One of the top IT leadership jobs in the UK is up for grabs as HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) advertises for a new chief information officer (CIO).

The successful applicant will follow on from previous incumbent Steve Lamey, now HMRC’s director general, benefits and credits. Former Tesco CIO Colin Cobain was also recently appointed as a non-executive director of the UK’s tax collecting body.

HMRC CIO will be one of the highest profile and most challenging jobs in UK IT, with a budget of more than £1bn and 1,400 staff, according to the job advert.

“[The CIO] will have the opportunity to make a substantial impact on a key component of the UK government's economic and social policy agenda and on the global IT services community,” it says.

“In a substantial and challenging leadership role the CIO will transform customer service and improve compliance with the tax system, as well as enhance the efficiency of tax administration. The needs of customers, particularly businesses, is a key focus of this reform agenda and IT/IS will play a critical role in the delivery of these objectives.”

HMRC is looking for an individual with IT leadership skills from a FTSE100 company or large public sector organisation, preferably with some international experience.

The job could be worth up to £205,000 for a three-year fixed-term contract, with an option to take up a permanent position.

Anyone interested needs to submit an application to HMRC by 2 February, with the selection process taking place through February and March.

Among the key priorities for the successful applicant will be continuing the overhaul of the department's IT and data security procedures, in line with the recommendations of the Poynter Review that followed HMRC’s loss of 25 million child benefit records in November 2007.

The CIO will also be responsible for managing the Aspire contract, HMRC’s 10-year outsourcing deal with Capgemini – an agreement that could be worth as much as £8.5bn to the supplier, according to the Commons Public Accounts Committee.