Digital Innovation Deputy Portfolio Lead
Job summary
The Digital Innovation Hub at UCLH is seeking an exceptional leader to help shape the future of digital health innovation. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of healthcare, research and technology, leading the translation of cutting-edge UCL digital research into real-world improvements for patients, staff and the wider NHS.
Working across UCLH and University College London, you will build trusted relationships with senior clinical, operational, academic and industry stakeholders, helping to identify, develop and accelerate innovations with the potential to transform care. You will lead a growing team, influence strategic decision-making and play a key role in strengthening one of the UK's leading health innovation ecosystems.
We are looking for an experienced digital programme or portfolio leader who combines strategic thinking with a practical delivery mindset, thrives in complex environments and is passionate about improving healthcare through innovation. Uou will join a collaborative, ambitious and supportive team with the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of digital health at scale.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will lead the Digital Innovation Hub's programme to support the translation of digital health research from University College London (UCL) into operational use within UCLH. They will work with researchers, clinicians and operational teams to identify promising innovations, assess their potential impact and support their implementation in real-world healthcare settings.
The role will involve developing and managing a portfolio of innovation projects, establishing effective processes for project selection and prioritisation, overseeing delivery, monitoring benefits and managing risks. The postholder will act as a key link between UCL and UCLH, building strong relationships across both organisations and helping researchers understand the practical requirements for successful NHS adoption.
The successful candidate will also lead and develop a small team, provide expert programme and portfolio management support, contribute to the long-term sustainability of the service and represent the Digital Innovation Hub in senior stakeholder forums. Strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning and digital delivery skills are essential, alongside a passion for improving healthcare through innovation.
About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
o University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
o National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
o Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
o University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
o Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
o University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
o The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
o University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
- Educated to masters level and/or demonstrable experience in this level
- Highly specialist and expert programme management knowledge acquired through a programme-management qualification or relevant experience
Experience
- Significant and demonstrable experience of managing digital programmes and transformation in a complex organisation
- Ability to present complex information in an understandable and concise manner, drawing on different writing styles including reports and presenting plans, procedures and strategies
- Experience of developing network relationships and working collaboratively effectively
- Substantial experience of staff leadership and management across programme management
- Significant experience of service improvement delivery
Skills and Abilities
- Able to motivate and engage with individuals and teams and to challenge current ways of working and produce innovative solutions and ideas
- Strong grasp of managing project finances and budgets
- Work well in highly sensitive and high-pressure environments
- Ability to work flexibly in a fast-changing environment
- Ability to assimilate information quickly and make reasoned judgements whilst under pressure and working to strict deadlines
- Use of IT packages - advanced use of outlook, excel,word, project management software and hospital digital systems
Communication
- Excellent strategic communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to manage conflict
- Ability to communicate clearly through both verbal and the written media, at all levels with both internal and external stakeholders
- Strong report writing skills, with the ability to provide clear and concise management information
Personal and People Development
- Ability to lead, manage and develop a team
- Well organised, methodical and analytical
- Ability to plan and organise a varied workload effectively to meet deadlines in the short and long term and react to changing demands and work priorities
- Full understanding of confidentiality and data protection issues
- Creative, lateral thinker with an ability to generate solutions
- A flexible approach to the job with the ability to listen to ideas and respond in order to develop the approach to transformation
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
Employer details
Employer name
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
University College London Hospitals
235 Euston Road
London
NW1 2BU
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.uclh.nhs.uk