2 year term with possibility of permanency

Location is flexible, by agreement, this role requires regular travel to Defra/supplier offices; which may include London, Newcastle, Crewe, Birmingham, York, Reading and Bristol.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) plays a vital role at the heart of UK life. The wide-ranging work we do includes safeguarding the natural environment, supporting the UK's world-leading food and farming industries, sustaining a thriving rural economy and leading the engineering of the nation's defences against natural threats and hazards. Join Defra and you will be part of a department that is responsible for the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe.

As Deputy Director Digital Delivery, you will play a pivotal role within a new and exciting part of Defra's Digital, Data and Technology Service: the Major Projects function. Major Projects is the home of strategically important, high profile and technically complex initiatives involving significant digital and IT delivery, often with multiple platforms and suppliers. Examples include: the Europe and Trade Delivery Portfolio, delivering digital services to support the future of UK trade with the EU and the rest of the world; the Future Farming and Countryside Programme, developing digital services and systems to help deliver policies that will make farming sustainable, increase biodiversity and contribute to the Government's Net Zero commitment.

Responsible for leading and driving digital service delivery, you will champion a range of key principles - from putting agile delivery and user centric design at the heart of projects, through to ensuring scope, cost and prioritisation are agreed first at high level, then iteratively though agile development with product and service owners. Naturally, this will see you collaborate with a range of key stakeholders across Defra. Your remit may span from pre-discovery through to live service. A key early focus for you will be the development and extension of six newly launched digital services and five underpinning platforms, as part of our response to the UK's exit from the EU. This means you will be integral to a smooth increase in cross-border trade, with ongoing service improvement and extension driven by user feedback and legislative developments.

To be equal to the challenge, you will need experience of successfully leading and developing large, transformative digital technology services. We expect you to demonstrate a flair for setting direction and future vision, together with a strong working knowledge of agile delivery methods, programme and project management techniques. A creative and innovative thinker, you are highly resilient and adept at overcoming challenges. Your experience of leading on integrated solutions with multiple inbound and outbound dependencies equips you to thrive in this role.

Everyone in Defra is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. You will have access to learning and development from quality providers and support from mentors and coaches. We offer flexible working alongside a range of other policies and schemes to support your physical and emotional wellbeing. Our comprehensive benefits offer includes generous annual leave, a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, volunteering days, childcare vouchers and other salary sacrifice options, and an employee discount scheme.