The Department of Health is seeking a deputy director of digital and technology strategy to help create a digital first healthcare system.

The Department of Health wants a digital leader who can drive transformation – Photo credit: PA Images

In a job advert published this month, DH said that it was looking for someone to act as a “digital evangelist” to oversee implementation of the department’s digital strategy.

The role, which is offered at a salary of around £100,000, reports to Katie Farrington, the director of digital and data in DH.

In a briefing document on the role, Farrington said that the position would require “flexibility, adaptability and resilience, with the ability to work in a complex landscape”.

The position is part of the digital and technology strategy team, which is working with a range of healthcare bodies and agencies to implement the digital first strategy.

This includes efforts to make the health and care system digital first and offering citizens improved services through better use of technology as well as making DH work in a more efficient way.

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The briefing document sets out the department’s plan to become a faster and more agile department that is smaller – DH expects staff to fall from 2,000 to around 1,300 people over this parliament – and puts more emphasis on innovation and culture.

The deputy director of digital and technology strategy will be responsible for overseeing the digital first side of this work, and is expected to do this in partnership with NHS Digital, the Office for Life Sciences and various arms length bodies.

In addition, they will also need to work closely with the Government Digital Service, ensuring that services comply with GDS spend controls and service standards.

The job advert also stressed the importance of training. As well as managing 20 direct reports, the new recruit will be head of profession for digital in DH, and will need to develop a programme to improve digital skills and capabilities in the department.

Other responsibilities include advising DH staff on developing digital programmes and incubating innovative digital projects.

The job advert asks for someone with in-depth experience of developing and implementing digital strategies, detailed understanding of the government’s digital by default agenda and good knowledge of agile working methods.

They should also have a passion for using digital and data to change organisations and excellent stakeholder relationship and leadership skills.

DH said that some knowledge of the health service and wider system would be beneficial, but was not essential.

The closing date for applications is 9 December, with interviews to be held in January next year.