Scottish councils agree to hire a shared chief digital officer

26 Scottish councils will share a digital team, headed by a £100,000-a-year CDO

Twenty-six Scottish councils are on the hunt for a shared chief digital officer (CDO) who will lead a brand new digital team that will be expected to deliver a digital transformation strategy.

A digital transformation strategy for local government was developed at the end of 2015 and was approved by the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) and the Local Government Digital Transformation Board.

The CDO's role for the first 100 days will be taking the strategy and working with the board and participating councils to translate it into a set of actions that will demonstrate an immediate impact and clear forward path, an information pack explaining the role said.

"We are looking for candidates who can apply their on the ground experience of driving the transformation of organisations, with the networking and relational skills, strategic mindset and vision to lead in helping local government be digital in an increasingly digital world," the document reads.

"You will not be doing this alone - a key task will be to build a credible, experienced digital team. You will also build a wider virtual team working with regional level collaborations as well as working well with our partners - Scottish Government, Scotland Excel, SEEMiS, NHS NSS, Improvement Service and SOCITM," it adds.

It emphasises that the role is not just about technology, but it is about "being a champion for the customer, for simplification and for outcomes over process".

"Your success will ultimately be measured against enabling demonstrable savings, a shift to digital public services, and a culture shift that is driving and sustaining change across local government," the document says.

The successful candidate will, among many other things, have to be highly articulate and credible at the most senior level across local government and its partners. He or she must have demonstrable and practical experience at a senior level in public or private sector of shaping transformational change to business models, processes and technologies that deliver cost savings and service improvements for customers.

In addition, they will have to have a proven record of demonstrating a wide range of high level consultancy skills, the ability to develop excellent relationships with a wide range of senior stakeholders and technical experts, and the ability to manage senior local government and wider public-sector stakeholders.

The post-holder will report to the Local Government Digital Transformation Board through the chair. It will have three to five direct line reports.

The contract is for an initial term of three years with a possible extension. The information pack suggests that the post-holder will have a "flexible location" but be based out of Livingston with significant national travel involved.

The salary and package for the role is negotiable, but it will be in the region of £100,000 plus.