MI5 is responsible for protecting the UK from threats to our National Security, including terrorism and espionage by hostile states. In this age of unprecedented technological change, we are embarking on an innovative transformation programme to ensure we can continue to keep the country safe from a range of complex threats. To do this, we’re creating a team to help drive our transformation across our organisation to ensure we are equipped for our mission now and in the future. We need people who are comfortable with ambiguity, curious about the future and able to adapt to keep us ahead. 

Who we are

We are developing an organisational wide digital transformation, working closely with our partner intelligence agencies. This includes a significant shift in our approach to data and technology, as well as our ways of working. As Chief Data Officer, you will help lead this work turning our strategic aims into reality, through putting in place the data practices we need to successfully support our mission.

Our organisation prides itself on our collaborative and inclusive working environment. We believe that you can seldom work alone and achieve the best outcome and so, to enable us all to perform to our very best, together we’ve created a culture that is friendly, supportive, and respectful. The range of backgrounds and skills of our workforce is huge and varied, however we are all connected by our motivation to keep the country safe.

Our teams

As Chief Data Officer (CDO) you will lead a multi-functional team made up of business, technical and data specialists that is responsible for managing all of the MI5’s data, information, and knowledge so that it can be lawfully used for maximum value. You’ll work closely with peers across MI5 and with our closest partners, to deliver coherence within the wider National Security data ecosystem. Internally, you’ll work closely with other specialists including Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Product Officer (CPO) to set direction for future capability development. 

Who you are

We are looking for an experienced leader with a background in:

• Maximising the value from data
• Delivering data maturity
• Managing change involving complex data and technology interdependencies

You will have:

• Experience leading Chief Data Officer or Data Architecture functions and owning a data strategy and vision.
• Experience in leading people and teams across a diverse multi-functional organisation.
• Deep understanding of the full end-to-end strategy, design, development, governance and maintenance of data ecosystems, platforms and life-cycle management.
• Experience enabling AI, data science and analytics related requirements, ensuring compliance, security and data ethics are built in from the start

What you will do

You will be responsible for:

• Leading the organisation’s Data Office and helping to shape our organisation-wide digital transformation, as a key part of the transformation leadership team.
• Developing and managing relationships with external CDOs and stakeholders to improve data interoperability with our partners and enable our shared transformation plans.
• Leading and championing the Data, Information, Insights, Record and Knowledge strategy – developing and implementing programmes to maximise the value from data, whilst improving and sustaining the sharing and protection of data assets. 
• Developing the Data capability and skills framework that will provide the data skills needed for the future.
• Setting the standards, principles, policy and architecture to drive the data lifecycle throughout the organisation, to ensure full accountability for data assets, decisions, issues and changes in line with legislation and regulation.
• Embedding improved, sustainable data governance processes across the organisation.
• Setting the vision for a data ecosystem and lifecycle and driving strategic initiatives to improve data quality and discoverability.
• Developing and delivering a strategy, with partners across the organisation, for improving data literacy and skills.
• Working with frontline and corporate services teams across the organisation to help realise our analytics requirements.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service) and 10.5 public and privilege holidays
• Financial support for learning and development
• Interest free season ticket loan
• Excellent pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Subsidised gym, restaurant and coffee bar

Offer of Interview

As a Disability Confident Leader, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. This is known as Offer of an Interview. To secure an interview for this vacancy, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:

Eligibility Questions – You will be asked a series of questions relating to this vacancy. If you meet the criteria here, you will be directed to the initial application form.

On successful completion of an application form sift, you will be invited to interview. This is our Offer of an Interview.

Diversity Statement

The UK Intelligence Agencies MI5 are Equal Opportunities employers, committed to Reflecting the Society we protect. Our recruitment process is fair, transparent and based on merit. We particularly welcome applications from people from ethnic minority groups, females, LGBT+ communities and those with disabilities.

Recruitment Process

The first thing we will ask you to do is to complete our pre-screening questions to find out if you meet our eligibility criteria. If you do meet these criteria, we will then ask you to begin an application.

The application will consist of providing contact details and equal opportunities monitoring information. You will also be requested to upload a copy of your current CV and to answer some skills and additional information questions.

Our recruitment team will conduct a sift of your application. Successful applicants will be invited to an online interview including motivational, job specific and competency based questions. In a competitive process, a second interview may be required.

Successful applicants will then be asked to attend a security interview with a vetting officer. You will also need to complete a medical examination including an eyesight and hearing test and achieve the required level of physical fitness.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply, you must be a British Citizen. One of your parents must be a British Citizen or must have the nationality or citizenship from our approved list of countries). If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered.) Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for seven out of the last ten years. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You can apply at the age of 17 years and 6 months, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday. Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member. Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside of the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. Further information on our eligibility criteria can be found on the ‘Applying’ section.