Regional Director of Digital, Data & Innovation

Overview

NHS England North West is recruiting for a senior regional leader to take on the role of Regional Chief Digital, Data and Innovation Officer. This position sits at the heart of the region’s refreshed operating model and plays a key part in delivering the ambitions of the 10-Year Health Plan.

The successful candidate will set the strategic direction for the region’s digital, data and innovation agenda, guiding a capable team to speed up the move from analogue services to digital ways of working and ensuring these capabilities inform regional priorities and decisions.

You will lead teams that shape and execute a joined-up regional strategy, turn national programmes into a practical roadmap and investment approach, and build digital and data capability across provider and commissioner boards.

Working across three major integrated care systems, this directorate will partner with regional colleagues and national teams to support the scale of transformation needed for recovery, stabilisation and long-term service improvement.

This role suits a confident and respected leader who can form effective partnerships across the NHS, social care, local and central government, universities, industry, and the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector. It is an opportunity to advance digitisation across the region and realise the wider social and financial value of health and care data.

As part of the regional executive team, the post-holder will support the Regional Director in delivering NHS England’s objectives and may also contribute to or lead national leadership initiatives relevant to the portfolio.

Core purpose

• Provide strategic leadership for the regional health system, supporting reform delivery through planning, investment, service reconfiguration, innovation, and stronger leadership strategy and talent pipelines.
• Oversee performance management and assurance for commissioners and providers, including use of national frameworks, assessment of board and leadership capability, early warning identification, and risk management.
• Shape the regional improvement and intervention approach to deliver safe, sustainable care, build capability, address underperformance, and oversee regulatory interventions where needed.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the political environment.
• Build collaborative relationships across national, regional, and local partners.

About NHS England

NHS England has a broad set of statutory duties, responsibilities, and regulatory powers. Its purpose is to support the wider NHS in delivering high-quality care and to manage functions that are best carried out once for the whole health service.

The organisation draws on expertise from clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial disciplines 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 bring functions together, with the intention of NHS England becoming fully integrated into the department over time.

Working arrangements

For colleagues with a contractual office base, the expectation is to work from the office for at least 40% of working time on average.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this vacancy.

Internal NHS transfer

If you are currently employed in the NHS and are successful at interview, an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) through the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) will be started. This process gathers relevant information from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Date and annual leave entitlement. You can choose to opt out at any point.

Contact for more information

For an informal discussion or further details, contact Kirsty Jepson, Head of Regional Office.

Email: kirsty.jepson2@nhs.net

Please contact Kirsty Jepson in the first instance for additional information.