Head of Digital Portfolio

NHS AfC: Band 8c

Main area

Head of Digital Portfolio

Grade

NHS AfC: Band 8c

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time - 37.5 hours per week (per week)

Job ref

193-7618862COR

Site

Royal Berkshire Hospital

Town

Reading

Salary

£76,965 - £88,682 per annum

Salary period

Yearly

Closing

11/12/2025 23:59

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is "Working together to provide outstanding care for our community."

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ' Good' with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust's overall rating has also improved to 'good'.

We are C ompassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are A spirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are R esourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are E xcellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don't you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.

Job Overview

The Head of Digital Portfolio is integral to the delivery of our digital strategy, playing a pivotal role in delivering a high-profile, complex Digital Programme and leading the delivery function within the DDaT team. The role is also crucial for creating and maintaining focus, enthusiasm and momentum, working with all teams within the Trust and the ICB.

The post holder is responsible for monitoring, reporting and driving progress of key digital programmes and projects across the Trust, ensuring appropriate governance, oversight and assurance up to senior level and where appropriate across the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Main duties of the job

• Direct and lead the delivery and implementation of the Trust Digital programme portfolio taking personal accountability for the outcome(s) and the realisation of the associated benefits.
• Manage digital delivery governance arrangements according to appropriate requirements and quality.
• Manage the Initial engagement with the stakeholders to establish and identify requirements of any Digital deliveries.
• Identify and manage the key strategic risks and issues facing the programme.
• Chair reviews of the programme and assess the programmes continued alignment with objectives, capability of delivery and measurable achievement of benefits.
• Audit of programme health and activities, processes, and systems.
• Personally oversee development and execution of business cases / bids for digital investment (e.g. liaising with NHS England)
  
  

Working for our organisation

Diversity is what makes us interesting Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.

Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.

If you need additional help with your application please get in touch by calling the recruitment team on 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.

Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Programme Delivery

• Direct and lead the delivery and implementation of the Trust Digital programme portfolio taking personal accountability for the outcome(s) and the realisation of the associated benefits.
• Manage digital delivery governance arrangements according to appropriate requirements and quality.
• Manage the Initial engagement with the stakeholders to establish and identify requirements of any Digital deliveries.
• Identify and manage the key strategic risks and issues facing the programme.
• Chair reviews of the programme and assess the programmes continued alignment with objectives, capability of delivery and measurable achievement of benefits.
• Audit of programme health and activities, processes, and systems.
• Personally oversee development and execution of business cases / bids for digital investment (e.g. liaising with NHS England)
  
  

Communication And Relationship Skills

• The post holder will be required to build and maintain excellent working relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders on a range of business sensitive issues to a wide range of audiences including executive directors.
• Maintain close relationship with Digital Programme Management Office (PMO) expert level, managing complex programme interdependencies.
• Manage potentially antagonistic situations with staff and stakeholders within an operational setting working to successful outcomes.
• Deal with complex and conflicting subject matter problems or in day-today workload in workshops, meetings, one-on-one communications, and other events, comprising various parts of the business.
• Advocate development of an improvement culture
• Communicate sensitive Digital service issues to a wide range staff both internally and across the Integrated care System (ICS)
• Ensure optimum engagement, securing appropriate buy in, support and understanding.
• Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, and contentious information, including presenting information about projects and dependencies to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders in formal settings.
• Employ effective communication, negotiation and influencing skills to enable effective service management with stakeholders at all levels (including Executive Directors, Chief Executives) who may hold differing and contentious views.
• Deliver presentations on Portfolio developments to large multi-disciplinary audiences e.g., Clinicians, Finance, HR, and Executive staff which are likely to be challenging as linked to significant new ways of working.
  
  

Planning And Organisational Skills

• Establish and maintain strong governance, processes and standardised documentation for all projects and programmes within their remit, working with the AD of Digital Delivery to define and continuously improve the delivery framework for the DDAT team.
• Responsible for the development and maintenance of ongoing programme initiation documentation.
• Plan and organise a broad range of complex activates in relation to the digital programme and the wider ICS which may require adjustment such as long-term plans, business cases impact across organisations.
• Ensure the postholder considers risk and quality impact of all initiatives.
• Produce and update high quality portfolio documentation including portfolio plans, communication plans, benefits realisation plans, highlight and exception reports.
• Identify project stakeholders and implement sustainable stakeholder management plans.
• Liaise closely with identified IT service providers, PMO offices, managers and clinicians across BOB ICS and the wider region to agree resource commitments and influence, negotiate and implement highly complex development changes, in order to prioritise and deliver service improvements.
• Makes major contribution to corporate policies and strategy.
• To plan and organise a broad range of complex activities, adjust plans and / or strategies which may impact across the organisation.
• Actively develop improvement stories to share internally and externally to demonstrate value and impact.
• Ensure the completion of quality and equality impact assessments for all change projects to ensure no detrimental impact to our patients or staff.
• Contributes to long term Digital Service strategies and takes lead in advising long-term strategic digital system planning for the whole organisation.
• To support the development of roadmaps for the development of digital solutions for the next 2-5 years ensuring the vision is incorporated into the Digital ICS strategic plans.
  
  

Managerial

• Undertake appraisals for team members on an annual basis ensuring feedback on performance are given at regular intervals throughout the year.
• Promote learning and development within the Team, acting as the professional lead for digital delivery, digital clinical change and business analysis, ensuring continuous professional development of team members and the wider DDAT team in these disciplines.
• Support the management and development of all staff within the Department ensuring that personal development mechanisms are in place and adhered to.
• Manage staff in accordance with the standard HR practices along with Agenda for Change, Improving Working Lives and family friendly work initiatives.
• Promote an open, honest collaborative and participative "can do" culture and values.
• Enhance the performance and motivation of staff in the programme team, ensuring the effective use of skills and flexibility by promoting professional and personal development.
• Promote the principles of Improving Working Lives amongst your team ensuring fairness and equity.
• Communicate effectively with your team on a timely basis ensuring robust systems exist so that staff feels informed.
• Have responsibility for risk management and health and safety in the workplace.
  
  

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria

• Masters-level degree or equivalent experience in a related subject
• Professional Scrum Master (PSM) I / AgilePM / Lean Six Sigma, or similar, or equivalent practical experience
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
  
  

Desirable criteria

• ITIL v3 Service Management Qualification (Foundation level)
• NHS relevant Management qualification (e.g. inspirational leaders course, Edward Jenner, Kings Fund Management course)
• Professional Scrum Master (PSM) II / Professional Agile Leadership or similar advanced project management qualification
• Business analysis qualification, or equivalent practical experience
  
  

Experience

Essential criteria

• Practical experience of delivering complex digital projects, ideally in the NHS or wider UK public sector
• Practical experience delivering projects using an Agile Scrum or Kanban methodology
• Proven experience of writing, presenting gaining approval for Business cases / Bids / Statements Of Work / Technical Requirements
• Able to coach and lead teams in Agile and Lean processes
• Experience of using Agile project management tools (e.g. Jira, Trello, etc.) to a high level of proficiency
• Proven ability to translate business requirements into delivered solutions
• Ability to perform complex data analysis and assure complex pieces of data or business analysis modelling done by others
• Strong Vendor Management skills in building, maintain relationships both at a commercial and Operational level
• Proven experience of applying methods and techniques for reporting progress and financial compliance against an agreed plan and business objectives to a range of senior managers including directors and the Senior Responsible Officer
• Demonstrating a strong strategic perspective that understands the corporate view and maintains the organisation's long-term vision
• Demonstrable ability to identify, plan and coordinate a set of related projects within a programme of business change
• Demonstrable ability to manage complex and multiple interdependencies in support of specific business strategies within an IT environment to the successful achievement of planned business benefits
• Demonstrable experience of involvement in the creation of IT Strategic Direction and roadmap including the creation and presentation of business cases
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience of the English public sector procurement process, including knowledge of digital frameworks (e.g. G-Cloud)
• Experience of working in the NHS at senior manager level
• Experience leading a continual portfolio planning process in a very complex environment
  
  

Skills, Knowledge And Abilities

Essential criteria

• Able to maintain productive working relationships with stakeholders
• Able to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders and secure cooperation with colleagues, verbally and in writing
• Able to present complex information to staff with limited technical knowledge, and differing levels of understanding and seniority
• Ability to provide information reporting to a high standard
• Able to work independently and without supervision and be responsible for own workload, assuring agreed objectives are met
• Able to work under pressure with externally defined schedules, changing priorities and a complex and political agenda
• Able to understand competing priorities, resolve contention, facilitate compromise, repair relationships and clear blockages
• Proven ability and experience of demonstrating strong credible, professional leadership skills including the provision of clear direction, motivating and inspiring others to overcome obstacles of delivery, and providing a culture of empowerment, accountability and recognition
• Experience in delivering transformation or large programmes, and strategic change programmes that bring sustainable benefits
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Able to act as a recognised expert and advocate for Agile and Lean approaches
• Knowledge of the GDS or NHS Service Standard
• In depth knowledge of current NHS DDAT strategies, structures and processes
• Ability to organise and facilitate workshops with services to map processes and drive requirements definition
• Ability to identify dependencies in plans across projects / services and co-ordinate delivery
  
  

We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

Staff Benefits

• Flexible working opportunities and a strong emphasis on your work, life balance
• Annual leave - 27 days for new starters, plus bank holidays. Increasing to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years NHS service. Pro rata for part time staff
• NHS pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Money Advice Service
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave for eligible staff
• On-site nursery (based at RBH)
• Full educational library services
• Cycle to work scheme, lockable storage for cycles
• Bus to work scheme
• Excellent rail and bus links
• A huge range of Health Service Discounts at hundreds of big brands from holidays to gadgets and restaurants to retail.
  
  

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third party recruitment system (TRAC). All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, that as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Appointment to any position is conditional on the satisfactory completion of the core NHS Employment Checks Standards. Information disclosed in your application will be checked and any offer of appointment may be withdrawn if you knowingly withhold information or provide false or misleading information. All new appointments to the Trust, with the exception of executive positions, are subject to a 6 month probationary period.

The Trust may close any vacancy prior to the advertised closing date due to the high level of responses we receive for some of our vacancies.

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is committed to improving the health of its staff, patients and the wider community by providing a smoke free environment. A smoke free policy is in operation and smoking is not permitted on any of the Trust's sites.

The Trust is also committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Application numbers

Candidates to be capped at 25 applications per 1WTE position to be recruited

Documents to download

• Job Description and Person Specification (PDF, 232.2KB)
• Staff Benefits (PDF, 139.1KB)
• Probation Policy & Procedure (PDF, 559.4KB)
• Relocation Policy (PDF, 572.4KB)
• Leadership Behaviours Framework (PDF, 1.0MB)
• Behaviours Framework 2022 (PDF, 2.9MB)
  
  

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Henry Wright

Job title

Associate Director of Digital Delivery

Email address

Telephone number

0118 322 6997

LNKD1_UKTJ