Head of Hive EPR & Digital Applications

NHS; Manchester; On-site; GBP 76,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Manchester is seeking a Head of Hive EPR & Digital Applications to lead the digital transformation and manage key initiatives. This role offers a unique opportunity to enhance clinical quality and operational effectiveness while contributing to a major strategic roadmap. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in project management and a master's degree or equivalent qualifications. A full-time permanent contract is offered with a competitive salary range.

Qualifications

• Experience in large-scale project and programme management.
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development.
• Significant experience in developing complex business cases.

Responsibilities

• Drive MFT's digital strategic roadmap.
• Lead critical programmes and initiatives.
• Enhance clinical quality and operational effectiveness.

Skills

Project Management

Change Management

Risk Management

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Project

Job description

Job Summary

Joining the Digital Service places you at the heart of the Trust's digital journey. The Hive Electronic Patient Record (EPR), powered by Epic, launched in September 2022 – the largest UK deployment at the time – marked a major milestone in MFT's vision of becoming a Digital First organisation.

Hive has greatly enhanced the Trust's ability to harness data by capturing high-quality, high-volume clinical and non-clinical information across acute services. This enables data-driven insights to accelerate digital transformation and deliver safer, more efficient, and more personalised patient care.

We have an ambitious digital strategic roadmap, with Hive as the engine for transformation across MFT. Our aim is to deliver scalable, robust, and reliable digital infrastructure, applications, and services that underpin major programmes and strategic priorities.

This includes contributing to national initiatives such as the New Hospitals Programme, supporting North Manchester General Hospital's redevelopment, which is shaping the digital blueprint for future hospitals. We are also evolving our digital governance framework to ensure safe, effective, and innovative use of emerging technologies – including AI, Machine Learning, and Robotic Process Automation – across all areas of our services.

Interviews provisionally scheduled for w/c 19th January 2026.

Main duties of the job

The Digital Team plays a pivotal role in supporting Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) to deliver clinically led, operationally driven, and digitally enabled services. Colleagues work across strategy, governance and assurance, portfolio management, information and patient services, as well as teams dedicated to our Hive Electronic Patient Record (EPR), associated applications, wider digital systems, technology architecture, infrastructure, and operational services.

We are supported by a diverse and highly skilled Clinical Informatics Team, ensuring all digital solutions are safe, effective, and patient-focused. This team includes consultants from across the organisation, alongside our Digital Nursing, Midwifery, and Allied Health Professional Team, working closely with the Chief Medical Informatics Officers to ensure clinical excellence.

The Head of Hive EPR & Digital Applications is a key leadership role within the Digital Services Senior Leadership Team (SLT). The post holder will deputise for the Director of Hive EPR & Digital Applications as required, while driving MFT's digital strategic roadmap and leading a portfolio of critical programmes and initiatives.

As part of our Digital Team, you will help enhance clinical quality, patient and staff experience, operational effectiveness, and research excellence. We are proud of the impact our work has on patients and colleagues – and we're excited to offer you the chance to be part of that journey.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Qualifications

• Education to a minimum of master's degree level or equivalent post graduate qualification or equivalent level of experience within Digital
• Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Practitioner

Training

• Evidence of Continued Professional Development, including specialist training in areas such as: Business Case development and appraisal, Risk Management, Programme and Project Delivery methodologies (including MSP and Prince), MS Project Planning, Change Management and Controls

Experience

• Significant large scale and complex implementation experience of programme and project management methodologies that support significant organisational change
• Significant experience of operating in a matrix management structure or working in a consultancy-like arrangement.
• Highly developed, specialist knowledge and experience of managing a range of complex project and programme activities to formulate plans and strategies that have effect across multiple organisations.
• Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations
• Significant experience in the development of large and complex business cases

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

349-COR-7592234-RL4

Job locations

Trafford House, Wythenshawe

Manchester

M23 9XD

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.