About this role
Job summary
The Senior Transformation Strategy Lead will design and lead programmes that deliver a technology-enabled vision for the future of healthcare, working across the NHS to shape strategy and policy on issues ranging from mental health to dentistry reform.
As technology becomes increasingly central to NHS transformation, the focus is on redesigning services around a digital-by-default approach that delivers better and more sustainable outcomes for patients.
This is not a technology strategy role. Instead, it is about transforming the NHS through technology and reimagining how healthcare is delivered. The role does not require a technical specialist, but someone who is ambitious about the possibilities of change and able to bring people together around a shared vision.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong strategic thinking, leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement skills, enabling them to influence a wide range of partners and secure commitment to change. Experience of policy development, working with government and supporting ministerial decision-making would be beneficial.
The role requires someone who can work at pace in a complex environment, balancing long-term vision with practical delivery.
This is an opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of the NHS. The immediate focus is supporting the redesign of pathways for people experiencing low-acuity anxiety and depression.
Main duties of the job
- Advocate for a health system re-imagined through technology, and lead on the development of strategies and policies to bring that vision to life;
- Partner with teams across DHSC, NHSE, and the health system to co-create future state visions and to influence policy and investment decisions;
- Create an environment in which multi-disciplinary teams can incubate, test, translate, and operationalise strategies, ideas, and improvements in order to deliver both the specific goals and spirit of the 10 Year Plan;
- Be an expert in the 'art of the possible', staying up to date with technology-enabled healthcare developments in the UK and around the world, and with technology developments more generally;
- Analyse and assess problems, developing a sound understanding of strategic challenges through quantitative and qualitative analysis, and identifying the potential solutions to them as part of a multi-disciplinary team and with a deeply collaborative approach;
- Manage options development, make recommendations, and advise senior leader - potentially including the NHS Executive and Ministers; and
- Work to align transformation strategy with wider NHS and DHSC strategies and priorities.
About us
NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.
Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.
In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.
If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
We cannot offer visa sponsorship for external candidates.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
If you like what you have read and think you have the skills and experience, we need then don't delay, apply today! We get lots of applications for our roles and so we sometimes have to close our posts early. Don't miss out!
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
Desirable
- Recognised qualification relevant to the role, such as Information Technology, service transformation (service redesign), policy and strategy or change and improvement.
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Expert knowledge in the following areas: Digital transformation, The health and care landscape, and particularly the use of technology within it, Principles of lean management and continuous improvement, Portfolio management, Budgetary management, Analytics
- Subject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating to the functional team: Track record of managing and delivering major technology and transformational change programmes to transform services, involving multiple organisations and stakeholders, Experience in managing digital transformation programmes and projects, Understanding of the benefits, challenges, and barriers to implementing digital technology at all levels.
Skills Capabilities & Attributes
Essential
- Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
- Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
- Demonstrable ability to deliver at pace in complex environment.
- Works with Stakeholders to develop performance improvement plans and to develop plans for innovation and opening up the market.
- Demonstrable experience of delivering results through the development and management of teams to ensure success and use a range of levers in the absence of direct line management responsibility.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
NHS England
Address
Leeds or London
Leeds / London
LS1 4AP
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)