Job summary
The Head of Digital Skills and Capability exercises strategic leadership and operational oversight at a national level in building digital capability and leadership across the health and social care workforce in Wales. This role is integral to HEIW's strategic goal of creating a digitally confident, capable, and connected workforce. The postholder will have full accountability for the strategic development, operational delivery, and performance management of a national digital skills and leadership programme, aligned to the Digital Capability Framework and national digital transformation goals. The postholder will also play a pivotal role in delivering HEIW's dual-track model, leading internal programmes while working in partnership with an external strategic partner. This will require expert analysis of external recommendations, interpretation of international best practice, and contextualisation within the specific needs of NHS Wales.
Main duties of the job
The role will:
Lead the strategic design and delivery of national digital upskilling initiatives across the entire workforce.
Develop inclusive educational content, digital leadership pathways, and a digital champion network.
Build strategic alliances and influence stakeholders across NHS Wales, government, and academia across NHS Wales, Welsh Government, and education sectors to embed digital skills into workforce and leadership development programmes.
Ensure continuous improvement and impact measurement of digital capability initiatives. Provide authoritative advice into national governance forums, including the DDaT Workforce Capability Group and DDaT Leadership Board, ensuring digital workforce priorities are aligned with NHS performance targets, IMTPs, and Welsh Government strategies
About us
Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is the strategic workforce body for NHS Wales with statutory functions that include education and training, workforce planning, workforce development and transformation, leadership and succession planning, and careers. Our purpose is to develop a workforce that delivers excellent care to patients/service users and excellent population health. We are a Special Health Authority working closely with our partners; Social Care Wales, education providers, professional and regulatory bodies and Welsh Government.
HEIW's is committed to developing an internal culture of choice. Our Values reflect our thoughts, feelings and beliefs in how we will, and will not, behave and treat others:
- Respect for All in every contact we have with others,
- Ideas that Improve: Harnessing creativity and continuously innovating, evaluating and improving,
- Together as a Team: Working with colleagues across NHS Wales and with partner organisations.
HEIW received the HPMA Award for Employee Engagement in 2019.
What you can expect:
- a corporate induction and 90 day Welcome itinerary,
- compassionate leadership,
- a meaningful values based performance appraisal process,
- the opportunity to impact upon health and social care services and the lives and wellbeing of the people of Wales.
Many of our colleagues and stakeholders have commented on the buzz and atmosphere we create by working together as "One HEIW Team". Do you want to join that team?
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Master's degree or equivalent level of knowledge acquired through extensive experience at a senior strategic level in digital transformation, education, or workforce development.
- In-depth understanding of digital literacy, data literacy, and leadership frameworks.
- Knowledge of emerging health technologies including AI, virtual care, data analytics, and digital clinical safety.
- Familiarity with governance and regulatory requirements for embedding digital capabilities into workforce development.
Desirable
- Understanding of the Welsh digital health and care system.
- Familiarity with digital passports, micro-credentials, or the UK Management Competency Framework.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Expertise in learner-centred design, innovation in education, and quality assurance.
- Advanced project and programme management skills.
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience designing and leading complex, cross-sector digital skills or workforce capability programmes at national or system level.
- Proven track record of collaborative working with partners such as DHCW, HEIs, professional bodies, and NHS organisations.
- Experience embedding digital skills into leadership development, clinical education, and professional standards.
- Experience of commissioning, managing, and evaluating externally delivered programmes or strategic partnerships.
- Experience of engaging senior stakeholders, securing funding, and leading programme governance.
Desirable
- Experience of developing digital maturity assessments, micro-credentials, or digital learning certifications.
- Experience applying horizon scanning and international benchmarking to workforce development initiatives.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Strategic and systems leadership with the ability to translate vision into operational delivery.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills across professions and organisational boundaries.
- Ability to build inclusive communities of practice and foster a culture of digital confidence and innovation.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Master's degree or equivalent level of knowledge acquired through extensive experience at a senior strategic level in digital transformation, education, or workforce development.
- In-depth understanding of digital literacy, data literacy, and leadership frameworks.
- Knowledge of emerging health technologies including AI, virtual care, data analytics, and digital clinical safety.
- Familiarity with governance and regulatory requirements for embedding digital capabilities into workforce development.
Desirable
- Understanding of the Welsh digital health and care system.
- Familiarity with digital passports, micro-credentials, or the UK Management Competency Framework.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Expertise in learner-centred design, innovation in education, and quality assurance.
- Advanced project and programme management skills.
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience designing and leading complex, cross-sector digital skills or workforce capability programmes at national or system level.
- Proven track record of collaborative working with partners such as DHCW, HEIs, professional bodies, and NHS organisations.
- Experience embedding digital skills into leadership development, clinical education, and professional standards.
- Experience of commissioning, managing, and evaluating externally delivered programmes or strategic partnerships.
- Experience of engaging senior stakeholders, securing funding, and leading programme governance.
Desirable
- Experience of developing digital maturity assessments, micro-credentials, or digital learning certifications.
- Experience applying horizon scanning and international benchmarking to workforce development initiatives.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Strategic and systems leadership with the ability to translate vision into operational delivery.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills across professions and organisational boundaries.
- Ability to build inclusive communities of practice and foster a culture of digital confidence and innovation.
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
