About this role
Job summary
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 it's 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.
About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand 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 theSouth Westhas 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 andretaina workforce whichrepresentsthe 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 applicationin order toensurewe'remeeting our pledge.
Job description Job 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
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
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
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
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
Data/BI fluency to specify and use programme dashboards for decision-making and assurance
Planning Skills Essential
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
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
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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 the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address Digital HQ
40 Southwell Street
Bristol
BS2 8EJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)