Senior Digital Strategy Officer

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week

Contract Type: Full-Time, Temporary (12 Months) 

Closing Date: 31 August 2026

Closing time: 11.59pm 

Interview Method: Face to Face 

Legal Right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) : Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action

This role is subject to -

2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history

Manchester City Council is recruiting a Senior Digital Strategy Officer – Digital Infrastructure Lead to help drive forward Manchester’s digital infrastructure and connectivity ambitions.

This role will lead and coordinate key activity across the city’s Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity Action Plan , helping Manchester take a more strategic, consistent and proactive approach to digital infrastructure. This includes fixed and fibre connectivity, mobile infrastructure, operator engagement, digital infrastructure governance, and the integration of connectivity considerations into housing, planning, highways, regeneration and development activity.

High-quality digital infrastructure is essential to Manchester’s future. It supports economic growth, regeneration, digital inclusion, housing, public services, business investment and the city’s wider ambitions to be inclusive, sustainable and resilient. This role will help ensure Manchester has the foundations in place to support residents, communities, businesses and public services now and in the future.

You will act as a key coordination point for digital infrastructure activity, working across Council services and with external partners to improve visibility, strengthen governance, support operator engagement and help move activity from reactive, case-by-case responses to a more strategic, portfolio-led approach.

This is not a purely technical telecoms role. It is a strategic delivery, coordination and partnership role for someone who understands how digital infrastructure connects to place, growth, inclusion, regeneration and public value.

You will help to:

• • Coordinate delivery of Manchester’s Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity Action Plan.
  • Support the development of a clear Digital Infrastructure Coordination Function within the Digital Strategy Team.
  • Help establish a more consistent “single front door” for infrastructure operators and providers.
  • Strengthen coordination across Housing, Planning, Highways, Estates, Legal, Regeneration, Records and other relevant Council services.
  • Support improved governance, decision-making, escalation routes and visibility of digital infrastructure activity.
  • Help develop and maintain a clearer picture of digital infrastructure opportunities, risks, constraints and dependencies across the city.
  • Support proactive infrastructure management, particularly where connectivity links to regeneration, redevelopment, housing, mobile capacity, fibre deployment and future place-based growth.
  • Work with operators, industry partners and internal services to improve the quality, consistency and transparency of infrastructure engagement.
  • Champion ethical, inclusive and future-focused approaches to digital infrastructure deployment.

About the Candidate

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience leading or coordinating complex projects involving digital infrastructure, connectivity, technology, planning, regeneration, housing, transport, highways, assets or place-based delivery.
• Can work confidently across different services, partners and professional disciplines to bring people together around shared outcomes.
• Understands how fibre, mobile, wireless and other forms of digital infrastructure support inclusive growth, public services, digital inclusion and future city development.
• Can translate complex technical, policy or operational issues into clear advice, briefings, business cases, reports and delivery plans.
• Has strong project and programme management skills, including the ability to manage risks, dependencies, stakeholders, procurement or contract activity.
• Can support governance and decision-making in a politically aware and partnership-led environment.
• Is comfortable engaging with infrastructure providers, operators, developers, internal officers and senior stakeholders.
• Brings curiosity, judgement and confidence — able to ask the right questions, make sense of complexity and help turn recommendations into practical delivery.

Why this role matters

Manchester already has strong policy support, experienced officers and positive engagement with infrastructure providers, but recent work has shown the need for a more coordinated and consistent approach to how digital infrastructure is planned, managed and delivered across the organisation. The action plan identifies challenges around fragmented information, unclear routes into decision-making, varying operator submissions and activity that is often reactive rather than proactive. 

This role will help Manchester move towards an  approach where connectivity is considered earlier, responsibilities are clearer, information is easier to access, and infrastructure is treated as a strategic asset for the city.

How to apply

To be considered, please submit your CV and an Expression of Interest in the Supporting Documents section.

Please answer the following questions:

1. 1. What motivates you to apply for this role, and how does it align with your personal or professional values?
   2. How do you see digital infrastructure and connectivity shaping Manchester’s future?
   3. What skills, experience or perspectives would you bring to help us coordinate and deliver Manchester’s digital infrastructure ambitions?

Please take a look at the role profile to find out more about the responsibilities, values, skills and experience we are looking for before getting in touch or applying.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: [email protected]

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process. 
• A Good Employment Charter member - W e are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits. 

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council 

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments : Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats : Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page . This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme 

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting requirement s for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below :

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition
• If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programme

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the Supporting Statement section of your application.

When You Join Us 

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly .

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [email protected] .

What we will need from you if you’re successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship. 

Pre-Employment Checks 

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work : You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK.
• References : We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications : Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required .
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check : A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Proof of Manchester Residency : For some roles, you may need to demonstrate that you reside within the boundaries of Manchester City Council.
• Police Vetting : Some roles may require police vetting to ensure suitability for accessing sensitive law enforcement systems or information.
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance :  BPSS clearance is primarily used for roles that involve access to government data, systems, or assets. It ensures that individuals meet basic security requirements and can be trusted with sensitive information
• Driving Licence : If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve. 

Other relevant information 

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role. 

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

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