Job summary
- Main area
- Technology, Digital and Data
- Grade
- ESM 3
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (until 31st March 2027) (Secondment only for current NHS employees)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 990-TDD-CIO-EC1069-E
- Employer
- NHS England
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Any NHS England Office
- Town
- National
- Salary
- £161,601 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 11/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Chief Information Officer
ESM 3
Our Organisation
The NHS is building a culture that is positive, compassionate and inclusive – and we all have our part to play.
As employers we are committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution and supports us to be an Employer of Choice, while helping our colleagues to deliver high quality services for our patients and communities.
As a flexible employer, we want to support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you. Talk to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time, hybrid working or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
We are an accredited Living Wage Employer which means that every colleague working for our organisation and third-party contractors will earn a real Living Wage. We are one of over 15,000 organisations, who voluntarily chose to pay the real Living Wage.
Job overview
Shape the digital future of the NHS at a moment of national importance
NHS England is seeking an outstanding Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO) to provide strategic leadership for digital and technology across the NHS in England at a critical point in its transformation journey.
Last year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and waste. As the two organisations come together, there is an opportunity to reshape how technology, digital, and data services are delivered across the health and social care system.
This is a rare opportunity for a senior leader with deep experience of large‑scale digital, technology and cyber‑critical environments to operate at the heart of one of the UK’s most complex and mission‑critical systems. The role carries national responsibility, significant influence, and the chance to make a tangible difference to patient care, workforce experience and value for the taxpayer.
Main duties of the job
Reporting to the Director General for Technology, Digital and Data, the Interim CIO is accountable for the provision, resilience and evolution of digital and technology capabilities that underpin the NHS—both for NHS England itself and for the wider health and care system. You will work in partnership with the Chief Data and Analytics Officer, under the DG, to deliver the Digital, Data and Technology programmes of work.
You will lead national digital platforms and services that are part of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure, set and enforce system‑wide technology standards, and provide authoritative leadership on architecture, infrastructure, cybersecurity and legacy modernisation. Working in close partnership with the Chief Data and Analytics Officer and senior leaders across regions and Integrated Care Systems, you will balance national consistency with local delivery and innovation.
Working for our organisation
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.
We lead the NHS in England by:
- Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities
- Making the NHS a great place to work, where people can develop and make a difference
- Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
- Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
- Delivering value for money
Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and waste.
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-person.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key priorities
As Interim CIO, you will:
- Provide strategic leadership for national digital and technology services supporting millions of patients and staff every day.
- Support ministers, Joint Executive Team, and colleagues at all levels to successfully deliver the DHSC-NHSE Transformation programme.
- Ensure the security, resilience and performance of critical infrastructure in a constantly evolving threat landscape.
- Drive progress from legacy technology to modern, cloud‑enabled, product‑based services.
- Set and uphold clear digital, technology and information standards across the NHS in England.
- Lead and inspire senior digital and technology professionals, strengthening capability and pace of delivery.
- Represent NHS England credibly with ministers, cross‑government partners, regulators and major suppliers.
- This is an executive‑level role operating in a complex, high‑profile and politically aware environment, requiring confidence, judgement and the ability to deliver through influence as well as authority.
Who we are looking for
This interim opportunity will suit a proven Chief Information Officer or Chief Digital Officer (or equivalent) with a strong track record operating at board or enterprise level within large, regulated, data‑rich organisations. You will bring:
- Deep expertise across digital strategy, enterprise architecture, infrastructure, cybersecurity and large‑scale service delivery.
- Experience leading complex technology estates spanning modern digital platforms and legacy systems.
- Credibility working with senior stakeholders, including ministers, boards and executive peers.
- Strong commercial and governance capability, with experience overseeing significant budgets and suppliers.
- The resilience, clarity and adaptability required to lead through ambiguity and change.
Experience of the NHS or wider public sector is valuable but not essential; what matters most is the ability to operate effectively at national scale and pace.
Additional Information
Regular travel to our London and Leeds offices will be required.
Please note that the reason for the fixed term of this contract is due to the DHSC-NHSE Transformation Programme.
Important: Please be aware there are residency requirements you need to meet:
This role requires the successful candidate to undergo DV level clearance.
To meet National Security Vetting requirements for DV Clearance, you must have resided in the UK for a minimum 10 continuous years, immediately preceding from the point of application.
Candidates who were posted abroad for service with HM Government, Armed Forces or within a UK government role - will still be considered.
Please make sure you meet these requirements before applying for this role. You don’t need to have Developed Vetting already, however, failure to achieve the requirements for Developed Vetting after offer, will result in the job offer being withdrawn.
For further advice please check https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/nationa…
For further information on National Security Vetting please check National security
vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK, information on the Security Vetting and Clearances Intranet page or contact [email protected].
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.
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 criteria
- Educated to Masters level or equivalent experience with evidence of continuing professional development
- Postgraduate management or professional qualification at Doctorate level or equivalent experience
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Exceptional proven track record as a Chief Information Officer/Chief Digital Officer/Chief Digital Information Officer (or similar senior leadership position in Digital/IT); within a complex, data driven, regulated operating environment and organisation with accountability for an multi-million IT budget.
- Significant experience in and knowledge of all facets of digital, technology and information management, including strategy, architecture, software development, application management, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity and data. This should include a wide range of systems, from modern citizen-facing cloud-hosted digital services to heavyweight legacy systems, and of working within a very heterogenous technical landscape
- Proven leader with strategic vision, influencing skills, strong decision making, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
Desirable criteria
- Proven leader in the NHS, able to work collaboratively with effective relationship building skills at executive level. Able to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and suppliers for digital and technology services, as well as other business leaders and cross government department and other ALB (CQC; DHSC) leaders
Skills
Essential criteria
- Strong leadership and engagement skills to create high performing, self-motivating, customer-focused teams in the context of changing requirements and ambiguity
- Engagement and credibility with ministers, senior executives in academia, supplier organisations and in industry, and with the ICO
Desirable criteria
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders across the Health and Social Care system
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Faye Sims
- Job title
- Chief of Staff
- Email address
- [email protected]
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