Overview

The Director for Technology, Innovation and Enterprise leads the ICO's technology and business-facing directorate. The role spans issues in the digital economy—AI and biometrics, children's privacy, online tracking and digital innovation—that shape how people live and how businesses succeed.

The Information Commissioner\'s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.

Role and responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership of the Technology, Innovation and Enterprise directorate, ensuring delivery of ICO25 priorities and alignment to corporate objectives.
• Lead and inspire the directorate\'s three departments (Technology, Innovation and Enterprise), setting vision, allocating resources and ensuring a high-performance culture.
• Oversee delivery of major programmes including online tracking, AI and biometrics, children\'s privacy, and innovation services, ensuring impact and value for money.
• Ensure structured horizon scanning and anticipatory policy development, positioning the ICO on frontier technologies such as agentic AI, neurotechnology and quantum computing.
• Act as the ICO\'s sponsor Director for the DRCF, ensuring effective cross-regulatory collaboration and alignment on systemic issues across the digital regulatory landscape.
• Provide authoritative advice and representation to senior government, parliamentary and industry stakeholders, securing trust and influence for the ICO on matters of technological risk and innovation.
• Lead the development of a statutory regulatory sandbox and ensure continuous improvement of the ICO\'s innovation services portfolio.
• Manage risk across the directorate, ensuring effective governance, robust assurance and timely escalation to the Executive Team.
• Promote professional development, inclusion and wellbeing across the directorate, creating an environment that attracts and retains high-calibre staff.
• Contribute actively to the ICO\'s Senior Leadership Team, supporting collective decision-making and corporate responsibilities.
• Represent the ICO nationally and internationally, building strategic partnerships and enhancing the organisation\'s external profile.
• Adapt the directorate\'s scope and structure as the ICO\'s operating model evolves, leading organisational change with clarity and confidence.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks.

Eligibility and interview

Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO\'s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme. As part of the ICO\'s commitment to our EDI objectives and creating a workplace that represents the communities and societies we serve, we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they identify as belonging from an ethnic minority background and who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy.

Security and requirements

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Minimum criteria

• Substantial experience relevant to the role requirements, engaging with the interaction between information rights and technology and/or innovation, accumulated through academic or vocational qualifications or experience. (Also assessed at interview).
• Experience of engaging and negotiating with senior external stakeholders. (Also assessed at interview).
• Substantial experience of the management and deployment of resources, including budgets. (Also assessed at interview).
• Inclusive and supportive staff leadership skills. (Also assessed at interview).
• Deep familiarity with the use of technology to process personal data, and the promotion of, and engagement with, innovation. (Also assessed at interview).

Essential criteria assessed during interview:

• Excellent written and verbal communication, negotiation and presentation skills
• Personally effective — excellent organisational skills, ability to prioritise and delegate
• Ability to seek out, manage and influence opportunities for continuous improvement and change

Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. Read more about our commitment on our website.

Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO\'s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme. As part of the ICO\'s commitment to our EDI objectives and creating a workplace that represents the communities and societies we serve, we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they identify as belonging from an ethnic minority background and who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy.

Benefits

• Pay progression scheme.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
• Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).
• Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
• Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
• Health Cash Plan.
• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.

Note: Salary details are indicative. Alongside your salary of £88,403, the ICO contributes £25,610 towards the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.