Vacancy for position of Head of Digital and ICT in An Garda Síochána

The Head of Digital and ICT is a new Director level senior management position in An Garda Síochána. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, the person appointed will have overall responsibility for the Digital and ICT portfolio.

An Garda Síochána is on a journey to become an information led and digital police service. An Garda Síochána has a high dependency on data and technology for existing operations and to deliver on its future goals. We have an ambitious digital strategy which will require the delivery of extensive frontline policing systems underpinned by effective infrastructure, operations and architecture. The Organisation also plans to modernise its corporate systems, including the use of Government-wide and commercial managed services. These information systems are being delivered in the wider context of a data and technology strategy that encompasses both the use of data for operational purposes and data analytics to support investigations and provide insight for management decisions.

An Garda Síochána is committed to supporting the implementation of the Public Service ICT Strategy, with the most relevant streams being Digital First, Build to Share and Data as an Enabler. As the Head of Digital and ICT for a major Government agency, there will be considerable opportunity to influence and contribute to the development of national data and technology strategy.

The work of ICT is being refocused on the delivery of frontline and corporate systems, infrastructure development, operations and re-creating an in-house technical architecture function. This is supported by the creation of a separate data engineering function, transferring responsibility for reporting to the Garda Síochána Analysis Service and creating a Chief Information Business Office that will include vendor management, programme management and budget management. These will allow ICT to focus on delivery and increase the agility of our systems (the ability to cope with future change).

An Garda Síochána anticipate moving to a build vs. buy/share model. Policing system expertise will be vested in Garda staff but An Garda Síochána will adopt Government shared services or commercial products whenever possible for corporate systems. An Garda Síochána will also look to increase cooperation and knowledge sharing with other relevant agencies on policing and justice systems.

Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the role include: -

• Leading the development and delivery of the Garda Digital Strategy;
• Ensuring that the business value of frontline ICT systems is balanced against improving the agility of the systems and underlying infrastructure;
• Leading a team of seven senior level (Principal Officer) managers and 300+ technology professionals;
• Significant input to the overall Garda data and technology vision and strategy;
• Managing the Garda technology estate, one of the largest in the Irish Public Sector;
• Managing the Garda ICT budget (€100M+ annually);
• Leading the organisation development and workforce planning of ICT;
• Developing a prioritised roadmap in agreement with the Garda ICT Prioritisation Board;
• Delivery of the roadmap and operation of a large portfolio of digital services and devices as well as corporate systems;
• Ensuring the security of Garda systems;
• Managing senior relationships and escalations with vendors;
• Aligning technology deliverables with policing and corporate needs, including building and maintaining a close relationship with a large and diverse group of stakeholders;
• Leading build vs. buy decisions and deciding on technology platforms and products;
• Building relationships and influencing across the wider Government and Public Service senior technology and data community.