Head of Digital Applications Development
Job summary
THIS POST IS FIXED TERM/SECONDMENT FOR 24 MONTHS 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 Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust is seeking to appoint an experienced and ambitious senior leader to the role of Head of Digital Applications Development.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead the development of a new in-house application development function that will play a central role in delivering digital transformation across our clinical, operational and corporate services. The post holder will shape the organisation's internal applications strategy, standards and governance arrangements, ensuring that digitally enabled solutions are secure, sustainable and aligned to organisational priorities and national standards.
Main duties of the job
Working across the Digital directorate and with stakeholders throughout the organisation, the Head of Digital Applications Development will provide strategic and technical leadership for the design, development and lifecycle management of internally developed applications. The role will also drive the development of the team, capability building and continuous improvement, helping to strengthen the organisation's digital maturity and support high-quality service delivery.
About us
#RemarkablePeople
Our workforce is made up of over 4,000 remarkable people who contribute to the delivery of world-class patient care across Wales, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether you work in a patient-facing role or within our range of support services, the work that you do enables us to provide high quality care, wherever and whenever we're needed.
The Trust recognises the need for its workforce to represent the diversity of the population it serves across the whole of Wales and seeks to create an environment where diversity is celebrated and inclusivity matters. We are also keen to break down any barriers into the Trust, and would encourage applications from under-represented groups, including those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities and disability groups.
Careers within the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust are diverse and varied, with opportunities arising right across the service. Whatever your skills and background, you're sure to find a career with us which is fulfilling, challenging, and rewarding.
In line with the Trust's Starting Salary Procedure, all applicants will start at the bottom of the band for the position applied for, but can apply for a higher salary if they have previous experience relevant to the position.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We are looking for a highly motivated individual with significant experience in software development leadership, technical architecture and application lifecycle management, ideally gained within a large, complex environment. The successful candidate will be a strong communicator with the ability to translate complex technical issues into practical solutions, influence at senior level and lead the delivery of innovative digital services that make a real difference.
If you are an experienced digital leader with the vision and technical expertise to shape and lead our in-house applications development capability, we would welcome your application.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
- Master's level knowledge in a relevant discipline (e.g. Software Engineering, Computer Science, Digital Health, Information Systems) or equivalent level of highly developed specialist knowledge acquired through significant postgraduate study and/or extensive advanced professional experience.
- Evidence of systematic and critical understanding of modern software architecture, integration standards, secure development practices and enterprise systems.
- Demonstrable ability to evaluate and apply research, emerging technologies and advanced methodologies to inform strategic direction.
- Significant experience operating at senior specialist level where expert judgement is required in highly complex, ambiguous environments.
- Advanced knowledge of NHS digital standards, information governance, cyber security, and clinical safety frameworks.
- Relevant professional certification in software development, cloud platforms, architecture or security.
- Knowledge of interoperability standards and national health information systems.
- Understanding of clinical safety requirements for digital systems used in healthcare settings.
Experience
- Significant experience of designing, developing, implementing and supporting enterprise-grade applications.
- Significant experience of leading software development teams or functions, including establishing, developing or transforming an application development capability or service.
- Experience of delivering digital products or applications through the full lifecycle, from requirements discovery through to live support and continuous improvement.
- Experience of working in a large, complex, multi-stakeholder environment with competing priorities and dependencies.
- Experience of setting or improving development standards, technical practices, governance arrangements or ways of working.
- Experience working in the NHS, emergency services or wider public sector.
- Experience of delivering solutions that support clinical, operational or frontline services.
- Experience of Agile, product-based or iterative delivery approaches.
- Experience of working with third-party suppliers, implementation partners or support providers.
Skills and Attributions
- Ability to develop and deliver service plans and work programmes for internal application development in support of agreed organisational strategy.Ability to establish governance, prioritisation and delivery frameworks for a complex portfolio of internally developed applications.
- Strong technical leadership skills, with the ability to guide design decisions, assure quality and maintain professional standards.
- Strong technical literacy across modern software development approaches, languages, platforms and tooling.
- Strong understanding of cloud platforms, source control, CI/CD, databases and secure development practices.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess options, risks, dependencies and trade-offs.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver through others in a high-demand environment.
- Ability to build credibility and effective working relationships across technical and non-technical teams.
- Coaching or mentoring skills to support staff development.
- Ability to influence without direct authority across matrix or partnership environments.
- Welsh language skills at Levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading and writing.
Other
- Commitment to NHS values, including patient safety, service quality, equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Willingness to undertake ongoing professional development to maintain technical and leadership skills.
- Ability to work flexibly, including occasional out-of-hours support where required to maintain critical services.
- Satisfactory Standard DBS clearance including an Adults and Children's Barred List check.
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
Welsh Ambulance NHS Trust
Address
One of Three Headquarters Across Wales &/or Home Working
Across Wales
NP44 7HF
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.ambulance.wales.nhs.uk/en/5