Local authority for city in the south west has recently restructured its senior management set-up and created five new positions, including a new head of service for digital and data

Exeter City Council has undertaken a management shake-up that includes the creation of a dedicated role as head of digital and data.

The postholder will be expected to “oversee the management and continuous improvement of key areas including data governance, business intelligence, ICT, GDPR, and digital platforms”, according to the job advert.

The role also comes with a remit to “work collaboratively with internal teams, external partners, customers and political leadership to drive digital transformation, enhance data usage, and support the Council’s Digital Customer Strategy” – which was published in draft form last year. The strategy set out the authority’s transformation objectives and the ultimate intended impact on citizens, alongside ambitions to improve digital inclusions across the Devon city, which has about 130,000 inhabitants.

Exeter City Council is seeking a highly skilled and experienced leader to join our Operational Management Board, providing strategic and operational support to the development of digital services,” the advert added. “We are looking for a driven and ambitious individual with a keen interest in streamlining and enhancing services… This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-performing team, manage substantial budgets, and deliver customer-centric, data-driven services.”

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The successful candidate will play a key role in helping the council “build on the tangible progress we’ve made in recent months through our transformation… [at] a pivotal time for positive change in the city.”

The role comes with an annual salary of £71,000 and is being recruited for alongside three other head of service positions – in the areas of: customer and communities; commercial assets; and HR, workforce planning, and organisational development – as well as a position as strategic director of operations.

In an introductory note to the five roles, chief executive Bindu Arjoon said that a recent “senior leadership management restructure has led to a unique opportunity for five experienced and highly motivated leaders to join us in delivering outstanding services”.

“We are looking for brilliant people to fill senior roles which are key to helping us deliver our strategic priorities and shape the future for the city in the years ahead,” she added. “We need motivational leaders with a strong track record of success in managing complex operations, who can engage with elected members, partners and communities to ensure that Exeter continues to be an outstanding place to live, work and visit. We are seeking innovative and values-based leaders who can make informed, evidence-based decisions that benefit Exeter and its communities and can lead and shape the future of key services to make a real difference to the community.”

Applications for all five posts are open until 17 October.