As part of a wider system, we work with people and places to shape services that work for them. Our focus is on prevention, long-term outcomes and reducing escalation of need, risk and demand.
Chief Innovation, Technology and Digital Officer
Salary: £120,927 to £135,629
Lead with vision. Deliver with pace. Innovate with purpose. Shape the future of Westmorland and Furness as our Chief Innovation, Technology and Digital Officer.
Lead with vision. Deliver with pace. Innovate with purpose. Shape the future of Westmorland and Furness as our Chief Innovation, Technology and Digital Officer.
Hear from Miranda Cannon, Chief Executive, as she shares her perspective on this exciting leadership opportunity...
Westmorland and Furness is a place like no other. A young and ambitious council serving one of the most beautiful and diverse areas in the UK – from our fells and lakes to vibrant towns and coastal communities. We are proud of our heritage, strong sense of community and growing national profile.
Established in 2023, we have already delivered significant progress against our Council Plan priorities – from strengthening services for children and families to investing in connectivity, sustainability and local growth. As a relatively new unitary authority, our journey is evolving. We are now entering a pivotal phase as we build a council that is financially sustainable, modern and resilient, while continuing to deliver excellent outcomes for our residents.
Like councils across the country, we face increasing demand, financial challenges and rising expectations from residents and communities. Our response is ambitious. We are accelerating organisation-wide transformation – designing services around residents, strengthening prevention and making the most of digital, data and technology to work smarter, faster and as effectively as we can. This is not just about efficiency; it is about creating a council that is insight-led, customer-focused and able to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
We are now seeking an exceptional Chief Innovation, Technology and Digital Officer to help lead this next stage of our journey. This is a pivotal, organisation-wide leadership role at the heart of our transformation. You will shape how we harness digital, data and technology to modernise services, improve customer experience, strengthen decision-making and empower our workforce.
Working as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will be a visionary and strategic leader who can drive a council-wide transformative approach to digital, data and technology – building the foundations, culture and capabilities we need to succeed. From advancing our use of data and AI, to embedding user-centred design and strengthening our digital infrastructure, you will ensure that innovation translates into real, measurable outcomes for residents and communities. From cyber security, information governance and resilient infrastructure to enterprise architecture and service reliability, you will ensure that innovation is built on secure, trusted and sustainable foundations.
We are looking for someone who combines vision with delivery at pace, innovation with pragmatism and ambition with strong stewardship. Someone who can help us move faster, think differently and deliver better outcomes for the people of Westmorland and Furness.
In return, you will join a talented and committed organisation with the ambition to transform how we deliver for residents and communities. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a new council, drive organisation-wide transformation at scale and play a central role in building a modern, efficient and forward-thinking authority, helping to make Westmorland and Furness a truly great place to live, work and thrive.
For more information about the role, please view the below attachments.
Shaping our future together
We’re improving how our council works so services work efficiently, are joined up and focused on the people and places we serve.
To make real, lasting change, we need to look at how the whole council works together.
This means redesigning:
- How we organise ourselves
- How we use money and resources
- How we work alongside our communities
- How information flows
- How staff are supported to do their best work
When all these parts work together, the result is a council that is efficient and effective – easier to work with, easier to work in and better for the people we serve.
Our Guiding Principles
In making these changes we will be guided by our values and our three guiding principles:
1. Community focused
2. Digitally enabled
We use digital, automation and data where they improve services or reduce cost. This enables simple access, modern ICT and streamlined processes that cut repeat contact and rework.
3. Financially sustainable
We improve productivity and value for money of service delivery for our residents. Our staffing, structures and processes are aligned to what we can sustain over the long term, keeping resources focused on the services that matter most to our communities.
4. Transformation Programmes
We will focus efforts on the following transformation programmes:
- Customer Experience
- Digital, Data and Technology Foundations
- Employee Experience
- Future Focused Workforce
- People, Place, Prevention: Test, Learn and Grow
Read more about our Transformation Programme and how we will make the council work better for our residents, our communities and our staff.
Our benefits
We are a caring council. We are dedicated to supporting your health and wellbeing while you are working for us. We have a variety of fantastic benefits that ensure you can achieve a healthy work-life balance.
If you want to find out more about our benefits and working for Westmorland and Furness, please visit the link below.
How to apply
To register your details and to apply, please visit: https://starfishsearch.com/jobs/westmorland-and-furness-citdo/
If you would like an informal conversation about this role, please contact Tim Farr from Starfish Search at Tim.Farr@starfishsearch.com.
Closing date: 2nd August 2026
Longlisting: w/c 3rd August 2026
Technical interviews: w/c 10th August 2026
Shortlisting: w/c 10th August 2026
Psychometric assessments: w/c 17th August 2026
Final interviews: w/c 31st August 2026
Please note, these dates are indicative and are subject to change.
Salary, hours and contract type
Salary: £120,927 to £135,629
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract type: Permanent
Our approach to recruitment
Thank you for your interest in joining Westmorland and Furness Council. We are committed to building a diverse and skilled workforce that reflects the character of our community.
We believe in treating all applicants fairly and without bias. Our recruitment process is designed to be open, inclusive, and supportive, ensuring that you feel valued and able to demonstrate your strengths. We aim to make the process as transparent and equitable as possible for everyone.
For more information, please visit Working with us | Careers.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and work to promote an inclusive, supportive culture that values and celebrates our differences.
Safer recruitment
At Westmorland and Furness Council we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expects all employees, volunteers and workers to share this commitment.