🚀 Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Grade: SLMG 1 / Salary: £95,338 – £105,328

Location: Nottingham City Council, Loxley House (Hybrid)

Type: Full-Time | Politically Restricted Post

Closing Date: Sunday 3rd August at midnight

🏙️ Be at the Heart of a Digitally Ambitious Nottingham

We are looking for a dynamic and visionary Chief Technology Officer to lead Nottingham into the future. Nottingham City Council are on an exciting journey, so this role isn’t just about systems and servers, it’s about changing lives. Our mission is to put “Citizens at the Heart” of everything we do and delivering that mission means we use technology to support our systems and processes but also enable our residents to engage effectively with us and access services in ways that work for them.

If you’re an inspiring, strategic thinker who understands the power of technology in transforming public services, and you can lead large-scale technology operations with vision and boldness, and bring people along on the journey, then this is your opportunity to leave a legacy, for a city and its people.

This key leadership role will actively promote the Council’s vision, values, aims, objectives, and priorities to partners, national and local stakeholders, colleagues, and Nottingham’s citizens. The successful candidate will provide service leadership, translating this into clear goals and objectives to deliver outcomes that make a positive difference to people’s lives. You’ll drive forward our improvement strategies and work closely and collaboratively with our Corporate Leadership Team, Councillors, colleagues and partners under the direction of the Strategic Director for Transformation & Change.

Key Responsibilities:

• Modernise the council’s technology landscape, supporting the delivery of high-quality, accessible, and efficient public services.
• Lead technology teams, collaborating across the organisation with elected members, regional partners, and suppliers to embed our transformation and continuous improvement plans.
• Strategically lead the IT Service, ensuring delivery, governance, consultancy, and strategy teams deliver a complex agenda.
• Act as a technology advisor to Corporate and Senior Leadership Teams, combining innovative thinking to challenge current service delivery and drive transformation and change.
• Provide strategic and service leadership within the Change and Transition Division, ensuring high levels of performance within and across all services.
• Oversee functions including Technology, Cyber and Security Services, Infrastructure, Networks and Connectivity, End-user computing, Service Desk and Support functions, Applications support, Software licensing, Technical Design, IT and Technology Pipeline and Projects, and Schools IT Service

🌐 About the Role

As our CTO, you’ll be the Council’s leading voice on technology, transformation, and innovation. You’ll deliver on our Digital, Data and Customer Access strategy that improves lives, builds trust, drives efficiencies, and modernises how we serve our citizens, colleagues, and communities.

Reporting to the Strategic Director for Transformation & Change, you’ll:

• Lead our ambitious Technology portfolio, including cybersecurity, infrastructure, end-user services, schools IT, data strategy, project management and product design.
• Champion agile, user-centred delivery and embedding of technology across council services.
• Ensure that our technology platforms are secure, scalable, inclusive, and future-ready.
• Embed cutting-edge technologies to unlock smarter ways of working and service delivery.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and elected members, shaping high-stakes decisions with strong governance, insight, and impact.

💡 What You'll Bring

You’re not just tech-savvy, you’re a leader of people and purpose. You:

• Thrive in political environments, with a deep understanding of local government challenges and public sector values.
• Have a strong track record of leading large, complex digital, data and technology teams to deliver transformation, efficiency, and excellence.
• Bring expertise across cybersecurity, infrastructure, software delivery, vendor management, and more.
• Believe in collaboration, understanding and breaking down barriers and silos and building partnerships.
• Are passionate about inclusion, ensuring our technologies serve all of Nottingham’s diverse communities equitably.
• Can communicate complex ideas with clarity, diplomacy, and authority, from data centres to the council chamber.

🌍 Why Join Us?

• Make a real impact - your work will shape services that touch thousands of lives every day.
• Lead with purpose - be a key player in realising Nottingham’s vision as a world-class digital city.
• Collaborate widely - work with regional and national partners to put Nottingham at the forefront of civic tech innovation.
• Drive the future - shape the adoption of cutting-edge solutions like AI, automation, and predictive analytics.
• Work your way - in a flexible, inclusive, and progressive working environment.

🧩 Essential Skills & Experience

• Senior leadership within digital, data and technology services in a complex public sector organisation.
• Demonstrable success in embedding transformation, service innovation, and strategic delivery.
• Technical expertise across cloud, infrastructure, applications, cyber, and service design.
• Deep understanding of standards (e.g. PSN, ISO27001), compliance, and contract management.
• Strong track record of inspiring diverse, high-performing teams.

🎓 Qualifications & Requirements

• UK Level 6 qualification (Degree or equivalent)
• Recognised project/programme management certification
• Satisfactory Basic DBS check
• Willingness to participate in an Emergency Response rota and travel as needed

🌆 Nottingham: A City of Ambition, Innovation & Heart 💚

At Nottingham City Council, we’re proud to serve a city that’s rich in history, bursting with creativity, and driven by ambition. From our world-class universities and thriving independent businesses to a vibrant arts and culture scene, Nottingham is a city that’s always looking forward.

As a Council, we’re committed to transformation that makes a real difference, building a greener, fairer, and more inclusive community for all. Join us and be part of a team that’s shaping the future of one of the UK’s most dynamic cities. 💼🌟

👥 Politically Restricted Post

This is a politically restricted post under Section 2(1)(c) of the Local Government Housing Act 1989.

🚦Ready to Lead in Nottingham’s Future Ambitions?

Join us at a pivotal moment in our transformation journey. If you're passionate about using technology to power public good, drive innovation, and deliver world-class outcomes for a world-class city, we’d love to hear from you.

📨 Apply now by sending CV and EXPRESSION OF INTEREST to [email protected] (Senior Resourcing Business Partner)

📅 Closing Date: Sunday 3rd August 2025 at midnight

Interviews: Week Commencing 11th August 2025

📍For an informal conversation about this post, contact Strategic Director of Transformation & Change, Lucy Lee at [email protected]

Nottingham City Council is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those underrepresented in technology leadership.