Digital Automation Developer

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in Manchester is looking for an experienced Developer to lead the design and implementation of automation solutions using UiPath and Python. This role involves collaborating closely with various teams to enhance business efficiency and quality of patient care by automating manual processes. Ideal candidates will possess strong analytical skills, experience in software development, and a commitment to patient-focused service delivery. A mission-driven culture supports this impactful role.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible working environment

Healthcare benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in software development practices and methodologies.
• Strong problem-solving skills and analytical abilities.
• Experience with RPA and workflow automation.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop automation solutions using UiPath and Python.
• Collaborate with stakeholders for successful project deployment.
• Monitor and optimize RPA bot performance.

Skills

UiPath

Python

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Communication

Education

Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

RPA tools

Automation software

Job description

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, a world-renowned cancer centre, are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Developer to apply their expertise to lead and support digital automation. In this exciting role, you will be responsible for the design, development, and implementation of automation solutions to enhance business efficiency and productivity across the trust, using our UiPath technology amongst other tools. This will involve close working with process experts and business analysts as well as developing an understanding of the work colleagues do and then being able to translate that into steps for a robot to complete. Every hour saved by your work will enable our hard‑working staff across the organisation to do even more to help patients.

Our culture is very mission‑focused, driven by the following characteristics that underpin our success:

• We are professional.
• We are patient/customer focused.
• We have pride in ourselves, Digital Services, and The Christie.
• We work as a team.
• We are inclusive.

Your strong communication, analytical, and problem‑solving skills, combined with your experience in software development and digital automation, will enable you to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation and contribute to delivering real value in terms of time returned to colleagues around the trust. You will bring experience of software development practices, where time will be given to ensure you adapt quickly and effectively to our technology, you will design, develop, and maintain automation solutions that help teams focus on patient care by reducing manual processes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Building and implementing automations using UiPath, Python, and other suitable technologies, following best practices and quality standards.
• Analysing requirements, designing processes, and creating automation solutions from concept to delivery.
• Supporting the full RPA lifecycle: planning, coding, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance.
• Collaborating with business analysts, IT, and stakeholders to ensure successful project outcomes.
• Monitoring and optimising bot performance for reliability and scalability.
• Staying informed on RPA and UiPath developments, driving innovation and continuous improvement.
• Documenting technical specifications, processes, and best practices.
• Troubleshooting and resolving complex automation issues.
• Ensuring compliance with NHS data protection, security, and governance standards.
• Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities for optimisation.

General Duties

Undertake development training on Automation software and best practice and continue to maintain relevance of knowledge for this system.

Generate workflow and development specification documents defining the systems, data, and requirements of a digital process to be automated. Use these documents to develop automation workflow within Automation software, using the principles of software development lifecycle.

Work with colleagues on the automation team and subject matter experts to develop acceptance testing and monitoring of automated workflows.

Author and submit change control documents for approval via the change authorisation board.

Monitor and maintain the system and individual automations, addressing errors.

Assist the design and implementation of processes to involve SMEs/workflow owners in the automation lifecycle.

Support the relationship with partner organisations and product manufacturers.

Provide second‑line support to automation system level problems, issues, and faults. Undertake analysis and apply judgement within established procedures and under guidance from senior staff in relation to each issue that arises; accurately identifying the impact and severity before ensuring the implementation of appropriate timely resolutions.

Administer the system on a daily basis ensuring correct and efficient operation in‑line with agreed policies and procedures.

Responsible for ensuring all aspects of system housekeeping, data integrity and security are managed.

Support the management and review system utilisation and error reports assessing risks and benefits associated with the system.

Assist in managing system upgrades including assessment of functionality change, testing, communications, supplier liaison, implementation coordination and training.

Deal with complex queries escalated from system managers.

Conduct system demonstrations and actively promote and champion the use of RPA at every opportunity.

Represent the Trust and its interests at external system user group meetings.

Undertake any other work as required by the department.

Data Quality

Work to ensure that accurate and timely data is recorded within the system.

Work towards the development and implementation of a comprehensive set of robust data checks, audits, and procedures in accordance with the Data Quality Policy.

Ensure practical steps are taken to resolve system functionality and data collection issues highlighted by Data Quality processes.

Reporting

Support the production of appropriate and timely reports from the system which will assist in the management of departmental services and meet the Trust's obligations for external information provision.

Follow all data safety policies and procedures to ensure accurate and appropriate data collection.

Training

Support the lead developers in the delivery of one‑to‑one and group training sessions to all levels of clinical and administrative staff adopting a flexible and relaxed approach.

Provide detailed instruction and respond to individual staff questions on the practical use of systems, seeking advice where necessary.

Help to ensure that each course attendee is assessed for required competencies and that accurate records of outcomes are maintained before authorising certification and system access.

Assist the lead developers to coordinate training programmes for clinical and non‑clinical staff in relation to the use of the system, including the ongoing training for new personnel and following system upgrade.

Provide training for staff from own or other disciplines on own subject area, when required.

Human Resources

Provide regular performance reports on progress, status, and achievements for own area to be used by management and users.

Undertake and support the development of staff in line with personal development reviews and other associated guidance if applicable.

On occasion the post holder may be required to work unsociable hours to support and/or enable the delivery of key programmes or projects.

Participate in an on‑call or out‑of‑hours service, when required.

Financial/Physical Resources

Provide input into the efficient use of allocated resources allocated to own areas and make proposals to maximise those resources through recharges, and cost saving opportunities.

Be responsible for the safe use of ICT hardware and software as related to automation and to the Automation team.

Assist the lead developers to participate in business appraisals and business case production when required in partnership with Trust stakeholders.

Give input into solution searches and appraisals of supplier proposals.

Assist the lead developers to ensure Trust procurement processes and procedures are followed in a timely and efficient manner and participate in the procurement process where relevant, aiding in the development and assessment of procurement documentation as required.

Assist the lead developers to ensure the work adheres to Trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs) and procurement guidelines.

Project Management

Advise and participate in the development and implementation of projects, where required, ensuring Digital Services provision of integrated solutions and user objectives are achieved.

Ensure project tasks, where required, are successfully delivered in line with agreed timescales.

Support the activities of project boards and project teams, when required, and making presentations, where required, to all levels of staff.

Ensure any project management documentation or reports are delivered in line with agreed standards and timescales.

Policy/Service Development/Governance

Act as an ambassador for Digital Services by developing and maintaining excellent working relationships with users across the organisation to deliver a high quality, standard IT culture to achieve local requirements and national targets.

Contribute to the development and maintenance of a culture of service provision and continuous improvement for own areas.

Pro‑actively participate in ensuring that Informatics services delivered within the Trust reflect best practice with respect to organisational, NHS and legislative requirements and guidelines including IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Data Protection Act (1998), Information Standards, Information Security, and compliance with NHS Information Governance.

Participate in Information Governance and security as required and ensure appropriate governance and security in own work.

Ensure change management is applied in own areas and follows implemented policies and procedures.

Ensure all documentation relating to own area is complete and fit for purpose and all releases relating to hardware, software and documentation is controlled.

Ensure there is a proactive and comprehensive approach to risk management and be responsible for service continuity for own area and participate in the Informatics service continuity planning.

Provide Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for allocated incidents and problems as directed; instigating emergency action, when required, liaising with other Trust Managers, as appropriate.

Support users to be familiar and comply with the requirements of Caldicott, the Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act and to implement any required changes in accordance with these or any other statutory requirements.

Maintain documentation on how the system is utilised.

Business Continuity Management

Participate in the development, exercising, maintaining, and reviewing of business continuity plans.

Participate in the business impact analysis exercises highlighting critical business processes within own area.

Be familiar with the Trust Business Continuity Plan and personal responsibilities within where applicable.

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 have been 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
• 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 be 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.

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.

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.

Inclusive Workforce

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

Ethical Conduct

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.

The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services.

We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.

We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.