Digital Innovation Senior Project Manager

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 66,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Digital Innovation Senior Project Manager (Band 8a) to lead a portfolio of digital innovation initiatives, working with clinicians, inventors and external tech partners. You will shape project scopes from clinical problems to pilots, build evidence, and decide on adoption or cessation with emphasis on safe NHS change.

You will mentor junior managers, contribute to Hub strategy, and drive a culture of innovation and learning within

Qualifications

• Degree and / or an appropriate professional qualification or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of the digital innovation landscape, particularly the opportunities afforded by artificial intelligence.
• Masters qualification or equivalent (or working towards same).
• Sustained record of continued professional development.
• Significant experience of managing complex, large-scale and high-profile projects.
• Experience of delivering digital innovation projects, particularly those involving AI.
• Experience in operating in and managing diverse multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of service improvement delivery.
• Experience of working with and managing external consultants and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Lead a varied portfolio of digital innovation projects, with a focus on supporting staff with inventions and working with external technology companies.
• Organise pilots, build evidence, and decide on adoption, refinement or discontinuation of tools.
• Oversee plans, budgets, risks and evaluation, keeping stakeholders engaged.
• Develop junior project managers and contribute to Hub strategy and ways of working.
• Explore how digital tools and automation can improve Hub processes.

Skills

Experience: large-scale projects

AI in digital projects

Stakeholder management

Leadership of junior staff

Clinical/digital collaboration

Education

Bachelor degree or equivalent

Masters qualification (or pursuing)

Project management qualification

Job description

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Digital Innovation Senior Project Manager

The closing date is 12 November 2026

Help turn promising digital ideas into practical improvements for patients and staff. UCLH's Digital Innovation Hub is seeking a Digital Innovation Senior Project Manager (Band 8a) to join a small, collaborative team working to facilitate innovation in one of the country's leading hospitals.

This is an opportunity to work directly with clinicians, inventors and technology companies, exploring how emerging tools, including artificial intelligence, can address real challenges in NHS care. You will have scope to shape both the projects we support and how our growing Hub works, combining hands‑on delivery with leadership and the development of others.

We are looking for someone who brings curiosity, sound judgement and the ability to turn uncertainty into a clear way forward. You will be confident building relationships, bringing people together and maintaining momentum across complex digital projects, with a practical understanding of what it takes to introduce change safely and effectively in the NHS.

At UCLH, you will work alongside clinical, operational and other digital teams to help foster a culture where staff feel supported to innovate. If you enjoy asking thoughtful questions, testing ideas and helping others achieve meaningful change, we would like to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

You will lead a varied portfolio of digital innovation projects, with a particular focus on supporting UCLH staff with inventions and working with external technology companies. Starting with the clinical or operational problem, you will help assess promising ideas, organise pilots and build the evidence needed to decide whether a tool should be adopted, refined or set aside.

Working closely with clinical services, digital specialists and commercial colleagues, you will bring together the people, resources and approvals needed to deliver projects safely and effectively. You will oversee plans, budgets, risks and evaluation, keeping stakeholders engaged and ensuring that learning informs future decisions.

Alongside project delivery, you will support and develop junior project managers, contribute to the Hub's strategy and ways of working, and help build an active innovation community. You will also explore how digital tools and automation can improve the Hub's own processes.

You will need experience of delivering complex digital innovation and change, including projects involving AI, alongside strong analytical, organisational and relationship‑building skills. Success will depend on balancing enthusiasm for new technology with sound judgement, understanding frontline needs and helping colleagues navigate uncertainty.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world‑class research.

We provide first‑class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals

University College Hospital Grafton Way Building

Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person Specification

Knowledge & Qualifications

• Degree and / or an appropriate professional qualification or equivalent experience
• Highly specialist and expert project management knowledge acquired through a Project-management qualification or relevant experience
• Sustained record of continued professional development
• Knowledge of the digital innovation landscape, particularly the opportunities afforded by artificial intelligence
• Masters qualification or equivalent (or working towards same)

Experience

• Significant experience of managing complex, large-scale and high-profile projects
• Experience of delivering digital innovation projects, particularly those involving AI
• Experience in operating in and managing diverse multidisciplinary teams
• Experience of service improvement delivery
• Experience of working with and managing external consultants and vendors

Skills & Abilities

• Analytical and data-evaluation skills, with the ability to solve complex problems
• Ability to present complex data in a clear and easily understood format - both verbally and in writing.
• Strong grasp of managing project finances and budgets
• Work well in highly sensitive and high pressure environments
• Ability to work flexibly in a fast changing environment
• Ability to form excellent relationships with a wide stakeholder base
• Good organisational skills and abilities
• Skilled in working with cutting‑edge digital tools
• The ability and credibility to work co‑operatively within senior management

Communication

• Effective use of influencing, persuasion and negotiation skills
• Very good written and verbal communication skills

Personal and People Development

• Provide leadership to a team of project managers
• Train Hub staff and other colleagues in project management and digital skills

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

• A commitment to promoting equality and diversity in the workplace and in service delivery and development
• Specific Requirements : Engage with clinicians in their place of work to build understanding

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.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£66,274 to £73,496 a yearper annum inclusive of HCAS