London borough seeks technology leader to help achieve savings of up to £18m by delivering digital services

Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Archive/PA Image

The London Borough of Newham is offering a salary of more than £100,000 for a technology leader to spearhead “the design, adoption and delivery of digital services in support of every aspect of the council’s business”.

The borough is advertising a newly created role as chief digital transformation officer. The post comes with an annual pay packet of up to £112,790, plus a potential market supplement, if required.

The successful applicant, who will report to Newham’s chief operating officer, will be given an initial two-year fixed-term contract.

Newham Council is currently part way through the implementation of a wider transformation agenda, dubbed the 2020 Programme. As part of this work, the authority has created a digital services function and given it a remit to “fundamentally redesign the organisation through digital means”. The chief digital transformation officer will be tasked with developing the nascent unit. 

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“This function is embryonic and has been delivered primarily by external resource to date,” the council said. “This function now needs to be mainstreamed to maximise on its potential and to take on the responsibility of the organisational-wide digital-transformation outcomes.”

It added: “In addition, Newham needs to start building its own internal capacity of digital services capabilities and blend these resources with the existing transformation, programmes and PMO (project management office). With the nearing completion of the 2020 programme, this provides Newham with a great opportunity to create a digital-transformation capability.”

By designing and delivering a range of online service, the digital chief will be expected to help achieve savings of between £12m and £18m. The chosen candidate will also be asked to cultivate support across the council “for the take-up of innovative, technology- and data-led approaches to service delivery”. 

The digital transformation head will also be tasked with commissioning the borough’s ICT service, which is currently outsourced to services firm oneSource.

“Newham offers a unique working environment within a London borough that is at the centre of many of Europe’s most exciting projects,” the council said. “This role will be instrumental in working alongside members, Newham’s strategic leadership team, external partners, and other key stakeholders, to deliver the transformation outcomes and necessary savings.”

With an estimated 340,000 inhabitants, Newham is one of London’s most populous boroughs. Its attractions include the Olympic Park and stadium, the Royal Docks, and the Westfield Shopping Centre. 

The closing date for applications is Monday 9 April. Preliminary interviews with recruitment firm GatenbySanderson will take place that week. Candidates put forward from this stage will be asked to attend a business simulation day and panel interview later in the month.