture, including continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) and making best use of novel and emerging technologies (eg: AI, process automation) * Demonstrable awareness of data and performance analysis tools, and their development and maintenance principles, This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. ## Description This is a rare opportunity to shape how technology supports delivery across DCMS at a pivotal moment for the department. As Head of Technology - Digital & Data Services, you will lead technology strategy and technical design across a varied portfolio of digital and data products and services, working as part of a senior multidisciplinary leadership team. Working collaboratively with DCMS’ Chief Technology Officer and Principal Architect, you will set direction for architecture and the technology stack for digital solutions to support better policy outcomes for the department. You’ll ensure solutions are secure by design, scalable, high quality and aligned with government standards. You will support teams across DCMS to explore technical options, assess feasibility and make confident decisions early, while providing technical assurance for internal delivery and supplier-led services. The role offers broad influence: from shaping governance and decision-making, to working with senior stakeholders across policy, delivery and commercial functions, to identify the right suppliers and manage value from investment. You will build strong partnerships across DCMS and beyond, champion user-centred approaches, and help make technology a practical enabler of departmental priorities, leading technical decisions for our Digital, Data & AI team., We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: * A technical statement of 250 words on Technical design throughout the life cycle which will be which will be assessed against the technical skills success profile. * Architect for the whole context * Architecture communication * Strategy design We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form: * A technical statement of 250 words on Technical design throughout the life cycle which will be which will be assessed against the technical skills success profile., * A technical statement of 250 words on Technical design throughout the life cycle which will be which will be assessed against the technical skills success profile. * A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements which will be assessed against the experience success profile. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on the Civil Service Jobs application form. * A Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining, with demonstrable evidence and examples, how you consider your personal skills qualities and experience to demonstrate your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. This will be assessed against the experience success profile. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed however these will not be considered in the assessment of your application except in circumstances where there are a high number and calibre of candidates. For indicative sift and interview dates please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack. For the shortlist, we will select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application. In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the lead technical skill: Technical design throughout the life cycle. Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application. For support in writing your application and interviewing, please refer to the ‘Application and Interview Guidance’ document attached to the job advert. The interview process will assess behaviours, technical skills and experience. The behaviour to be tested at interview is: * Changing and improving The technical skills to be tested at interview will be aligned to Lead Technical Architect and are listed below: * Architect for the whole context * Architecture communication * Strategy design * Technical design throughout the life cycle Prior to the interview you will be sent the behaviour question in advance. You will not be made aware of the experience questions prior to your interview. You will also be required to prepare a scenario based task. Full details of this, including the topic, length of time, and whether or not you will need to use visual aids, will be provided at the start of your interview., If the vacancy is offered as FTA/Loan, existing Civil Servants must join on a Loan basis only. Prior agreement to be released on loan must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return. For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting Feedback Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check . See our vetting charter . People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks., * 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 ## Related Videos - [The Cloud is Calling: Answer with In-Demand Skills](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/945-the-cloud-is-calling-answer-with-in-demand-skills) - [Hosting a modern justice system](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/332-hosting-a-modern-justice-system) - [From DevOps to Scaled DevOps: How We’re Rebuilding Continuous Delivery as a Platform](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100018-from-devops-to-scaled-devops-how-we-re-rebuilding-continuous-delivery-as-a-platform) - [Developer Tools for Microsoft Azure](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/450-developer-tools-for-microsoft-azure) - [Inside the AI Revolution: How Microsoft is Empowering the World to Achieve More](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/869-inside-the-ai-revolution-how-microsoft-is-empowering-the-world-to-achieve-more) - [Develop enterprise-ready applications for Microsoft Teams with Azure resources on modern web technologies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/187-develop-enterprise-ready-applications-for-microsoft-teams-with-azure-resources-on-modern-web-technologies) ## Related Articles - [What Are The Top Skills Required For Azure Developers?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/77-what-are-the-top-skills-required-for-azure-developers) - [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk) - [IT Salaries in UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/288-it-salaries-in-uk) - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [The Most Popular IT Jobs on the Market](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/376-the-most-popular-it-jobs-on-the-market) - [Data Analyst Salary in the UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/278-data-analyst-salary-in-the-uk)