Band 9 Director of Digital Strategy and Business Planning

Job summary

We are seeking an exceptional Director of Digital Strategy and Business Planning to lead the development, delivery and oversight of the Trust's digital strategy.

Reporting to the Chief Digital Officer, this senior leadership role will ensure that digital priorities, investment, governance and delivery are clearly aligned to organisational objectives and deliver measurable value for patients, staff and services.

The postholder will lead the Office of the CDO, acting as a key strategic interface between executive, clinical, operational and corporate leaders and Digital Services. They will translate organisational priorities into a coherent, funded and deliverable digital roadmap, owning portfolio prioritisation, business planning, investment oversight, performance reporting and benefits realisation.

This is a pivotal role for an experienced digital leader with strong strategic, commercial and delivery expertise. The successful candidate will provide visible leadership across Digital Services, drive data-informed decision-making, strengthen governance and assurance, and build trusted relationships with internal and external partners including system, regional and national stakeholders.

The role offers the opportunity to shape the future of digital transformation at scale, ensuring that technology, data and innovation enable safer, more effective and more joined-up care.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will lead the development and delivery of the Trust's digital strategy, ensuring digital priorities, investment and delivery plans are aligned to organisational, clinical and operational objectives. They will lead the Office of the CDO, providing strategic oversight of digital governance, portfolio management, business planning, prioritisation, risk management and performance reporting.

The role will translate Trust priorities into a clear, funded and deliverable digital roadmap, ensuring programmes are supported by robust business cases, clear outcomes, effective assurance and measurable benefits. The postholder will oversee delivery across the digital portfolio, monitoring progress against scope, quality, timescales, budget and value for money.

Working closely with executive, clinical, operational, corporate, finance, commercial and procurement colleagues, the postholder will ensure digital investment is co-designed around service need and delivers tangible benefits for patients, staff and services.

They will also represent Digital Services with regional, national and industry partners, supporting collaboration, innovation and wider digital transformation.

About us

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests. Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top. For more information please follow link https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

Person specification

Royal Free World Class Values

Essential

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor or Master's degree in Business Studies, Technology, Politics or Philosophy

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience in digital strategy and leadership roles, ideally with a proven track record of digital transformation in the public sector
• Experience of leading large procurement processes within central government or public sector departments
• Significant experienc on leading large digital and data teams including through organizational change
• Experience of overseeing largescale digital projects from inception to completion

Skills and aptitudes

Essential

• Strategic mindset and critical thinking
• Senior stakeholder negotiation and influence
• Digital and Technology acumen

Personal Qualities & attributes

Essential

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to remain resilient and pragmatic within high pressure environment
• Inclusive approach to leadership of people
• Strategic mindset and critical thinking
• Senior stakeholder negotiation and influence
• Digital and Technology acumen
• Inspirational leadership and people management
• Transformation and change management
• Portfolio and programme management
• Strong proficiency in data analytics and data informed approach to decision making
• Able to demonstrate empathy for different human experiences and adapt leadership style appropriately