Director General Defence Chief Digital & Information Officer (DG DCD&IO) is a mission critical leadership role at the heart of UK Defence. This role is responsible for defining and delivering the digital strategy, transformation, and technical backbone required to enable an integrated, modern, and battle ready Defence enterprise.

As the senior digital authority across Defence, DG DCD&IO will lead the development of a single Digital Strategy for Defence, ensuring maximum value from more than £4.6BN in digital investment. The role will shape and operate the digital ecosystem underpinning the UK’s ability to deter, fight, and win—connecting people, platforms, and data across the Armed Forces, the intelligence community, and international partners.

This is a system wide role of exceptional scale, overseeing a workforce of over 3,000 digital, data, cyber, and technology specialists, and driving transformation across a globally dispersed Defence environment. DG DCD&IO will be accountable for maintaining a resilient digital enterprise; exploiting AI, data, synthetic environments, and emerging technologies; and ensuring Defence’s critical systems are secure, modern, and ready for the future fight.

DG DCD&IO will set the direction for the Digital Backbone, enabling coherent architectures, robust standards, and a unified approach to data and digital enablement. Working across the National Armaments Director Group—which brings together Defence Equipment & Support, Defence Digital, Dstl, Defence Infrastructure, Defence Commercial & Industry, Defence Support, and wider corporate functions—the role will drive integration and ensure digital delivery aligns to the outcomes of the Strategic Defence Review.

Success will require an inspiring and authoritative digital leader with deep technical expertise and a proven track record of delivering major digital and data transformations in highly complex, high profile environments. The postholder will operate with credibility at Ministerial level, across Government, with NATO and Five Eyes partners, and with CEOs across Defence industry.

We are seeking an exceptional systems leader—strategic, collaborative, and decisive—who can mobilise talent, modernise ways of working, and lead large scale transformation at pace. You will bring board level influence, commercial acumen, and the ability to drive cross enterprise alignment in service of national security.

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• Location: MOD Main Building, London or Defence Digital Headquarters, Corsham (with frequent UK and international travel)

• Salary: £270,000 – £300,000

• Working Pattern: Full Time (flexible arrangements considered)

• Security Clearance: Developed Vetting (DV) required

To receive the full job specification and application details, or to arrange a confidential conversation, please email DCDIO@KornFerry.com.