Director of Digital Citizen (and our National Digital Channels)
Job summary
This is an opportunity to lead some of the UK's most widely used public digital services. As Director of Digital Citizen and National Digital Channels, you will shape the future of the NHS App, NHS.uk, NHS Login and NHS 111 Online, services relied upon by millions of people every day.
We are developing the next generation of digital health and care products to transform how citizens access information, manage their health and engage with services online. Our ambition is to create personalised, seamless experiences that empower people, improve health outcomes, enhance NHS services and reduce administrative burden on staff.
The portfolio includes NHS.uk, the NHS App, NHS Login and NHS 111 Online, making this one of the most influential digital leadership roles in the public sector.
You will provide visible and inspiring leadership across a complex, highly regulated ecosystem, working with patients, clinicians, government and senior stakeholders to shape and deliver a national consumer-facing product strategy. Leading multidisciplinary product and content teams, you will ensure delivery is aligned to user needs and generates value for both citizens and the NHS.
If you have experience delivering transformational web and app products at scale, with a strong focus on human-centred design and product-led ways of working, this is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of health and care in England.
Main duties of the job
The Director of Digital Citizen and National Digital Channels is a senior leadership role reporting to the Executive Director of Product & Platforms. The postholder will lead the strategy, development and delivery of the NHS's national digital channels, driving digital transformation through user-centred services.
Leading the NHS App, NHS.uk, NHS Login and NHS 111 Online, they will oversee growth, adoption and benefits realisation, ensuring services are secure, scalable and deliver value for citizens and the NHS. They will set strategic direction, align delivery with NHS priorities and lead programmes that improve user experience, engagement and health outcomes.
The role will champion innovation through AI and emerging technologies, promote agile and product-led approaches, and oversee governance, commercial planning and supplier relationships.
Candidates will bring experience delivering large-scale consumer digital products, with expertise in product management, user-centred design and digital transformation. Strong leadership, stakeholder management and commercial skills are essential, alongside a proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, influence senior stakeholders and use data and insight to drive strategy, prioritisation and sustainable change for millions of NHS users.
About us
NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.
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.
In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.
If you currently work within the NHS and 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 our offices.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see that attached job description and person specification for further details on the role.
If you like what you have read and think you have the skills and experience, we need then don't delay, apply today! We get lots of applications for our roles and so we sometimes have to close our posts early. Don't miss out!
Person Specification
Experience & Knowledge
- Experience of leading large-scale consumer digital products and services with vast numbers of users, balancing service performance, adoption, user outcomes and organisational value.
- Experience of building, developing and leading highly effective, multidisciplinary, diverse and inclusive teams that are motivated and inspired to work together to achieve a common objective.
- Proven ability to secure the confidence of Senior Stakeholders developing and translating complex policy and strategy into successful and sustainable delivery in an environment of uncertainty.
Skills, Abilities & Attributes
- Ability to provide leadership and direction for large, multidisciplinary teams and demonstrate inclusive, confident and empowering leadership to develop a talented, motivated and high performing workforce, including driving significant cultural change with positive outcomes.
- Able to demonstrate excellent judgement skills in relation to complex and high value issues where there is no external reference point or precedent, using available evidence.
- Ability to manage multiple conflicting demands calmly and confidently, reconcile political imperatives and user needs through effective prioritisation.
Qualifications
- Educated to Graduate Degree level or equivalent experience, with evidence of continuing professional development.
- Self-awareness in terms of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers with cultural sensitivity and awareness.
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
NHS England
Address
Wellington Place, Leeds, 10 South Colonnade, London, Wellington House, London
London
SE1 8UG
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/