Chief Information Officer

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization in Manchester is seeking a Digital Services Leader to manage and enhance digital infrastructure and services. The role requires extensive experience in digital leadership, project management, and relationship building within the NHS. You will lead the digital strategy in collaboration with various stakeholders and ensure compliance with governance standards. This position offers a dynamic environment focusing on innovation and continuous improvement in patient care.

Benefits

Continuing professional development

Supportive working environment

Competitive salary package

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in informatics or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in digital transformation.
• Extensive experience in digital leadership within the NHS.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead the digital services team.
• Develop and implement a digital strategy.
• Ensure compliance with information governance standards.

Skills

Leadership skills

Project management

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Education

Master's degree in informatics or equivalent experience

Bachelor's degree in informatics or equivalent experience

Tools

Project management software (e.g., PRINCE2)

Information security certifications (e.g., CISSP)

Cloud solutions knowledge (e.g., AWS)

Job description

Overview

Detailed job description and main responsibilities for the role within the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. This section outlines corporate leadership, strategy, digital services provision, information management, governance, management of the digital service, personal development and conduct, and on-call responsibilities, along with the person specification.

Responsibilities

CORPORATE

• Contribute effectively as a member of the Senior Management Committee ensuring all relevant matters are brought to the attention of the meetings.
• Provide updates to the board of directors as required on the digital strategy, programmes and risks.
• Undertake the role (delegated by the Director of Future Christie) of SIRO and support the work of the Information Governance and Caldicott panels providing expert knowledge and assurance ensuring that highly sensitive and confidential data is managed appropriately.
• Ensure that the Senior Management Committee and Future Christie Director/Medical Director are briefed on the benefits and risks of new digital related projects.
• Ensure effective working relationships and engagement within the organisation particularly with all divisional, corporate, clinical, and operational teams.
• Provide digital leadership to the Greater Manchester (GM) Cancer Alliance, support the development of GM system digital cancer strategy.
• Ensure effective working relationships and engagement outside the organisation particularly with third party suppliers, NHS bodies, academic institutions, and other external bodies. Participate effectively in local and national CIO networks.
• Produce action plans and implement policies to meet all requirements for risk management, audit, controls assurance, health & safety and information governance relating to the work of the digital service.
• Ensure there is continual improvement and learning within the digital service and that all decisions are based on an assessment of risk.

STRATEGY

• Develop and lead implementation of a digital strategy which supports the overall trust strategy and the associated strategies for clinical services, research and innovation and education.
• Remain up to date on digital trends and emerging technologies.
• Identify opportunities for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of services through changes to digital services and technology.
• Contribute actively to the development of strategies and plans for other departments ensuring that the contribution of digital technology is incorporated.

DIGITAL SERVICES PROVISION

• Ensure provision of modern digital infrastructure, software, and services that fully support the operational, clinical, and business needs of the trust.
• Oversee the delivery of an effective digital service desk and set of comprehensive and proactive digital support services. Ensure the effective management of digital assets, including all hardware and software, ensuring that these are actively monitored.
• Ensure the provision of effective digital security measures to adequately protect and maintain systems and data.
• Ensure the support, maintenance, and development of the core clinical systems, including the procurement and implementation of clinical systems ensuring that benefits are maximised, and functionality fully supports the delivery of excellent patient care.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

• Work collaboratively with the Chief Data Officer to develop an information management service and oversee the infrastructure required for data storage.
• Manage and develop approaches to data integration, including for clinical systems.
• Oversee relationships with external vendors, suppliers and developers.
• Manage the project management services that support the delivery of the digital strategy and trust service transformation activities.

GOVERNANCE

• Ensure implementation of appropriate digital governance systems which conform to legal and NHS requirements and fit within the wider governance systems of the trust.
• Ensure maintenance of an effective digital risk register, manage identified risks and escalate risks as required.
• Ensure the reduction, identification, management, and reporting of untoward digital incidents. Ensure compliance with the requirements of information governance, data protection and freedom of information guidance and legislation.
• Ensure that the Trust complies with the requirements of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT).
• Ensure that Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity plans are in place for all digital services and that these are routinely tested, weakness identified, and appropriate improvement plans developed and implemented.
• Ensure compliance of the clinical systems with Safety of Health Systems standards, appropriate NHS Information Standards Notices (ISNs) and National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) notices.
• As SIRO, oversee Information Asset Owners (IAOs) providing assurance on risks and compliance ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory requirements (including GDPR and NHS standards) and promote good information governance practices across the organisation.
• Working with the CDO, maintain an Information Asset Register, and oversee data security, integrity, and availability.

MANAGEMENT OF THE DIGITAL SERVICE

• Manage and lead the digital services team in line with the trust's workforce and related policies, standing financial instructions and scheme of delegation, and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Develop and achieve annual objectives for digital services within the framework of the Trust's objectives and agreed digital strategy.
• Manage the digital budget within the requirements of the Trust's Scheme of Delegation and Standing Financial Instructions.
• Produce an annual rolling investment plan for digital infrastructure including capital, revenue and staffing resource.
• Plan, deploy, and maintain the Trust's digital systems and operations.
• Manage the Trust's software development needs.
• Develop and implement digital policies and procedures in line with requirements and best practice.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONDUCT

• Adhere to impeccable standards of personal conduct and demonstrate commitment to the Trust's Values and Behaviours.
• Ensure personal professional knowledge is regularly updated and keep abreast of relevant developments.
• Adhere to the Code of Conduct for NHS Managers.
• Implement systems and processes, so that in the event of absence, access to all appropriate information is maintained to allow the continued safe and effective running of the digital service.
• Participate in and embrace Trust initiatives to optimally develop and support our workforce (e.g., Real World Leadership and Respectful Resolution).

ON CALL

• Participate in the Digital Services on call rota.

Please see attached Job Description for full list of responsibilities.

Qualifications and Criteria

Essential criteria

Education and professional development

• Educated to degree level in informatics related subject or equivalent experience.
• Master's degree or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional and personal development in digital transformation, information governance, or technology leadership.

Desirable criteria

• Specific qualification or training in healthcare management or business.
• Certifications in project management (e.g., PRINCE2), enterprise architecture (e.g., TOGAF), information security (e.g., CISSP, ISO 27001), cloud-based enterprise solutions (e.g., AWS/GCP Cloud Architect) or service management (e.g., ITIL).
• Membership or fellowship of relevant professional bodies (e.g., BCS, Faculty of Clinical Informatics).

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Extensive working at a senior level (e.g., AFC 8d/equivalent or above with Board/sub-Board experience) in Digital Services.
• Significant experience of digital leadership within an NHS organisation.
• Experience of leading the development of digital services and programmes with associated business (and/or clinical) process change, over the full life-cycle from business case development and approval through to operational implementation and steady state support.
• A proven track record of leading, developing and inspiring large IT/Informatics teams including experience managing large (>£5m) revenue budgets.
• Innovative management experience with a track record of developing digital services that have achieved demonstrable and continuing benefits for organisations.
• Experience of influencing and working in partnership with senior leaders and also with other organisations on the management and development of digital services.
• Experience working with 3rd party suppliers and undertaking complex contract negotiations.

Desirable criteria

• Experience in cross-organisational collaboration, such as Integrated Care Systems (ICS) or regional digital programmes.
• Exposure to research and innovation initiatives, including AI and advanced analytics.
• Experience in vendor management and procurement of large-scale digital solutions.
• Experience of developing, procuring, implementing and supporting complex clinical systems or ICT infrastructure.
• Experience of undertaking the role of SIRO.
• Commercial experience.

Skills

Essential criteria

• Well-developed and credible leadership, management and motivational skills.
• Confident and articulate with well-developed communication, interpersonal, presentational and report writing skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clinical and non-technical audience.
• Proven project and programme management skills.
• Excellent planning, organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritise own and others' workloads effectively to meet tight deadlines whilst managing conflicting priorities.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Enthusiastic and self-motivated.
• Able to translate technically complex information to nontechnical staff.
• Ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable criteria

• Able to think creatively and innovatively.
• Able to engender an environment in which teams and individuals can flourish.

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Deep understanding of NHS digital priorities, interoperability standards, and regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR, DSP Toolkit).
• Ability to manage cybersecurity risks, resilience planning, and business continuity.
• An understanding of how digital can support the provision of high quality and efficient patient care.
• Specialist knowledge of how digital can support operational, clinical and business needs of an NHS acute hospital and affect service improvement and efficiency.
• An understanding of digital concepts, principles, products and terminology.
• Understanding of data protection legislation and NHS policies for the protection and use of personal and health data.
• Knowledge and understanding of ICT security standards.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of regulations governing the Safety of Health Systems.
• Knowledge and understanding of ICT security standards.
• An awareness of NHS data definitions, reporting requirements and data quality standards.
• An understanding of NHS and European procurement processes.

Valus

Essential criteria

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

Application Information

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will be unsuccessful.

Sponsorship Information

We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

Pre-Employment Checks

To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with NHS Employment Check Standards. These include:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role, payment of this will be the applicants responsibility)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessment
• Employment history and reference validation

All applicants external to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history and references.

If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

✓ If You're Offered the Role - you will be agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

No Smoking Policy

You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Additional Information

We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit. We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all our activities. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in any of its forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply chains.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Job Description & Person Specification (PDF, 914.4KB)
• The Christie Values and Behaviours (PDF, 919.5KB)
• Strategy Brochure (PDF, 1.0MB)
• Travel to The Christie (PDF, 3.8MB)