Vacancy for Director of Digital at the British Library NEW

Boston Spa, Yorkshire
Digital Preservation Coalition

• Vacancy for Director of Digital at the British Library

Vacancy for Director of Digital at the British Library

12 October 2023

Fixed Term

The post holder is the Executive Director level lead responsible for the development of a Digital Strategy that will enable the organisation to achieve its strategic goals, business objectives and commercial revenue targets. The post is responsible for developing an integrated digital strategy driven by corporate priorities, through matrix leadership. The post chairs the Technology Strategy Group, responsible for the definition and delivery of the digital road map, sequences projects and infrastructure development and manages resource conflicts. They work closely with other Directors who own business services and projects defined in the Digital Strategy.

The Director of Digital line manages the Director of Technology who is responsible for providing the organisation with sustainable, user oriented applications and fit for purpose infrastructure. Business leaders own their services and are responsible for defining high-level requirements but it is for the Digital Department to define solutions, implement and maintain them in partnership with business owners. The Digital Department will create an operating model and structure, which will have product owners responsible for key application groupings such as Library Services Platforms; back office enabling applications; and commercial and marketing systems.

Similarly, the Director of Digital is responsible for developing and implementing web services, which meets the needs of users, and in particular marketing, brand and business leaders. The DoD is not responsible for content (Marketing function has brand standards and oversight) but will have web product managers which work with the web developers in the Technology Department, the infrastructure specialists and content owners to ensure a proportionate but agile development, maintenance and investment life cycle of the web presence.

The post holder is responsible for shaping, leading and implementing an innovative digital culture across the Library. As such, they take a lead in steering and defining the strategic direction of the organisation, particularly in relation to digital technology and web services. The post holder is responsible for encouraging the best use of technology and promoting innovation and embracing the latest developments in technology.

The post holder provides senior leadership and contribution to the Library’s overall strategic governance, providing insight and guidance to the BL Board, Executive Group, Direction Group, and Performance Group.

The post holder also takes a senior role in representing the BL externally, interacting regularly with other peers elsewhere within and outside of the organisation, maintaining an understanding of the individual and collective business needs of the organisation and its peer community.