Victoria & Albert Museum - Director of Technology and Data

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in joining the V&A at an extraordinary moment in our history. I am delighted to share the details of our Director of Technology and Data role, a key leadership position in the organisation.

The V&A is transforming – our physical estate is expanding, with two brand new sites opening in East London in 2025 and 2026 – and our business activities are evolving too, with an ambitious new commercial growth strategy underpinned by data-led decisions.

Effective technology and quality data are fundamental to delivering this period of growth. From the security and communication networks that will enable our new sites to open safely to the public through to the business transformation potential of AI, the work of our Technology team is at the heart of the development of our museums, our public offer and how we work together.

We are three years into a transformation of our technology estate, which has seen significant investment in infrastructure and platform renewal. Our strategy was enterprise architecture led, cloud first and consolidated on the Microsoft stack and we have made good progress towards our target architecture. The time is now right for an appraisal of that approach and development of the next Technology and Data Strategy for the V&A, one that builds on what we have learnt, embraces the possibilities of new technologies and finds innovative and more responsive ways of working in partnership with the wider organisation.

Our new Director of Technology and Data will be motivated by developing and empowering people, fostering trust and open communication and building an inclusive and collaborative team culture. They will have a passion for the power of data and a vision for how technology can support and enable change and growth. And they will be excited by the opportunity to work at the heart of a mission-led organisation at a critical point in our evolution.

If this sounds like you, please contact our search partners (details below) for a confidential conversation. We are very keen to hear from a diverse range of candidates. Thank you again for your interest in the V&A.

Jane Ellis
Director of Finance and Resources.

About us

The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity. Our mission is to champion design and creativity in all its forms, advance cultural knowledge, and inspire makers, creators and innovators everywhere. We share a 5,000-year-old story of creativity through exhibitions, events, educational programmes, digital experiences, conservation, research, and an ever-evolving national collection of over 2.8m objects spanning every creative discipline.

There has never been a more exciting time to join the V&A as we expand to open two brand new sites. V&A East is dedicated to creative opportunity and its power to bring change. Two free cultural destinations – V&A East Storehouse and Museum – will open up the V&A collection for all, celebrate making in all its forms and create new possibilities for everyone. Opening in east London, 2025 and 2026.

Our values

Equity
Creativity
Collaboration
Sustainability
Generosity

Learn more about us and our strategy here.

Our team structures

Resources and Commercial Divisions

The role

Director of Technology and Data (AQ3025)

Apply now

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title Director of Technology and Data
Contract Permanent
Division Resources
Hours Full time
Department Technology
Direct Reports 1
Reports to Director of Finance and Resources
Size of team c.60

About the role

As we expand our physical estate and broaden our audiences, so too are we transforming our technology architecture and approach to data. With an ambition to become data-led to power our commercial strategy and a need to embrace the process optimisation potential of technology to deliver change across the organisation, this is a pivotal moment to develop and lead the V&A’s technology and data transformation.

We have invested in our technology team and our platforms over recent years, moving towards a cloud-first environment consolidated on the Microsoft stack where possible. We have made good progress, but now is the time to reassess our strategy to ensure our approach to technology and data transformation matches the aspirations and needs of the changing organisation.

Our Director of Technology and Data will develop and implement a new data and technology strategy for the V&A that will deliver benefits in real time and inspire the wider organisation with the possibilities for change. They will develop and lead a team with a growth mindset to enable and encourage colleagues across the V&A to embrace change powered by data and technology.

An experienced leader motivated by transforming and uniting teams to work effectively together, you have a genuine passion for the potential of data and technology to deliver growth and transform business processes.

You are able not only to lead and inspire your team but also to engage proactively and meaningfully with colleagues across our diverse organisation, understanding their challenges and identifying opportunities for technology-enabled benefits.

As the V&A’s technology expert you will lead our approach to adoption of emerging technologies and innovation, but you will balance this with a risk-based approach to cyber security appropriate to a public sector body. You are skilled at identifying and implementing solutions that respond to business needs whilst also being enough of a pragmatist to steer colleagues in the direction of achievable solutions that meet the greatest need.

You understand that in the public sector, our resources are limited and used for the public good; you have experience of delivering value for money solutions, of managing and rationalising contracts and of building strategies that are sustainable in terms of future resource consumption.

You are excited by the opportunity to be at the heart of a mission-led organisation dedicated to the power of creativity and design, leading us through the next stage of our technology and data transformation.

Key Responsibilities

Provide inspirational and directive, hands-on leadership to the Technology team, ensuring the team is diverse, inclusive and outward-facing as well as being high performing, integrated and effective. Lead cultural change to develop a growth mindset within the team, building new skills and encouraging continual improvement.
Develop, maintain, and deliver a data and technology strategy and transformation plan to underpin and enable the V&A’s ambitious commercial growth and broader strategic objectives. Ensure that the transformation plan is costed, deliverable within existing resource and continues to have appropriate support across the organisation.
Embed Enterprise Architecture practice within the Technology team, evolving the Technology services and systems to deliver a refreshed target architecture
Oversee delivery of the wide-ranging portfolio of projects within the Technology transformation programme, ensuring these adhere to the target architecture and are delivered in line with approved budget and programme.
Lead on development of a lighter-touch programme management approach, enabling a staged evolution away from traditional waterfall based project management towards a scaled agile methodology, in which benefits are delivered incrementally and at lower cost.
Maintain close oversight of cyber-security, ensuring all reasonable measures are in place and are regularly reviewed to protect the V&A’s assets from hostile attack whilst also ensuring our approach to cyber security is proportionate and does not unduly constrain innovation and experimentation.
Champion the adoption of Scaled Agile, Product Management, Service Design, Business Self Service, and Technology Business Management practices. Lead the team to develop a standardised methodology for the wider organisation to engage with the technology team, capturing demand systematically and enabling a more sophisticated approach to demand management and development of a prioritised pipeline.
Manage technology budgets and resources effectively, rationalizing the supply chain and considering opportunities to reduce cost over time through changes to working practices, leveraging automation, out-sourcing and artificial intelligence where appropriate.
Lead on cultural change within the V&A as a whole to inspire the development of digital skills and use of technology to transform working practices, communication and data management.
As part of the Extended Executive Board, actively participate in the management and success of the V&A as a whole.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job specific

Proven track record as a senior technology leader (CIO or similar) in a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation.
Experience of developing and implementing a technology strategy that reflects the changing needs of a complex organisation and is responsive to emerging technologies.
Experience of legacy system modernisation and a sound understanding of enterprise architecture development.
Experience of developing and implementing data strategies that have effected change and delivered demonstrable business benefits
Extensive experience of leading and delivering complex technology projects, programmes and initiatives.
Knowledge of the NCSC GovAssure and Cyber Assurance Framework and experience of leading an effective and resilient information security function.

Core skills

Demonstrable and extensive experience of change management – building, leading and developing teams to deliver an effective, collaborative and high-performing working culture.
Deep knowledge of current and emerging technologies and the potential of data and technology to transform business processes.
Highly developed interpersonal and consultative skills, including the ability to communicate, present, negotiate, influence and build credibility with colleagues and external parties.
Significant experience of managing and prioritising a high workload, applying judgment across multiple complex issues in a changing environment with tight deadlines.

Behavioural requirements

Strategic outlook: takes a long-term perspective, capable of envisioning the future and translating it into actionable plans.
Collaborative leader: skilled at building relationships with own team and stakeholders across the organization to foster a shared understanding of the technology and data strategy and its benefits.
Respects others’ expertise, time, perspectives and contribution.
Takes responsibility for delivering on actions, achieving high-standards and learning from mistakes.
Open to change, new ideas and suggestions; looks for opportunities for improvement and self-development.
Works with others outside their own department in a collaborative, understanding, and engaging way.

Apply now

Terms of appointment

Salary
£105,000

Location
Hybrid (Minimum 3 days on site in South Kensington)

Annual leave
29 days plus 8 days public holidays

Pension benefits

5.5% employee pension contribution, 10% employer pension contribution (post-probation)

Other benefits include:

Free entry to several museums, galleries, and exhibitions across the UK.
Complimentary tickets to V&A exhibitions for your friends or family.
Subsidised staff canteen.
25% discount on purchases in V&A shops.
Non-contributory life assurance policy (to value of 4 x annual salary).
An interest free season ticket or bicycle loan (available upon completion of probation).
Employee Assistance line for all V&A employees, 24 hours a day 7 days per week.
Family-friendly policies e.g. enhanced maternity + paid carers leave.
Benefits platform offering discounts at major retailers.

How to apply

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to The V&A. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.

Applications should consist of:

A full CV.
A covering letter (maximum of two pages) outlining your relevant experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
Please include details of two referees on your CV, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

The closing date for this role is 24 January 2025.

For a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley:

Grace Tattersall at grace.tattersall@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7510 384 761, or Lela Gascoigne at lela.gascoigne@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7702 650 507.

Appointment of the Director of Technology and Data