Senior Digital Programme Lead

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Senior Digital Programme Lead to drive major digital transformation, including EPR development, enterprise network replacement, and digital‑enabled service change. The post manages multiple interdependent projects across Trust boundaries with a focus on outcomes, governance and benefits realisation.

Leading senior delivery across clinical and operational leaders, you will champion professional development, manage capital budgets and vendor

Qualifications

• Formal project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2 or similar).
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience; programme management focus preferred).
• Master’s level qualification or equivalent senior‑level experience.
• In‑depth specialist knowledge of implementing/using IT systems in healthcare.
• Familiarity with standard project methodologies and programme management.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership and accountability for end‑to‑end delivery of complex digital programmes.
• Lead multiple interdependent projects across Trust boundaries with coherent delivery.
• Define, track and realise programme‑level benefits and budgets.
• Oversee governance, reporting and supplier relationships; ensure risk management.
• Mentor programme and project management teams and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Programme governance

Delivery leadership

Strategic planning

Risk management

Communication skills

Executive reporting

Problem solving

Mentoring teams

Education

PRINCE2 or equivalent

Degree level education

Master’s level qualification or senior experience

Tools

PAS/EPR systems

Data BI/Dashboards

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.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received.

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

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT) is recruiting a Senior Digital Programme Lead to drive major digital transformation across the organisation. The role leads delivery of high‑impact digital programmes, including but not limited to, Electronic Patient Record development, enterprise network replacement, clinical and corporate system implementation, and digital‑enabled service transformation to improve patient care, staff experience and operational efficiency.

The post holder will manage multiple interdependent projects across both organisations, ensuring strong delivery discipline, clear outcomes and measurable benefits. A deep understanding of digital transformation is essential, recognising its role in advancing clinical and operational ambitions. Experience in areas such as digital system implementation, network installation, data migration or business intelligence is highly valued.

Working within the BFT and its Clinical Strategy, the role provides senior leadership across organisational boundaries, ensuring programmes are delivered safely, at pace and with digital as a key enabler of service change. This senior leadership position requires significant delivery expertise, excellent stakeholder engagement and the ability to operate effectively in a complex, multi‑organisational NHS environment.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will provide senior leadership and accountability for end‑to‑end delivery of complex digital programmes, ensuring alignment with Group priorities, clinical strategy and organisational goals. They will lead multiple interdependent projects across Trust boundaries, managing sequencing, dependencies and coherent delivery. A strong focus on outcomes is essential, with responsibility for defining, tracking and realising programme‑level benefits. The role includes managing capital budgets, ensuring accurate reporting and optimal use of funding, as well as overseeing key supplier relationships and holding vendors to account during delivery.

The post holder will act as the senior delivery interface for executive, clinical, operational and digital leaders, offering clear assurance, progress updates and escalation. They will proactively manage risks, issues and constraints, applying structured problem‑solving and timely escalation. Strong governance, assurance and reporting are required, alongside the ability to exercise autonomous professional judgement. The role also involves leading and mentoring programme and project management teams, strengthening delivery capability and driving continuous improvement across the Digital Programmes portfolio. They will contribute to maturing programme practices and champion professional development and digital advocacy across the organisation.

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

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Training, Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Formal project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2 or similar)
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience; programme management focus preferred)
• Master’s level qualification or equivalent senior‑level experience
• In depth specialist technical knowledge of implementing/using IT systems in healthcare
• Familiarity with standard project methodologies and good knowledge of programme management
• Delivering healthcare projects on time and within budget in complex environments
• Clinical or administrative process improvement experience
• Benefits identification and benefits management (strong understanding)
• Risk management (excellent understanding of processes)
• Appreciation of current and emerging computer technologies — (knowledge component)
• Integrated clinical safety and Information Governance requirements into programme plans and critical paths
• Established and chaired programme level governance
• Led SOC/OBC/FBC development and approval, secured investment, and oversaw benefits realisation to closure

Desirable criteria

• Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Practitioner or equivalent programme management certification
• Advanced commercial/procurement training (e.g., contract management, SoW, SLA basics in NHS context)
• Thorough understanding of the NHS Information Governance environment
• Expert knowledge of PAS/EPR’S and other hospital/health-based systems

Communication Skills

Essential criteria

• Advanced stakeholder influence at senior management/board level (balance clinical, operational and financial trade‑offs)
• Summarise complex information and present to mixed/non technical audiences
• Communicate a range of IT, risks, complex topics and issues to a non technical audienc
• Strong interpersonal skills; establish and maintain good working relationships across the Trust and local health community
• Facilitate meetings/workshops and deliver presentations to varying organisational levels

Analytical Skills

Essential criteria

• Analyse and resolve complex problems to successful conclusion
• Benefits analysis and tracking (as part of benefits identification/management)
• Risk identification, assessment and mitigation, often complex and/or cross cutting multiple risk domains
• Option appraisal within business cases
• Process analysis for clinical/administrative improvement

Desirable criteria

• Data/BI fluency to specify and use programme dashboards for decision‑making and assurance

Planning Skills

Essential criteria

• Plan, monitor and control complex multi‑project programmes, using structured methodology
• Portfolio and programme level risk, issue and dependency management – (cross‑programme/system dependencies, structured escalation)
• Financial management of multi‑year, multi‑project programme budgets with transparent reporting to project boards and other financial management groups
• Work to tight and often changing timescales; organise workload
• Influence the development of standardised PMO processes and documentation
• Work with key stakeholders to develop plans
• Benefits led delivery (set benefit profiles/KPIs, assign owners, baseline/track via dashboards, link to Trust/CIP objectives)
• Recovered or re‑baselined challenged programmes (diagnosed root causes, reset scope/governance, restored delivery confidence)

Management Skills

Essential criteria

• Line management responsibilities
• Management of Project Managers and organisation of project staff
• Leadership of large, complex change programmes
• Supplier management and joint supplier/customer team working
• Negotiation skills; understanding of commercial agreements, contracts and frameworks
• Build and sustain effective relationships across organisational boundaries

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.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work‑related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.