The digital unit is recruiting for a post at deputy director level with a remit to help develop and then put in place a playbook for government’s use of information

The Government Digital Service is seeking to recruit a senior manager to lead the creation and delivery of a major new plan for government’s use of data.

The post as deputy director, data strategy comes with the overarching remit to “implement a national data strategy”. The successful candidate will also “lead and develop a thriving public sector data community” and “advance data maturity and establish data governance structures to report to senior leaders and ministers” according to the job advert.

The position also comes with a brief to “champion data access to improve services and decision-making”, as well as working to “support the National Data Library programme” – a key pledge of the Labour manifesto.

The advert adds: “You will be responsible for drafting and coordinating the government’s data strategy across five priority areas, focusing on: unlocking; data sharing; ensuring data are managed as assets; modernising data platforms and capabilities; confirming there is the right mindset, and thriving data community cross-government; ensuring data’s impact is evidence based and quantified.”

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The postholder will be expected to “ensure departments follow data standards and remove obstacles to using and reusing data effectively in the public sector”.

The strategy chief will sit in GDS’s Data Directorate, and the role will be based in Bristol, London or Manchester. The post comes with an annual salary of up to £117,800, depending on “capability”.

“Currently, the UK public sector faces challenges with the quality, accessibility, and sharing of data,” the advert says. “The Data Directorate is focused on making significant improvements in these areas. It is also committed to managing security risks by putting in place the right technical and non-technical measures, allowing data to be shared safely and used to drive value, especially in relation to AI.”

Applications are open until 11:55 pm on 17 March.