A role as director of digital is one of various leadership posts up for grabs, the successful applicants for which will be charged with leading reform of services and operations
Oldham Council is offering a six-figure salary for a new senior manager to spearhead a programme of major transformation across the authority and the borough it serves.
The council is advertising for a director of digital – one of “several ambitious, transformational senior leaders” the organisation is currently looking to recruit.
The tech chief will assume “oversight of all digital operations” and will take on a remit to “set the strategy, standards, and IT policies to support” a significant reform drive, according to the job advert.
“Leading this critical service, you will ensure systems are modern, secure, and compliant, with strong frameworks in place to manage digital and data risks,” it added.
Plans for digital transformation will be accompanied by efforts to strengthen Oldham’s “use of data to improve service efficiency and outcomes”. The director of digital will also be expected to “ensure accessible, secure, and responsive services aligned with user needs and council priorities, while driving greater customer engagement and smarter use of technology”.
These tech improvements are hoped to contribute to significant change across the council’s operations, and how it supports the local area and its citizens.
“Oldham Council is embarking on a journey of transformation,” the advert says. “We’re making the lives of Oldham people better by revolutionising our borough and our services with an ambition that is unrivalled and a determination that’s fierce.”
Applications for the digital leadership post are open until 10am on 16 June, with the hiring process being run by recruitment firm GatenbySanderson. The successful applicant will earn a salary of between £104,337 and £115,105.
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The postholder will report to the council’s executive director of resources – a role that is also currently being recruited for, alongside positions as director of growth and deputy director adult social care.
The area served by Oldham Council is home to almost a quarter of a million people and, according to the candidate pack for the digital director post, “offers a mixture of urban and rural life unlike almost anywhere else in the UK”.
Digital is identified as one of four “pillars of change” where the authority wishes to focus its transformation efforts, alongside: efficiency and value for money; capacity-building; and prevention and early help.
In an introductory message to prospective candidates, council leader Cllr Arooj Shah says: “Oldham Council is on a transformative path to become more resident-focused and ready for the future. Our children’s services are the fastest improving in the country and are now graded ‘Good’ by Ofsted. We have a new corporate plan with three missions to build a better Oldham: Happier Healthier Lives; Great Place to Live; and Green and Growing. This plan won’t just sit on the shelf – we’ll make sure it acts as our roadmap to a better future.”
She adds: “Our relationships with government and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority mean we can be bold and ambitious for our borough and our residents. For too long councils have been forced to salami-slice budgets year-on-year to meet growing demand for services, but we are committed to making sure Oldham is not left behind.”
