Chief Digital Officer

Chief Digital Officer

Salary: up to £140,000 + benefits

Location: Derby/hybrid: 2-3 days travel per week

We are delighted to be partnering with DHU Healthcare in recruiting for their new Chief Digital Officer.

DHU Healthcare is a not-for-profit social enterprise with a clear purpose: to deliver outstanding, accessible healthcare for the communities they serve. They are proud to deliver a diverse portfolio of services in partnership with the NHS, including NHS 111, urgent care centres, GP out-of-hours, primary care, and community health services.

Overview of the Chief Digital Officer role

As Chief Digital Officer, you will lead DHU Healthcare’s digital journey, ensuring that technology, data, and innovation are harnessed as powerful enablers of their mission. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and as a key member of our Board, the successful candidate will set the vision, define the priorities, and deliver the roadmap that positions DHU as a digital leader in healthcare. Your influence will extend across every part of the organisation – from frontline services and clinical systems, through workforce and corporate platforms, to the way they share data, collaborate with partners, and innovate with purpose. This Chief Digital Officer role that blends strategy with delivery. You will be expected to bring ambition and imagination, but also the rigour to embed strong governance, cyber resilience, and value for money in all that they do. As an advocate of digital literacy and inclusion, you will ensure every colleague feels confident and supported to embrace change, and every patient has access to care that is accessible, equitable, and safe.

As Chief Digital Officer, you will drive digital initiatives that reinforce and deliver on DHU’s five Critical Success Factors:

1. Harness digital feedback, data, and innovation to continually improve patient experience, personalise care, and ensure outcomes that matter most to the people DHU serve.
2. Empower colleagues with the skills, tools, and confidence to thrive in a digital-first environment, embedding inclusivity and wellbeing in every solution.
3. Champion emerging technologies and co-create solutions that transform services, improve access, and set DHU apart as a leader in digital health.
4. Use digital platforms to connect services and partners, strengthening integration across the ICS and ensuring collective impact for our communities.
5. Ensure digital transformation delivers social value: reducing environmental impact, promoting digital inclusion, and strengthening the communities DHU serve.

Essential experience, skills and knowledge

• Proven senior leadership in digital transformation at enterprise scale within Executive or Board level positions.
• Demonstrable record of delivering large, complex digital and data programmes in regulated environments.
• Deep understanding of NHS digital strategy and delivery, interoperability standards, and healthcare IT landscape.
• Evidence of embedding robust cyber security and data governance frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills. Ability to balance innovation with operational reliability and risk management.
• Knowledge of
• Best practice in data quality, security, and analytics.
• Knowledge of change management and digital adoption strategies.
• Financial acumen to assess digital investment value and sustainability.

Core platforms and systems

• Telephony & Patient Access: NHS 111 digital and telephony platforms, cloud-based contact centre systems.
• Clinical & Operational Systems: Adastra, SystemOne, EMIS, and interoperability with NHS Spine services.
• Workforce & HR: ESR, rostering systems, e-learning platforms, and digital recruitment solutions.
• Corporate Systems: Microsoft 365 environment, finance and procurement systems, governance and risk management platforms.
• Data & Intelligence: Data warehouses, Power BI reporting, predictive analytics pilots, and AI assisted demand modelling
• Cybersecurity: Advanced monitoring tools, secure network infrastructure, and compliance with NHS Digital and DSPT standards.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary of up to £140,000 – dependent on experience.
• 7.5% annual bonus scheme available – based on company performance.
• Competitive pension scheme – DHU will honour your current NHS pension (if applicable).
• 27 days annual leave entitlement (plus bank holidays), increasing with longevity.
• Additional compassionate leave, bereavement leave, and support for other important life events.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave to support you through one of life’s biggest moments.
• Birthday leave – pre-book your birthday (or a day nearby) to help you celebrate in style.
• Car lease/cycle to work scheme and free parking available at many locations.
• Entitled to receive a car allowance of up to £5,000 per annum.
• Extensive wellbeing support including 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Support for veterans/reservists – flexible leave, understanding managers & dedicated policies.
• Exclusive NHS and DHU staff discounts for a variety of different retailers.

How to apply

If you are interested in finding out more about the Chief Digital Officer position, please contact Greg Jones at Sellick Partnership.

Closing date: Sunday 9 November 2025, 23:59pm.

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years' experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.