Head of Design and Digital First Transformation

About Us

This is an exciting time for transformation at West Sussex County Council, where we are on a continuing improvement journey that places residents, customers, and partners at the heart of everything we do.

We are now poised to build on our success by designing and delivering impactful, transformational change whilst seizing the opportunities presented through Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in West Sussex.

The Opportunity

Salary: Competitive Salary, plus relocation package if eligibleWorking Pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per weekLocation: County Hall, Chichester, with hybrid working opportunities

The Head of Design and Digital First Transformation is a new senior role in West Sussex, created to help achieve our objectives. We need someone with the expertise to rapidly support and drive the design requirements of our transformation portfolio, ensuring that existing and emerging ways of working including technologies are adopted. Concurrently, you will identify, establish, and embed best practice design methodologies and approaches within the organisation and manage multi-disciplinary teams.

If you would like to find out more about West Sussex, our organisation and council plan click here: Our Council Plan - West Sussex County Council

What are we looking for

The potholder will:

• lead the direction and execution of the Design and Digital First Transformation function to embed design at the heart of the council's transformation and continuous improvement initiatives, increasing efficiency productivity, and performance through introducing internal consultancy and multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) approach to work across the organisation.
• ensure existing and emerging technology such as AI is designed into our business processes to ensure adoption and sustainable benefits.
• build and grow design capability by embedding new methodologies, principles, and emerging technology for effective and enduring change.
• oversee and drive customer and process improvements through various design work and transformation programmes.
• champion design and digital to enhance customer and resident experience, aligning with council goals.
• drive innovation and collaboration with services and subject matter experts to deliver user-centred design solutions.
• embed a culture of continuous improvement and high performance within the Design and Digital First Transformation function.

For more information, please see the job description and person specification.

Rewards and Benefits

At West Sussex County Council, we value and invest in our people. In addition to playing a key role in shaping the future of our communities, you'll benefit from:

• an excellent local government pension scheme
• generous holiday entitlement of 31 days (plus opportunity to buy additional leave)
• a range of flexible working options, depending on your job role
• maternity, paternity, dependency and adoption leave
• volunteering opportunities
• training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring
• a range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers; groceries, travel, cinema tickets, days out, leisure activities, high street retailers and the opportunity to save over £1,000 a year through our West Sussex Choices benefits platform (see our Staff discounts page if you are a business looking to offer a discount)
• health and wellbeing benefits including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and Voluntary Health Cash Plans

For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.

Further Information

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Mike Suarez (Executive Director of Finance and Support Services) at mike.suarez@westsussex.gov.uk. For issues or queries regarding your application please contact hrrecruitment@westsussex.gov.uk.

To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and Cover Letter. In your cover letter please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

his post is subject to 3 years referencing and a health check. Please be advised this role is a politically restricted post.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application helppage.