Job summary
- Main area
- Data
- Grade
- Band 8c
- Contract
- Fixed term: 19 months (FTC/Secondment for 19 months to 31/03/27 due to project length)
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 025-AC199-0925
- Employer
- Digital Health and Care Wales
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Hybrid working
- Town
- Location to be confirmed at interview
- Salary
- £78,120 - £90,013 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 11/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Assistant Chief Data Architect
Band 8c
Digital Health and Care Wales is an ambitious organisation created by Welsh Government to lead on the digital transformation of health and care. It builds on the digital architecture and national services put in place by the NHS Wales Informatics Service over the past decade.
The organisation will lead on large-scale developments that make a significant difference to the people of Wales as well as to health and care professionals, such as expansion of the digital patient record and the creation of a National Data Resource. It will improve the way data is collected, shared and used. Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.
All applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.
Job overview
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) is seeking a visionary and dynamic Assistant Chief Architect to play a pivotal leadership role in shaping the future of health and care technology in Wales. Reporting to the Associate Director of Data Architecture & Standards, this role leads the design and development of our national digital architecture, ensuring alignment with the Wales Digital Health and Care Strategy. As one of the most senior digital professionals in Wales, you’ll influence policy, advise national and UK-wide boards, and help build a modern, integrated and secure digital infrastructure that transforms patient care. This is a rare opportunity to work at strategic level on systems that will have lasting impact for health and care services across the country.
Main duties of the job
As Assistant Chief Architect, you will:
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Lead the design, delivery and assurance of national digital architecture solutions.
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Shape the strategic direction for national systems and data integration.
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Engage senior stakeholders to ensure alignment across all health and care organisations.
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Evaluate emerging technologies and direct their adoption.
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Drive improvements in digital service quality, policy and governance.
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Provide expert advice to executive leaders and UK counterparts.
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Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation and technical excellence across the digital workforce.
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Represent DHCW at national forums, helping drive forward a digitally enabled, patient-first service model.
This post is fixed term/secondment for 19 mis due to - meet the needs of the service
If you are interested in applying for the secondment position, you must obtain permission from your current line manager prior to applying for this post.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Working for our organisation
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) is an expert national body and part of NHS Wales. We work in partnership with NHS Wales colleagues and other key stakeholders to provide national digital and data services which support the delivery of health and social care in Wales. Modern health and care services depend on good digital tools, data and information. DHCW runs or works with more than 100 services and delivers major national digital transformation programmes to support this. In addition, DHCW provides expert advice in relation to cyber security and information governance. We give frontline staff the digital tools which help them provide safer and more efficient care. We are also giving patients and the public digital tools to better manage their own health and wellbeing, empowering people to live healthier lives. We put people at the heart of what we do, working to the highest standards to deliver quality and make digital a force for good in health and care.
Working for DHCW offers lots of employee benefits, including flexible working, a competitive salary, 28 days of annual leave plus Bank Holidays and opportunities for career development. We are committed to recognising and celebrating our staff as the most valuable part of our organisation.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
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Develop and lead the technical strategy for the national digital architecture.
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Direct a multidisciplinary team of senior specialists and engineers.
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Ensure all technical solutions meet IG, data security, and quality standards.
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Influence investment decisions and author business cases for national IT development.
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Maintain effective partnerships with clinical, executive, and government stakeholders.
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Guide implementation of transformative digital projects across Wales.
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Represent Wales in UK-wide digital health initiatives.
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Contribute to national policy development and champion professional standards in digital health.
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac
Person specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Master’s degree in an associated professional field (or equivalent qualification / experience).
Experience
Essential criteria
- Strong experience leading data architecture in large organisations, creating and managing data strategies and frameworks.
- In-depth knowledge of data standards and the legal, regulatory, and ethical rules for managing and protecting data.
- Broad understanding of enterprise systems, including data modelling, integration, governance, and lifecycle management in large digital setups.
- Proficient in designing and building logical and physical data models that support service needs.
Skills and Attributes
Essential criteria
- Leadership to support and guide others with clear direction and to encourage an inclusive, high-performing team culture.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
Welsh language skills are desirable
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Rebecca Cook
- Job title
- Chief Data Officer
- Email address
- [email protected]
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