Head of Digital Networks

This vacancy is not currently eligible for the UK Employee Referral Scheme.

Description

This vacancy is open to permanent and fixed-term BAE Systems employees only. While agency workers have access to relevant permanent opportunities, this role has been designated as an internal opportunity and therefore only permanent and fixed-term employees of BAE Systems are eligible to apply.

You’re expected to have completed 12 months in role prior to applying for an advertised vacancy and you should also discuss the internal opportunity with your line manager to ensure sustained business continuity and to further support your career development.

We know there may be exceptional individual circumstances that impact this, in the first instance please discuss this with your line manager.

If you don’t feel you can talk to your Line Manager, you can contact your HRBP.

PLEASE NOTE: Should you be invited for interview; you acknowledge that the Recruitment team will contact you and your line manager regarding your application for this opportunity.

Head of Digital Networks

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Digital Networks for BAE Systems. This new role will be responsible for the management of a portfolio of network products and services operating across multiple networks and security tiers, delivered primarily through a major network partner.

The Head of Digital Networks is accountable for the delivery of Network services and will work within our digital transformation programmes ‘Perseus’ and ‘One DDC (Atlas)’ to build our new digital Network offering, onboarding our delivery partner, transitioning them into service, and working to transform the end user experience across the organisation.

Your main responsibilities as Head of Digital Networks will include:

The Head of Digital Networks will be accountable for all aspects of the technical product lifecycle from initiation through to decommissioning, including budget, change, obsolescence management, leading and assuring third-party partners (including a primary partner), and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations and rigorous security standards.

The role will be accountable for developing and executing strategy that aligns with BAE Systems business objectives, while ensuring that digital networks solutions deliver measurable value and meet the evolving needs of users, including required national security standards.

This role will be accountable for leading an organisation who will work with delivery partners by driving deep product knowledge, user insight, and service performance across the digital estate.

The role is accountable for:

• Onboarding and assuring the delivery of a strategic delivery partner and other specialist partners

• Executing a comprehensive digital network strategy aligned with business goals and future ways of working.

• Working with delivery partners to drive digital transformation initiatives that improve employee experience, productivity, and engagement to ensure a seamless digital working environment.

• Benchmarking the organisation’s digital network maturity and create a roadmap for continuous improvement.

• Fostering a culture of innovation, agility, and digital-first collaboration.

• Working closely with wider internal security, and compliance teams to maintain and drive digital networks security.

• Ensuring adherence to data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.) and corporate IT policies.

• Managing budgets, roadmaps and business plans

• Managing demand, related to Digital Networks services

• Monitoring and improving digital networks performance through metrics and continuous improvement.

Your skills and qualifications:

• Extensive experience in working with Industry Partners to deliver integrated Networks solutions in a multi partner ecosystem

• Deep expertise in digital networks technologies and solutions deployed within a complex manufacturing environment

• Proven experience shaping and enabling hybrid and flexible working at scale

• Strong understanding of employee experience (EX), digital dexterity, and change adoption

• Familiarity with ITSM tooling (e.g. ServiceNow, Jira) and complex supplier ecosystems

• Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices deployed within a complex defence and regulated environment Experience leveraging analytics, automation, and AI to drive smarter outcomes

• Strong grounding in end user-centric design, creating intuitive and inclusive user experiences

• Data-driven mindset, using insights and metrics to continuously improve performance and engagement

Location: Preston

Grade: GG15

Shared Services

If you’d like to make a real difference where it counts, BAE Systems is the place for you.

From keeping soldiers, sailors and pilots safe to helping countries prosper, from developing the next generation of supersonic aircraft to investing in the next generation of super-smart talent – at BAE Systems, we work together to give our customers an essential edge in protecting the things that really matter. Lives, livelihoods, ways of life.

As part of the Shared Services team, you’ll be at the heart of this endeavour – working closely with our air, maritime, land and cyber and intelligence businesses to support our customers around the world.

We are committed to supporting work life balance for all our employees and embrace a range of modern working practices, which aim to enhance flexibility for individuals whilst also enabling business performance. Flexibility provisions vary by role but include; hybrid working arrangements, flexible working patterns and shift working.

There are endless opportunities to grow at BAE Systems, and we will build upon the diversity of your experience through supporting your movement across our organisation. Our mission is to support our colleagues reach their full potential and so you’ll always find something new that will continue to inspire and provide an exciting and varied career that continues to play a crucial role in creating a secure tomorrow for generations to come.

We believe when you bring together different people and different perspectives it inspires creativity and drives innovation. It helps us fulfil our purpose and it's integral to our culture. We want everyone to be heard and respected, allowing us all to develop in an inclusive workplace and thrive together. We also want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people, who are BAE Systems employees and have been in their current role for 12 months or longer.

Please be aware that many roles working for BAE Systems will be subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including your nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and your place of birth may limit those roles you can perform for the organisation.

Job: Digital Data and Cyber

Primary Location: Preston

Organisation: Corporate Head Office and Shared Services (GSF)

Closing Date: 20/Nov/26, 11:59:00 PM