Principal Lead for Digital Innovation & Cyber
Achieving for Children (AfC) is looking for a driven, energetic, and strategic technology leader to join our Technology, Business Support and Commissioning Directorate as the Principal Lead for Digital Innovation & Cyber. In this pivotal role, you will serve as AfC’s subject matter expert on digital transformation, innovation, and cyber operations, providing specialist guidance across all three boroughs: Kingston, Richmond, and Windsor & Maidenhead. Reporting to senior leadership you will hold product ownership over key digital systems, manage a team delivering technical workstreams, and oversee our digital transformation portfolio budgets.
About the role
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Product Ownership & Platform Management: Driving the product ownership and lifecycle management of organisational digital systems and platforms, ensuring they are user-centred, secure, available, and scalable.
- Leading AI Design & Enablement: Taking end-to-end accountability for the design, delivery, evaluation, and adoption of AI tools across our workforce. This includes advising leaders on how AI can enhance service delivery, establishing governance frameworks for responsible AI use, and guiding cultural change to make AI a trusted everyday tool.
- Innovation, Modernisation & Process Optimisation: Championing digital innovation and technical initiatives to modernise core systems, streamline workflows, and fix inefficient processes across departments to drive operational efficiency.
- Operational Cyber Management: Leading the day-to-day operational management of the cyber security function across all three boroughs.
We work in a flexible, hybrid way to support, learn, and collaborate effectively with each other across our service locations.
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the role please contact the hiring manager Tom Chapman via: tom.chapman@achievingforchildren.org.uk
About you
We are looking for an ambitious, values-driven professional who brings a positive, child-focused approach to digital innovation and infrastructure. To be successful in this role, you should bring:
- Expert Knowledge & Qualifications: Professional qualification or applied experience in a Digital & Technology field, alongside subject matter experience in AI, cyber operations or emerging technologies.
- Product Ownership & System Expertise: Proven experience in system product ownership, managing organisational digital solutions, and leveraging user-centred design to build and continuously improve tech platforms.
- AI Tool Design & Implementation: A wide-ranging understanding of how emerging technology—including the design and implementation of Artificial Intelligence tools—can transform Children's Services and improve outcomes.
- Operational Cyber & Continuity Experience: Practical experience managing operational cyber controls, cyber incident response, business continuity planning, and maintaining platform security and availability.
- Commercial & Financial Acumen: Demonstrated capability in budget management, business case development, and leading commissioning and procurement lifecycles
About our benefits
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
- Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- A range of staff benefits and discounts
- An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
