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Chief Digital Officer (CDO)

gbPosted 18 Oct 2026

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About this role

The Chief Digital Officer (CDO) is a senior member of the Account Leadership Team (ALT) and serves as Version 1’s strategic lead for transformation, innovation, organisational change and future service design across the local government client and any successor authorities. The CDO will work with senior Authority stakeholders to establish and drive strategic engagement objectives, approaches and outcomes, ensuring that Version 1’s advisory, architecture, innovation and partner capabilities are aligned to the Council’s priorities.The role acts as a trusted advisor to senior Council leaders, helping shape strategic direction, identify and develop transformation opportunities, and establish a clear pipeline of change that delivers measurable organisational outcomes.

A critical part of the role is to move Version 1 beyond the IT, to engage the broader business challenges and illustrate the role Version 1 can play in meeting them. The CDO provides leadership across strategy development, innovation, operating model design, business architecture, transformation planning and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that people, process, data and technology change are aligned to the Council’s priorities and long-term objectives.

A key responsibility of the role is to lead the Partner Advisory Group (PAG), bringing together expertise from Version 1, strategic partners and the wider market to provide thought leadership, innovation and external perspectives that help the Council address current challenges and prepare for future opportunities. The CDO also plays a significant role in helping the Council establish the strategic, organisational, digital and operational foundations required to support future authority structures and transition plans.

The Council retains ownership of its strategic direction, priorities, investment decisions and organisational outcomes. The CDO provides strategic advice, challenge, insight and orchestration to help the Council make informed decisions and translate its priorities into coherent transformation activity. Key Responsibilities Strategy Development & Alignment Support the council in developing and refining it’s digital, data and transformation strategies.

Translate strategic objectives into prioritised transformation plans, roadmaps and operating models. Align business, organisational, economic, digital, data and technology priorities to support current objectives and future Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Support the development of strategic account plans. Strategic Advisory Act as a trusted advisor to the Corporate Leadership Team, Directors and senior officers.

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Provide strategic advice and challenge across transformation, operating models, digital capability, data, AI, automation and organisational change. Bring external insight and best practice from local government, the wider public sector and industry to inform investment and strategic decision-making. Innovation, Thought Leadership & Partner Advisory Group Leadership Lead the Partner Advisory Group (PAG), bringing together Version 1, partners and subject matter experts to support Council priorities.

Drive innovation, thought leadership and horizon scanning to identify emerging opportunities, risks and market developments. Facilitate workshops, executive briefings and innovation activities that support service improvement, productivity and organisational outcomes. Promote a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and evidence-based transformation. Plan and lead, with the PAG, at least three innovation days annually, focused on agreed Council challenges and opportunities, with documented outputs, recommendations and proposed next steps.

Support the progression of appropriate innovation outputs into proofs of value, service improvements, business cases or prioritised transformation proposals, subject to Council approval and agreed commercial arrangements. Business Development & Opportunity Shaping Build strong relationships across Council services to understand priorities, challenges and opportunities. Identify, shape and mature transformation opportunities into investable initiatives and programmes.

Lead the development of strategic recommendations and investment propositions, coordinating appropriate subject-matter expertise to develop detailed business cases and options where agreed. Maintain a sustainable pipeline of transformation opportunities aligned to Council objectives. Support the development of other Local Government Accounts. The CDO is accountable for strategic identification, shaping, orchestration and executive engagement.

Detailed discovery, design, business-case production, implementation and delivery will be commissioned and resourced through the relevant contractual, Statement of Work or Change Control mechanism where not included within the baseline service. Transformation Pipeline & Roadmap Development Help develop and maintain a prioritised portfolio of transformation initiatives. Create roadmaps that link strategy, investment, delivery and benefits realisation.

Support business case development, benefits modelling and investment planning. Ensure transformation plans support long-term organisational goals and LGR readiness. Strategic & Architectural Oversight Provide strategic oversight across business, data, application and technology domains. Ensure transformation initiatives align with architectural principles, operating models and governance standards. Provide strategic leadership and coordination of the Enterprise Architecture capability supporting the client, ensuring that business, data, application and technology analysis, target-state roadmaps and recommendations are aligned to Council priorities.

Ensure that Enterprise Architecture activity supports strategic decision-making and provides a coherent connection between Council outcomes, transformation priorities, architectural direction and delivery Promote joined-up thinking across people, process, data and technology change. Governance and Assurance Represent Version 1 as a standing supplier member of the client’s Digital Design Authority. Provide strategic input and challenge to decisions affecting digital transformation, architecture, data, technology and future service design.

Ensure that strategic recommendations and transformation roadmaps are aligned with the Council’s agreed governance, architecture and assurance arrangements. Escalate material strategic dependencies, risks, constraints and decisions through the appropriate account and contractual governance routes. Maintain clear records of strategic recommendations, decisions and agreed actions arising from CDO-led governance and advisory activity.

Stakeholder Management & Engagement Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior Council stakeholders and partners. Act as Version 1’s senior strategic liaison for digital transformation, innovation, digital strategy and future service design, working in conjunction with the Account Director, Client Partner and other account leadership roles . Facilitate alignment across leadership teams, programmes and delivery functions.

Lead strategic governance discussions and communicate complex concepts in clear business language. Local Government Delivery Support the Council's priorities for service delivery. Ensure transformation priorities, operating models and investments contribute to future organisational readiness. Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise and modernise services ahead of transition. Support future service, governance, digital, data and organisational planning activities.

Account Leadership Team Responsibilities As a member of the Local Government Account Leadership Team, the Chief Digital Officer will: Contribute to the strategic direction, growth and success of the account. Support the development of a long-term partnership between Version 1 and Strategic Local Government Accounts Champion innovation, transformation and business value across the account. Collaborate with consulting, delivery, operational and commercial leaders to provide a joined-up customer experience.

Leverage Version 1 capabilities, partner ecosystems and market insight to maximise value delivered to the Council. Promote Version 1 values, leadership behaviours and ways of working across the account. Skills, Knowledge and Experience Essential Significant experience leading digital transformation, strategy or organisational change programmes. Strong strategic thinking and planning capabilities. Experience developing operating models, transformation roadmaps and change portfolios.

Executive-level stakeholder management and advisory experience. Strong workshop facilitation and engagement skills. Experience developing business cases, investment proposals and benefits frameworks. Ability to translate complex business and technical challenges into practical recommendations. Excellent communication, influencing and leadership skills. Experience working across business, technology, data and organisational change disciplines.

Desirable Experience working within Local Government or the wider public sector. Understanding of Local Government Reorganisation and associated organisational challenges. Enterprise Architecture, Business Architecture or Transformation Management experience. Knowledge of Microsoft technologies, AI, automation, data platforms and digital transformation approaches. Experience leading innovation or thought leadership programmes.

Experience in support Local Authorities with their economic development agenda. Knowledge of SAFe, Lean Portfolio Management or strategic portfolio governance practices. Key Success Measures Success in the role will be demonstrated through: Trusted advisor relationships with senior Council stakeholders. Development of clear and actionable strategic priorities. A mature and prioritised transformation pipeline. Lead and coordinate the Partner Advisory Group, ensuring that council benefits from expertise drawn

Source listing: smartrecruiters_version1

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