Head of IT and Digital Systems
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the organisation as Head of IT & Digital Systems. This is a pivotal senior leadership role with responsibility for leading and developing the organisations IT and digital function, ensuring infrastructure, systems, telephony, cybersecurityand information governance arrangements are secure,resilientand aligned to organisational priorities. Reporting to the Director of Performance and Delivery, the postholder will play a key role in shaping and delivering the organisations digital ambition.
This role will suit a highly capable and technically strong leader who is equally comfortable operating strategically and taking a hands-on approach to operational delivery. Working as part of the SeniorManagementTeam, the successful candidate will lead the development, management and optimisation of IT infrastructure and digital systems, ensuring services are reliable, user-focused and fit for the future. With responsibility for a small team, the postholder will be expected to provide visible leadership, day-to-dayoversightand support across the full IT function.
The postholder will also act as the lead for Information Governance, taking overall responsibility for cyber security, dataprotectionand GDPR compliance.
Main duties of the job
The Head of IT & Digital Systems is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the IT and digital function, with overall accountability for internal and external electronic communication networks, hardware, software, telephony, infrastructure, applications, cyber security and information governance arrangements. The postholder will ensure that all aspects of IT infrastructure, digital systems and operational communications effectively support and enhance organisational goals whilst minimising information risk. The role is central to leading the ongoing development, management and optimisation of digital services, ensuring technology supports high-quality service delivery, business continuity and an excellent user and patient experience across the organisation. Reporting to the Director of Performance and Delivery and working as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will provide expert leadership across IT operations, digital transformation and information governance.
About us
Birmingham and District GP Emergency Room (Badger) Ltd is a not-for-profit social enterprise healthcare co-operative which includes, as part of its group of companies, Badger Medical Ltd, Badger Healthcare Ltd and Sett Support Partnership plc. It has an annual turnover of £13 million. consisting of Board Leadership; Clinical; Finance; Workforce & HR; Quality & Performance; Operations; IT and Business Development departments. Badger was established in 1996 by local doctors who joined together to initially provide an improved out-of-hours service for their patients. Today Badger has opted-in GP members in 60+ practices and provides 24/7 message handling, urgent primary care and GP out of hours service to a patient base of 1.3 million. We run the Urgent Treatment Services at Solihull and Erdington Stockland Green, with face to face and 24/7 remote clinical assessment services operating from Bourne Road in Aston. Our head offices are at Glover Street, near the city centre. Badger was recognised with an Outstanding rating following our Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in March 2024.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Provide strategic and operational leadership for the organisations IT and Digital Systems function, ensuring digital services, infrastructure and technologies support organisational priorities, operational performance and high-quality patient and user experience.
Lead, manage and develop the IT team, fostering a high-performing, patient-focused and values-driven culture aligned to Badger values and continuous improvement.
Develop, implement and deliver the IT and Digital Strategy and digital transformation roadmap, including infrastructure modernisation, cloud technologies, AI-enabled solutions, business systems and clinical applications.
Provide strategic oversight and operational management of all IT infrastructure, networks, telephony, hardware, software, cyber security, digital support services and business-critical systems, ensuring services remain secure, resilient, reliable and fit for purpose.
Lead the continuous improvement and optimisation of digital systems, services and the IT operating model to enhance efficiency, interoperability, user experience and service delivery across the organisation.
Act as the organisational lead for Information Governance, Data Protection, Clinical IT Standards and Cyber Security, ensuring compliance with GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, DSPT, DCB0160/DCB0129, NHS England standards and all relevant statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements.
Develop and maintain robust governance frameworks, policies, assurance processes, business continuity arrangements and disaster recovery plans to effectively manage digital, cyber and information risks.
Manage third-party suppliers, contracts, service agreements, IT budgets and digital investment programmes to ensure value for money, performance and delivery against organisational objectives.
Provide accurate and timely management, performance and compliance information to support organisational governance, assurance and strategic decision-making.
Represent the organisation at external forums, including ICB, UHUK and wider health and care system meetings, acting as a credible ambassador and supporting collaborative digital innovation and interoperability.
Ensure the IT function delivers a responsive, professional and customer-focused service, maintaining high standards of technical support, communication and stakeholder engagement.
Participate in the senior management and IT on-call rota, contributing to the provision of 24-hour support and major incident response as required.
Undertake any other duties commensurate with the seniority and scope of the role.
Any other reasonable duties as required.
Person Specification
Experience
- Proven experience in all aspects of information technology infrastructure, applications, information governance, and operational communications.
- Experience with IT performance management, network administration and system security.
- Experience of implementing digital solutions and infrastructure
- Experience of project managing implementation of systems.
- Extensive experience of managing work programmes within a complex setting
- Experience of leading on the development of roadmaps, policies and organisational-wide processes to support the function
- Ability to manage priorities within a complex, demanding environment
- Experience of business case development
- Ability to lead teams of staff and provide leadership to several team functions
- Experience of managing stakeholder relationships
- Ability to present complex information and deliver effective presentations to all levels within the organisation
- Strong negotiation skills; being able to engage with suppliers and external partners regarding both contractual and technical matters
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer or Cisco
- Certified Network Professional qualification or equivalent.
- Experience in the healthcare sector.
- Knowledge and experience of NHS systems.
- Knowledge of how digital capability can impact on healthcare outcomes.
- Detailed understanding of NHS Directory of Services (DoS) and
- Interoperability Toolkit (ITK)
- Detailed understanding of the healthcare landscape and
- national guidance in relation to Adastra and/or System One
- PRINCE2 or APM qualification
- Knowledge of Health IT systems and compliance to NHS DCB
- standards.
Qualifications
- Holds appropriate degree level qualification in Information Technology or appropriate comparable experience.
- Masters degree or significant experience leading application support and system management teams of staff within a 24/7, complex organisation
- Demonstrates a commitment to continuous personal development &
- learning.
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Badger Group
Address
Badger House
121 Glover Street
Birmingham
West Midlands
B9 4EY
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.badger-group.com/