Director of Digital Programmes & Clinical Informatics

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust seeks a senior leader to oversee the digital transformation portfolio and Clinical Informatics, ensuring alignment with the Clinical Strategy and Digital & Data Strategy.

You will lead prioritisation, governance, programme delivery, investment planning and benefits realisation while providing executive sponsorship to embed clinical leadership and patient safety in digital decision-making.

Qualifications

• Masters level or equivalent experience in Digital, Informatics, Programme Management, Transformation, Healthcare Management or related discipline.
• Significant senior leadership experience leading complex transformation programmes or portfolios within a large healthcare or similarly complex organisation.
• Experience of portfolio prioritisation, business planning, governance and organisational decision-making.
• Experience of leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering organisational change through influence and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Trust's digital transformation portfolio and Clinical Informatics function, ensuring effective prioritisation, governance, programme delivery, investment planning and benefits realisation.
• Provide executive sponsorship for Clinical Informatics to ensure clinical leadership, patient safety, clinical risk, user advocacy and assurance are embedded within digital decision-making and transformation activity.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Portfolio governance

Clinical informatics

Digital transformation

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Masters level in Digital/ Informatics/ Programme Management or related

Job description

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

Senior leadership role responsible for the strategic oversight of the Trust's digital transformation portfolio and Clinical Informatics function. Accountable for portfolio prioritisation, programme delivery, business planning, investment planning, benefits realisation and executive sponsorship of Clinical Informatics, ensuring digital transformation is clinically informed, strategically aligned and delivers measurable organisational benefits.

Main duties of the job

Provide strategic leadership for the Trust's digital transformation portfolio and Clinical Informatics function, ensuring digital programmes, investments and transformation activity are aligned to organisational priorities, the Clinical Strategy and the Digital & Data Strategy.

The postholder will lead portfolio prioritisation, programme delivery, business planning, investment planning and benefits realisation, whilst providing executive sponsorship for Clinical Informatics to ensure clinical leadership, patient safety, clinical risk, user advocacy and assurance are embedded within digital decision-making and transformation activity.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Lead the Trust's digital transformation portfolio and Clinical Informatics function, ensuring effective prioritisation, governance, programme delivery, investment planning and benefits realisation, while supporting clinically-led digital transformation aligned to the Trust’s strategic objectives.

Person specification

Qualifications, Experience, Knowedge, Skilss And Personal Attributes

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent experience in Digital, Informatics, Programme Management, Transformation, Healthcare Management or a related discipline.
• Significant senior leadership experience leading complex transformation programmes or portfolios within a large healthcare or similarly complex organisation.
• Experience of portfolio prioritisation, business planning, governance and organisational decision-making
• Experience of leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering organisational change through influence and collaboration
• Experience of developing business cases, investment proposals and benefits realisation arrangements
• Experience of working with senior clinical, operational and executive stakeholders
• Strong understanding of digital transformation, programme governance, change management and benefits realisation
• Ability to translate organisational strategy into prioritised, achievable delivery plans and programmes
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing and communication skills
• Understanding of clinical governance, clinical safety and the role of Clinical Informatics in healthcare transformation

• Experience of leading or supporting major EPR programmes, procurements, implementations or optimisation programmes
• Experience working within NHS organisations or large public sector environments.
• Experience of leading Clinical Informatics, digital transformation or service redesign initiatives.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies, AI, digital innovation and national digital policy

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• 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.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol 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 be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

Important

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.