Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Assistant Director of Business Applications
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Job Description
Modernise the digital platforms that power our borough and lead a unified team to deliver reliable, resident-focused technology.
As our Assistant Director of Business Applications and Platforms, you’ll lead the digital modernisation of our core systems. It’s a role with genuine, council-wide impact – a chance to bring together previously dispersed teams, simplify our application estate and ensure the software supporting our services is secure, modern and reliable.
What You’ll Be Doing
Your focus will be on providing visible, strategic leadership to modernise our Platforms and Applications function, uniting our technical teams into a single, cohesive service. By setting clear standards, establishing strong application lifecycle management and championing a product-led approach, you’ll transform how we deliver and maintain software solutions. This means balancing high-level strategic direction with hands-on operational oversight.
A typical day will involve:
- Reviewing the performance, security and risk posture of our core applications
- Unblocking delivery hurdles or resolving supplier issues
- Collaborating closely with senior stakeholders, service leads and ICT colleagues to shape priorities, rationalise legacy systems to reduce duplication and oversee migrations to modern, cloud-based platform- and software-as-a-service solutions
As a key senior leader, you’ll:
- Manage resources, oversee budgets and champion staff development within your team
- Contribute directly to ICT governance
- Deputise for the Chief Information Officer when required – providing clear, trusted advice to executive directors and members
- Participate in our emergency leadership response rota
For further details, please review the Job Description and Person Specification.
What You’ll Bring
You’ll bring a relevant professional qualification or equivalent substantial experience in enterprise architecture, ICT governance, service management or cyber security, such as ITIL or TOGAF. With a proven track record of establishing and leading application-management or product-focused teams, you know how to guide and inspire multidisciplinary specialists, including developers, business analysts and product managers.
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You have direct experience modernising legacy systems and delivering cloud-based platform- and software-as-a-service solutions, coupled with a deep understanding of digital, data and technology risk. Your strong financial management skills mean you are comfortable managing budgets and driving maximum value from our supply chain.
Excellent communication and influencing skills are essential, enabling you to translate complex technical issues into clear, practical advice for senior officers and elected members.
Most importantly, your experience of working in, or closely with, local government will be matched by a genuine commitment to equality, diversity and public service values.
Why Join Us
At RBKC, we’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future.
This newly created role is strategically positioned for maximum impact, giving you a unique opportunity to shape our technology estate and make a lasting, council-wide difference. You’ll work with a highly supportive leadership team, benefiting from strong senior buy-in and upward backing to deliver real change. We are committed to your professional development and offer continuous learning opportunities to help you succeed in this senior post.
Alongside a competitive salary, we provide a collaborative and forward-thinking environment where your strategic vision is valued, your wellbeing is supported and your contribution directly helps us build a stronger, more resilient borough.
About Us
Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.
As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.
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In this role, you’ll need a true "we're all in" mindset. Following a cyber-attack in November 2025, we are actively strengthening our approach to effective, efficient and resident-focused technology delivery, and this role is at the heart of that mission. Building a brand-new applications function from scratch means getting stuck in to establish clear standards, unify teams and navigate mixed staff abilities. It won’t always be smooth sailing, but every ounce of effort you put into rationalising our systems and modernising our platforms directly protects and supports our community, turning complex challenges into rewarding opportunities for growth.
Working Style: You’ll be based in the borough for three days a week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you’re advising senior leaders, guiding your teams or collaborating with service leads, you’ll be part of a dedicated team working to provide high-quality, reliable services for everyone in our borough.
Interview Details
Interviews will take place in person on 12th and 13th August 2026.
Ready to Join Us?
We’re all in – are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply online, explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.
We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning, subject to the volume of suitable applicants.
We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity, and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.
New hires will normally start at the minimum of the pay scale. However, a higher starting salary may be negotiated where a candidate demonstrates exceptional skills, knowledge, or experience.
Employees receive annual salary increments until they reach the top of the pay scale, as well as any agreed cost of living pay awards.
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