The Department of Health and Social Care is offering an annual salary of close to £300,000 in a bid to recruit a new overarching leader for technology across the organisation.
The role as director general for technology, digital and data comes with a remit to “lead the integration of digital and data solutions into patient services… and oversee the transition to a new operating model aligned with ministerial priorities and the 10-Year Plan” for the NHS.
The successful candidate will, at first, sit on a joint committee managing the work of DHSC and NHS England – which is to be abolished and subsumed into government.
The department expects that “following the abolition of NHSE, [the DG will] play a central role in the leadership of the new DHSC”.
“You will manage a sizeable budget, shape organisational design, and build a high-performing, collaborative team to enable a modern, data-driven health and care system,” the job advert says.
It adds that this team and its newly appointed leader will be asked to spearhead work to “define and deliver the strategic vision and technology roadmap to enable this digital transformation”.
“You will lead digital transformation across health and care, driving large-scale technology and data initiatives to modernise and standardise services to ultimately improve patient outcomes,” the advert says. “You will ensure secure, scalable, and resilient technology infrastructure, while shaping organisational design, and operating models aligned with ministerial priorities.”
Among the major areas of focus for the DHSC’s newly expanded tech operation will be work to “continue the capitalisation and capability build of the NHS App for higher adoption through improved citizen experience”.
Also on the new director general’s to-do list will be an imperative to “instil best practice management of a cohesive, well governed and rationalised sourcing map and vendor ecosystem for DHSC”.
The advert says: “We are seeking a purpose-driven leader who is deeply mission-aligned and passionate about improving health and care services in the UK through technology and data innovation. This individual will bring resilience and pragmatism, adopting a hands-on approach to delivering complex programs and achieving tangible outcomes. They will demonstrate exceptional strategic communication and influence, translating business needs into actionable technical roadmaps while galvanising diverse stakeholders and teams around a shared vision. Analytical and decisive, they will navigate ambiguity with confidence, making sound judgments under pressure.”
The position comes with a salary of up to £285,000, depending on the candidate’s experience. The DHSC expresses a preference for making a permanent appointment, but adds that “loan or secondment options will also be available” to those applying from existing roles in government or non-departmental public bodies.
Applications are open until 11:55 pm on 9 February.