Chief Digital Officer

Job summaryThe Chief Digital Officer (CDO) provides strategic leadership for the organisation's digital, data, technology and innovation agenda, ensuring alignment with NHS priorities, local transformation objectives and the Ten-Year Health Plan. Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, the CDO leads the development and delivery of a system-wide digital strategy that improves patient outcomes, staff experience, productivity and the reduction of health inequalities. The CDO leads major digital transformation programmes, acting as Senior Responsible Owner for significant initiatives and investments, ensuring effective governance, delivery of measurable benefits and value for money. The role drives the adoption of digital, data and AI-enabled solutions to support clinical care, commissioning, population health management, service redesign and operational performance.Main duties of the jobThe post holder is responsible for cyber security, digital governance, information management, clinical safety and resilient digital services, overseeing digital infrastructure, shared care records, primary care IT, procurement and investment planning. As a recognised digital leader, the CDO provides thought leadership on emerging technologies and innovation, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and evidence-based adoption of new approaches. Working across NHS organisations, local authorities, academia and other partners, the CDO develops a secure, interoperable and innovative digital ecosystem, championing digital inclusion, user-centred design and best practice at local, regional and national levels.About usWe are joining up to tackle all the things that affect our health and wellbeing, make real change, and improve things for our communities.Dorset ICS is made up of:NHS Dorset Integrated Care BoardUniversity Hospitals Dorset Foundation TrustDorset County Hospital Foundation TrustDorset HealthCare University Foundation TrustDorset CouncilBournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council194 town and parish councils18 primary care networks (made up of 73 GP practices)Southwestern Ambulance Service Foundation TrustDorset PoliceDorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service7,300 voluntary organisationsWhat we doThe Health and Care Bill puts ICSs on a statutory footing empowering them to better join up health and care services, improve population health, and reduce health inequalities.ICSs have four core purposes:Improve outcomes in population health and healthcareTackle inequalities in outcomes, experience, and accessEnhance productivity and value for moneyHelp the NHS support broader social and economic developmentDetailsDate posted01 September 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 9Salary 112,782 to 129,783 a year ContractPermanentWorking pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference numberD9467-26-0011Job locationsNHS Dorset Integrated Care BoardCounty HallColliton ParkDorchesterDorsetDT1 1XJUnited KingdomNHS Somerset Integrated Care BoardWynford HouseLufton WayYeovilSomersetBA22 8HRUnited KingdomNHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire Integrated Care BoardJenner House, Avon WayLangley ParkChippenhamWiltshireSN15 1GGUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease refer to the attached job description and person specification for the requirements of the role Job description Job responsibilitiesPlease refer to the attached job description and person specification for the requirements of the rolePerson Specification Qualifications EssentialEducated to masters level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist areaProven and significant leadership experienceExtensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalentEvidence of post qualifying and continuing professional developmentSignificant evidence of continued professional developmentSignificant management experience at senior level in the NHS or other public healthcare related industryProven Board level experience of leading and delivering complex change and strategy development programmes in a politically sensitive and complex environmentProven record in transferring processes and roles between locations.Commissioning expertise in healthcare environmentSignificant experience and understanding of proven implementation of project management methodologiesMember of a relevant professional bodyEducation sector knowledgeExperience and/or understanding of the Health EconomyUnderstanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement Should have an appreciation of the relationship between different health and social care bodies including individual provider and commissioning organisationsCommercial expertiseAwareness of relevant public and private sector business management best practiceExperience of successfully operating in and delivering priorities in a partnership environment Skills, abilities and knowledge EssentialLeadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning with highly developed political skillsStrong external communications skills in a politically sensitive environment and experience in handling mediaAbility to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required Extensive experience of delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders in often pressured and politically sensitive environmentsAbility to analyse highly complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sourcesDemonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making Ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess options and draw appropriate initiativesLeadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning with highly developed political skillsDemonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordinglyAbility to provide informative reporting on finances and impact to Board managementExperience of project and programme management techniques and tools such as Prince 2 or Managing Successful ProjectsHigh level critical thinking skillsWorking knowledge of Microsoft OfficeDemonstrates sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary from more senior management when appropriate Ability to develop, maintain and monitor information systems to support innovation initiatives Experience EssentialDemonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescalesAbility to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issuesExperience in leading a major change initiative with entrepreneurialism in a challenging organisational environmentExperience of creating a new team and motivating and inspiring colleagues to work together to achieve a common objectiveAbility to delegate effectively Ability to work effectively between strategic and operational activities where requiredWorking knowledge of Microsoft OfficePreviously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processesDetermination, perseverance, and resilienceFlexibility, and the ability to handle a rapidly changing and ambiguous environment Person Specification Qualifications EssentialEducated to masters level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist areaProven and significant leadership experienceExtensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalentEvidence of post qualifying and continuing professional developmentSignificant evidence of continued professional developmentSignificant management experience at senior level in the NHS or other public healthcare related industryProven Board level experience of leading and delivering complex change and strategy development programmes in a politically sensitive and complex environmentProven record in transferring processes and roles between locations.Commissioning expertise in healthcare environmentSignificant experience and understanding of proven implementation of project management methodologiesMember of a relevant professional bodyEducation sector knowledgeExperience and/or understanding of the Health EconomyUnderstanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement Should have an appreciation of the relationship between different health and social care bodies including individual provider and commissioning organisationsCommercial expertiseAwareness of relevant public and private sector business management best practiceExperience of successfully operating in and delivering priorities in a partnership environment Skills, abilities and knowledge EssentialLeadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning with highly developed political skillsStrong external communications skills in a politically sensitive environment and experience in handling mediaAbility to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required Extensive experience of delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders in often pressured and politically sensitive environmentsAbility to analyse highly complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sourcesDemonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making Ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess options and draw appropriate initiativesLeadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning with highly developed political skillsDemonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordinglyAbility to provide informative reporting on finances and impact to Board managementExperience of project and programme management techniques and tools such as Prince 2 or Managing Successful ProjectsHigh level critical thinking skillsWorking knowledge of Microsoft OfficeDemonstrates sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary from more senior management when appropriate Ability to develop, maintain and monitor information systems to support innovation initiatives Experience EssentialDemonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescalesAbility to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issuesExperience in leading a major change initiative with entrepreneurialism in a challenging organisational environmentExperience of creating a new team and motivating and inspiring colleagues to work together to achieve a common objectiveAbility to delegate effectively Ability to work effectively between strategic and operational activities where requiredWorking knowledge of Microsoft OfficePreviously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processesDetermination, perseverance, and resilienceFlexibility, and the ability to handle a rapidly changing and ambiguous environmentCertificate of SponsorshipApplications 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 (Opens in a new tab).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 (Opens in a new tab). Additional information Certificate of SponsorshipApplications 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 (Opens in a new tab).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 (Opens in a new tab).Employer detailsEmployer nameNHS DorsetAddressNHS Dorset Integrated Care BoardCounty HallColliton ParkDorchesterDorsetDT1 1XJUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameNHS DorsetAddressNHS Dorset Integrated Care BoardCounty HallColliton ParkDorchesterDorsetDT1 1XJUnited KingdomEmployer's website