Chief Information Officer (interim)

Job summary

Join NHS England as Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO)

NHS England is dedicated to delivering high-quality care for all. We support NHS organisations in achieving better outcomes for patients and communities, ensuring value for taxpayers, and driving continuous improvement across the NHS. This role is part of the Transformation Directorate which holds responsibility for digital, data, innovation, research, life sciences and quality improvement in the NHS. The role will report to the NHS England National Director of Transformation.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead the provision of digital capabilities on an interim basis, including being responsible for critical national infrastructure, for both the wider health system and NHS England. These systems and information are fundamental to the operation of the NHS and help doctors, nurses and other health care professionals improve efficiency and make care safer for patients.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership across the NHS in England, leveraging digital technologies to improve patient experience, workforce efficiency, and value for money.
• Deliver national digital and technology services, offering system leadership to regions, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), and provider organisations.
• Partner with senior leadership to develop and drive IT standards and maturity across the health and social care system.
• Balance national standards and interoperability with local decision-making and delivery.

About us

The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:

• Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
• Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
• Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care.
• Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation.
• Delivering value for money.

If you would like to know more or require further information, please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.

NHS England hold a Sponsor Licence; this means that we may be able to sponsor you providing the Home Office requirements are met. To be eligible for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the 'going rate' for your job, whichever is higher. You can find more information on the Government website.

Date posted: 10 February 2025

Pay scheme: Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary: £161,601 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 990-TD-PO-6991716-E

Job locations: Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Rd, London, SE1 8UG

Job description Job responsibilities

The CIO will lead and coach a staff of digital and technology professions, creating a high-performing team, and position NHS England as a preferred digital and technology employer, whilst also implementing technology-oriented best practices such as Agile Ways of Working, DevOps and Cloud-native architectures across the organisation.

Key accountabilities will include:

• Strategy and Planning
• Product Leadership
• IT Infrastructure
• Data
• Cyber Security and Information Governance
• System Leadership

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in a Chief Information Officer/Chief Digital Officer/Chief Digital Information Officer role (or similar senior leadership position in Digital/IT) within a complex, data-driven, regulated environment, managing a multi-million IT budget.

Key experiences include:

• Significant experience in a senior role, partnering with an Executive Team, resulting in development and implementation of deep based, cross-cutting digital transformations.
• Significant experience in and knowledge of all facets of digital, technology and information management, including strategy, architecture, software development, application management, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity and data. This should include a wide range of systems, from modern citizen-facing cloud-hosted digital services to heavyweight legacy systems, and of working within a very heterogenous technical landscape.
• Significant knowledge and experience of embedding, maturing and building agile delivery capability at scale and of leading the transition to a product and service based operating model, underpinned by innovative Microservice-based architectures and Cloud-enabled Infrastructure.
• A track record of building and leading high performing, inclusive digital and technology teams and with demonstrable success in attracting, developing, and retaining diverse talent.
• Exceptional and natural collaborator, with a demonstrated ability to work across organisational boundaries to achieve results. Comfortable working across organisations within a complex system and dealing with ambiguity.
• Ability to work in a complex political environment and to understand and respond to the needs and expectations of Ministers and Government.
• Sound commercial acumen and ability to manage high value strategic supplier and vendor relationships.

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Secondments: Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Person Specification Leadership Essential

• First in class leadership skills from a breadth of disciplines, an inspiring, values-based leader
• Highly developed negotiation and influencing skills and awareness and significant experience of operating at Board level in a sensitive environment or organisation;
• Excellent stakeholder relationship management at Board/Executive Director level

Sector knowledge Desirable

• Demonstrable technical understanding of NHS providers, commissioners and systems, the financial processes they require for success, and the regulatory/control environment, in which they operate.
• In depth knowledge of NHS financial, performance management and accountability frameworks

Role specific Qualifications, Skills and Experience Essential

• Educated to degree level
• Significant experience of operating at board level and a substantial track record of delivering results in very complex high-profile environments
• Experience in senior leadership across local health and care systems, including managing relationships with patient groups, GP networks, local government, voluntary and independent sector providers. Proven track record in driving improvements in quality of care, health outcomes and use of resources across local health systems.

Desirable

• Educated to master's level or equivalent experience

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.

Employer details Employer name: NHS England

Address: Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Rd, London, SE1 8UG

Employer's website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/