Director of Digital Strategy & Programmes

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership

Lead the development, delivery and periodic refresh of the Trusts Digital, Data and Technology Strategy.

Ensure alignment with national and regional frameworks, including What Good Looks Like (WGLL), Minimum Digital Foundations, and ICS-wide strategies.

Provide expert advice on digital strategy, policy, transformation and long-term planning to the Chief Digital Officer and Trust Board.

Establish a Trust-wide digital roadmap that integrates infrastructure, clinical systems, data, cyber security, and workforce capabilities.

Ensure the digital strategy is translated into clear, deliverable programmes with defined outcomes and benefits.

Ensure digital delivery stays in alignment with the Trusts objectives and wider transformational aims.

2. Programme Leadership and Portfolio Oversight

Lead the Trusts Digital PMO, ensuring consistent governance, assurance, project and programme management and transformation methodology and prioritisation across all digital programmes.

Oversee a multi-million-pound capital and revenue digital investment portfolio, ensuring transparency, control, and value for money.

Ensure all programmes meet NHS assurance standards, including business case requirements, digital technology assessments and gateway reviews.

Lead benefits management, outcomes reporting, and strategic risk mitigation across the digital portfolio.

Provide regular reports to the Digital Board, Trust Board, and relevant committees on programme performance, risks, and delivery confidence.

3. Strategic Planning, Investment and Delivery Assurance

Lead strategic planning for digital investment, ensuring alignment with clinical and corporate priorities.

Develop robust business cases for major digital and data initiatives, demonstrating patient benefit, clinical safety, financial value, and sustainability.

Lead the prioritisation of digital programmes, ensuring resources are allocated to deliver maximum organisational and system value.

Oversee digital resource planning, long-term financial forecasting, and external funding opportunities.

Ensure digital delivery frameworks support high-quality programme and digital transformation execution, assurance and governance.

4. Policy, Alignment and System Collaboration

Ensure the Trusts digital strategy and programmes support ICS, regional and national priorities.

Represent the Trust at regional and national digital forums and contribute to system-wide strategy development and delivery.

Collaborate with partner organisations to enable interoperability, shared care records, and cross-system digital transformation.

Maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers and partners to ensure effective delivery and value.

5. Leadership and Workforce Development

Provide visible and inclusive leadership across digital strategy, PMO, and strategic planning functions.

Build and develop a high-performing team capable of delivering complex digital programmes.

Promote best practice programme management in line with NHS and government standards.

Support professional development aligned to the NHS Digital, Data and Technology Profession Capability Framework.

Champion staff wellbeing, diversity, and equality of opportunity.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to master's level or equivalent senior leadership experience.

Desirable

• Formal qualification in programme/project management (MSP, PRINCE2, Agile)
• Formal qualifications in change management or equivalent

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience leading digital strategy, digital transformation, or large programme portfolios in the NHS, ideally across multiple organisations or organisation of a similar size to CNWL
• Experience in strategic planning, business case development, and investment prioritisation
• Experience establishing or leading PMO functions and programme governance frameworks

Desirable

• Experience working at ICS or regional level on shared digital priorities
• Experience within mental health, community or integrated care settings

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Strong understanding of national NHS digital, data, and technology policy
• Proven track record in delivering multi-million-pound digital or technology programme portfolios
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to engage effectively at Board level

Desirable

• Knowledge of clinical safety standards and digital assurance processes

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

CNWL HQ

350 Euston Road

London

NW1 3AX

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)