The ONS operates a flexible hybrid working model across the UK, with colleagues linked to one of our contractual locations working between office and remote throughout the week. The locations for this role are Newport, Titchfield (Fareham), Manchester, Darlington, London.
All colleagues are required to work from their contractually allocated site for at least 60% of their working time.
The induction process for the role will be conducted in person.
Job Summary
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics and the UK's recognised national statistical institute. The ONS plays a hugely important national role through mobilising the power of data to help Britain make better decisions. They are responsible for collecting and publishing statistics related to the economy, population and society at national, regional and local levels. ONS also conducts the census in England and Wales every 10 years. Their main responsibilities are collecting, analysing and disseminating statistics about the UK's economy, society and population.
ONS is independent of ministers and instead reports through the UK Statistics Authority to Parliament and the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. ONS is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, which is responsible for promoting and safeguarding the production and publication of official statistics which serve the public good.
Job Description
As the Director General for Digital, Data and Technology, the postholder will set the strategic direction for the organisation’s data, digital, and technology policy, and will be accountable for the protection and mobilisation of the vast amount of data and information held by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The postholder will demonstrate an expert understanding of the risks and opportunities across the digital and technology space. They will ensure that ONS is well positioned to effectively navigate this rapidly evolving landscape, building on our expertise in data to deliver our strategic priorities. Among the responsibilities will be the delivery of digital services and operations and the transition away from legacy technology through large-scale transformation of the ONS’s digital infrastructure. With accountability for the protection and security of the organisation’s information, the postholder will implement a resilient data and technology architecture that ensures the systems underpinning the production of ONS statistics are fit for the future.
The postholder will be a key member of the ONS Executive Committee, playing a crucial and highly visible senior leadership role, setting strategic direction and driving the culture, behaviour and performance of the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Accountability for digital and technological transformation, moving the organisation away from outdated, legacy technology to a model which provides reliable, sustainable infrastructure and digital solutions.
- Navigate a changing organisational context to provide strategic direction across all areas of the organisation’s digital and technology landscape.
- Lead the development and implementation of a coherent and impactful organisation AI strategy.
- As a senior leader, embed the value of advanced digital, data and technology capabilities into wider organisational strategies.
- Foster a collaborative culture to increase the digital capabilities of our people, ensuring the organisation has the capability and capacity required to drive delivery and innovation.
- Champion the ability of new and evolving technologies to meet organisational priorities, establishing an innovation-focused culture that promotes the building of digital and data skills.
- Negotiate and secure investment for digital, data and technology.
- Hold accountability for the protection and security of the organisation’s data and information assets amidst growing cyber security risks.
- As a respected leader in this field, build partnerships across government, the private sector and beyond, harnessing this collaboration to support delivery of the organisation’s strategic priorities.
- Manage competing demands, risks and opportunities to maximise the value of investments in people and infrastructure, ensuring value for money.
- As a key member of ONS’ senior leadership team, play an active role in driving forward the organisation’s wider priorities, including breaking down institutional barriers and building a culture of inclusive and collaborative leadership.
Further information on this role can be found in the candidate pack attached.
As the Director General for Digital, Data and Technology, the postholder will set the strategic direction for the organisation’s data, digital, and technology policy, and will be accountable for the protection and mobilisation of the vast amount of data and information held by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The postholder will demonstrate an expert understanding of the risks and opportunities across the digital and technology space. They will ensure that ONS is well positioned to effectively navigate this rapidly evolving landscape, building on our expertise in data to deliver our strategic priorities. Among the responsibilities will be the delivery of digital services and operations and the transition away from legacy technology through large-scale transformation of the ONS’s digital infrastructure. With accountability for the protection and security of the organisation’s information, the postholder will implement a resilient data and technology architecture that ensures the systems underpinning the production of ONS statistics are fit for the future.
The postholder will be a key member of the ONS Executive Committee, playing a crucial and highly visible senior leadership role, setting strategic direction and driving the culture, behaviour and performance of the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Accountability for digital and technological transformation, moving the organisation away from outdated, legacy technology to a model which provides reliable, sustainable infrastructure and digital solutions.
- Navigate a changing organisational context to provide strategic direction across all areas of the organisation’s digital and technology landscape.
- Lead the development and implementation of a coherent and impactful organisation AI strategy.
- As a senior leader, embed the value of advanced digital, data and technology capabilities into wider organisational strategies.
- Foster a collaborative culture to increase the digital capabilities of our people, ensuring the organisation has the capability and capacity required to drive delivery and innovation.
- Champion the ability of new and evolving technologies to meet organisational priorities, establishing an innovation-focused culture that promotes the building of digital and data skills.
- Negotiate and secure investment for digital, data and technology.
- Hold accountability for the protection and security of the organisation’s data and information assets amidst growing cyber security risks.
- As a respected leader in this field, build partnerships across government, the private sector and beyond, harnessing this collaboration to support delivery of the organisation’s strategic priorities.
- Manage competing demands, risks and opportunities to maximise the value of investments in people and infrastructure, ensuring value for money.
- As a key member of ONS’ senior leadership team, play an active role in driving forward the organisation’s wider priorities, including breaking down institutional barriers and building a culture of inclusive and collaborative leadership.
Further information on this role can be found in the candidate pack attached.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Track record of strategic leadership at the most senior levels in the data, digital and technology space, navigating changing organisational context to lead large-scale digital and technological transformation, achieving successful outcomes.
- Deep understanding of how to utilise digital and technology capabilities, leveraging the opportunities, and mitigating against the risks, to build the infrastructure required for organisations to deliver their priorities, and to protect against cyber threats.
- An expert ability to navigate the trade-offs associated with investments across people, systems and infrastructure, extracting maximum value for public money.
- Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with a proven ability to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders to create partnerships needed to meet the organisation’s digital and technology priorities.
- Demonstrable experience of creating high-performing teams, and an innovation-focused culture, to drive forward delivery.
Alongside your salary of £150,000, Office for National Statistics contributes £43,455 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our valued colleagues across the organisation.
Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that our careers site will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues, and our fantastic working culture.
Inclusion & Accessibility
At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a Disability Confident Leader we’re committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.
If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.
Selection process details
Security Clearance
For ONS the requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying and the department will consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.
If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please read the information available on Gov.uk on this link
, or contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss, as failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.
At the point of SC application, you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
- Security Services records
Artificial intelligence (AI) software such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot and Gemini are powerful tools that can create and review text in ways that mimic what people can do. These tools can help you enhance your application and prepare for the process, but it is essential you use them appropriately.
They must also not be used to provide misleading or false information at any stage of the application journey.
It is also important to understand that while AI can help you prepare for an interview, you must not use it to produce responses during an interview.
For full guidance in relation to the use of AI through the recruitment process, please click here.
Selection Process
Applications should consist of your
CV and
Personal Statement combined as one document and uploaded as a single attachment through Civil Service Jobs.
A Curriculum Vitae consisting Of:
- Details of your education and/or professional qualifications.
- Full employment history, giving details (where applicable) of budgets and numbers of people managed, relevant key achievements in recent posts.
- Details of your latest remuneration.
A personal statement detailing in no more than 2 pages of A4 how you meet the
essential criteria listed in the person specification. We recommend that you give clear examples for each describing your own contribution and the impact and value of your actions.
Applications will be acknowledged shortly after receipt. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within one week of applying for the post, please contact our SCS Recruitment Team. at: SCS.Recruitment@ons.gov.uk
Further information on the assessment approach for this role can be found in the candidate pack.
Expected Recruitment Timetable
Shortlisting meeting: WC 15th December 2025
Employee Engagement Exercise (EEE) - WC 12th January 2026
Technical Assessment - WC 19th January 2026
Interviews - WC 26th January 2026 - Held in 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
Dates are subject to change.
Full terms and conditions are attached at the bottom of this advert
If you meet the required standard but the recruiting department is unable to offer you the job, you may be given the option of being added to a reserve list. Reserve lists may be shared with other Civil Service departments and professions who are recruiting for similar roles.
Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : Darren Tierney
- Email : Permanent.Secretary@ons.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : SCS.Recruitment@ons.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact recruitment.complaints@ons.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission
