Head of Transformation Strategy

Role overview

This position leads major work to shape and turn into reality a technology-enabled future for the NHS, working through close partnership across teams and stakeholders. The emphasis is on redesigning services, not on creating a technology strategy. The aim is to move beyond technology and clinical services operating separately and instead rethink services so that digital-by-default becomes embedded, improving outcomes for patients in a more sustainable way.

You do not need to be a technologist for this role. What matters is the ability to think boldly about how services could be reimagined, while bringing people together around that ambition.

You will work closely with the Finance and Portfolio Office teams within the Directorate, giving you direct influence over funding decisions and programme delivery that are needed to put the strategy into action.

Key purpose

The successful candidate will need strong experience in strategy development, leadership, communication, and collaboration to help secure buy-in across the NHS and support collective delivery of the vision.

The role requires someone who can operate quickly in a highly complex environment, balancing a big-picture strategic outlook with the practical focus needed to drive delivery.

Responsibilities

• Shape and lead the overall transformation strategy for the NHS.
• Bring together technology, digital, data, and improvement priorities with NHS England strategy, policy, and delivery so the NHS can become a genuinely tech-enabled service.
• Collaborate closely with NHS England, DHSC, and system partners to keep the strategy aligned with operational priorities and to make transformation a shared effort.
• Ensure the strategy aligns with wider strategic goals, including work with the NHS England Strategy team, the Life Sciences & Innovation Strategy team, and the Data Strategy team.
• Lead the development of strategies for specific care settings or care pathways.
• Build partnerships with external organisations and stakeholders, including system leaders and patients, to develop the strategy jointly and use evidence and expertise effectively.
• Work with colleagues across Transformation, especially the Finance and Transformation Portfolio Office teams, to embed the strategy through programme delivery and financial allocation decisions.
• Make sure the strategy uses the full range of available levers, incentives, policies, guidance, products, and services to deliver the greatest benefit for patients, working closely with DHSC policy colleagues.

Additional information

NHS England carries out a broad set of statutory, regulatory, and service-support functions intended to help the wider NHS deliver high-quality care and to manage work that is best handled centrally across the NHS.

The organisation brings together specialists from clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial backgrounds.

In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, with NHS England eventually becoming fully integrated into the department.

If you already work in the NHS and are successful at interview, an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) will be initiated through the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) to support onboarding. This can retrieve information such as competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement from your current or previous NHS employer. You may choose to opt out at any time.

Where a contractual office base applies, colleagues are expected to spend an average of at least 40% of their time in the office.

Staff joining from outside the NHS are usually appointed at the bottom of the pay band.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this vacancy.

Contact for informal enquiries

For more information or an informal discussion, contact Alex Crossley, Director of Transformation SFD, at alex.crossley1@nhs.net. A phone conversation can be arranged if needed.