Digital Innovation Senior Project Manager

University College London Hospitals; Greater London; On-site; GBP 66,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is seeking a Digital Innovation Senior Project Manager (Band 8a) to lead a portfolio of digital innovation projects and collaborate with clinicians, inventors and technology companies. The role focuses on turning clinical or operational problems into pilots, gathering evidence for adoption, and guiding complex change across the NHS.

You will oversee budgets, risks and stakeholder engagement, while mentoring junior managers and

Qualifications

• Degree and / or an appropriate professional qualification or equivalent experience.
• Masters qualification or equivalent (or working towards same).
• Significant experience of managing complex, large-scale projects.
• Experience delivering digital innovation projects, especially with AI.

Responsibilities

• Lead a varied portfolio of digital innovation projects with clinicians and industry partners.
• Assess ideas, organise pilots and build evidence for tool adoption or sunset.
• Oversee plans, budgets and risks while keeping stakeholders engaged.
• Support and develop junior project managers and shape hub strategy.
• Balance enthusiasm for new tech with sound judgment to navigate uncertainty.

Skills

Digital project management

AI experience

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Education

Degree or professional qualification

Masters qualification or equivalent

Job description

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Main area Digital, Data and Technology Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract Fixed term: 20 months (Limited funding 30-06-2028) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 309-UCLH-8399587

Site University College London Hospitals Town London Salary £66,274 - £73,496 per annum inclusive of HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 12/11/2026 23:59

The use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it, then they are required to declare this in their supporting statement.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technology that can perform various tasks that typically required human intelligence. Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role.

We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to ensuring that its recruitment processes are carried out with integrity, transparency, and fairness for all applicants. To help maintain these standards, we ask candidates to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the recruitment process.

If incorrect or misleading information is identified, this may affect the progression of an application, any employment offer, or continued employment. As part of our due diligence, the company may verify the information provided by applicants and take appropriate act ion where necessary.

We do not charge applicants any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including applications, interviews, sponsorship arrangements, pre-employment checks, or employment offers. All vacancies are advertised through TRAC/NHS Jobs and candidates are assessed solely on their skills, qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role. If you are asked to make a payment in connection with an NHS job opportunity, please treat this as suspicious and contact the organisation directly using the details published on our official career's website.

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.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main 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

At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, which voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.

Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage’s staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.

We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.

We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.

You must already have the right to work in the United Kingdom or fully meet the eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship; however, we can only consider these where all UKVI requirements are met. Before applying, please ensure that both you and the role satisfy the relevant UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) points‑based system criteria, as applications that do not meet these requirements cannot be progressed. For more information about the criteria, please click here

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.

Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.