Digital Strategy Lead (Digital Roadmap)

Birmingham, Leeds,

Liverpool, London –

Canary Wharf

Job Summary The Digital Strategy Lead sits within the Trusted Data &​ Technology Directorate at UKHSA, leading development of digital strategy to support pandemic preparedness. The role focuses on shaping a strategic roadmap for digital proximity technologies, working across UKHSA, NHS England, DHSC and partners to ensure alignment and delivery.

The post holder leads strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and governance to support development of future digital capabilities, translating evidence and lessons from COVID‑19 into sustainable solutions. This is a senior role requiring strong leadership, strategic thinking and the ability to operate in a fast‑paced, evolving policy and technology environment.

Working for your organisation We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers Job Description

• Lead development of digital strategy and roadmap
• Align stakeholders across government and partner organisations
• Define future requirements for digital technologies
• Lead engagement with UKHSA, NHS, DHSC and external partners
• Translate complex evidence into strategic recommendations
• Establish governance and programme oversight
• Monitor risks, delivery and progress against objectives
• Provide advice and briefings to senior leaders
• Support programme delivery and implementation
• Respond to evolving priorities and policy changes

The Digital Strategy Lead is responsible for developing and delivering digital strategy to support pandemic preparedness across UKHSA. The role focuses on shaping the strategic direction of the Digital Proximity Programme, including development of a clear roadmap, milestones and delivery plans aligned with UKHSA, NHS England and wider government priorities.

The post holder works closely with senior leaders and stakeholders across government, academia and industry to build consensus and ensure alignment. This includes leading partnerships, engagement and collaboration activities. The role involves analysing emerging technologies and identifying opportunities to enhance digital capability, while ensuring alignment with governance, data standards and existing systems.

The post holder provides clear advice and briefings to senior leaders, translating complex digital and public health concepts into practical strategy and recommendations. Responsibilities include establishing governance structures, supporting programme reporting, managing risks and ensuring delivery against objectives. The role operates in a fast‑paced and evolving environment, requiring strong leadership, adaptability and the ability to manage competing priorities while driving strategic outcomes.

The above list is not exhaustive.

• Lead development of digital strategy and roadmap
• Align stakeholders across government and partner organisations
• Define future requirements for digital technologies
• Lead engagement with UKHSA, NHS, DHSC and external partners
• Translate complex evidence into strategic recommendations
• Establish governance and programme oversight
• Monitor risks, delivery and progress against objectives
• Provide advice and briefings to senior leaders
• Support programme delivery and implementation
• Respond to evolving priorities and policy changes

The Digital Strategy Lead is responsible for developing and delivering digital strategy to support pandemic preparedness across UKHSA. The role focuses on shaping the strategic direction of the Digital Proximity Programme, including development of a clear roadmap, milestones and delivery plans aligned with UKHSA, NHS England and wider government priorities.

The post holder works closely with senior leaders and stakeholders across government, academia and industry to build consensus and ensure alignment. This includes leading partnerships, engagement and collaboration activities. The role involves analysing emerging technologies and identifying opportunities to enhance digital capability, while ensuring alignment with governance, data standards and existing systems.

The post holder provides clear advice and briefings to senior leaders, translating complex digital and public health concepts into practical strategy and recommendations. Responsibilities include establishing governance structures, supporting programme reporting, managing risks and ensuring delivery against objectives. The role operates in a fast‑paced and evolving environment, requiring strong leadership, adaptability and the ability to manage competing priorities while driving strategic outcomes.

The above list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience of creating partnerships with multiple organisations to deliver strategy and the implementation of shared outcomes.
• Experience of working in a leadership role.
• Experience of delivering strategy in different organisational settings.
• Knowledge of technology and its development life cycle, and experience of working on technology Programmes.
• Experience of developing effective relationships with stakeholders from a range of organisations have different objectives to jointly deliver shared outcomes.
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in an ambiguous and evolving policy context, shaping direction and identifying key questions, risks and dependencies in areas where requirements and solutions are still emerging.
• Effective at influencing senior leaders in shaping public health and other policy work.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information and recommend appropriate actions including on complex or contentious issues
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of different digital proximity technologies and technology systems.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to deliver complex workstreams at pace, managing competing priorities and maintaining oversight of strategic risks and interdependencies.
• Experience of translating complex scientific, digital and operational considerations into clear policy advice.
• Demonstrate resilience and flexibility in delivering fast paced work in an ambiguous ill defined context.

Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Stage 1: Application &​ Sift Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed  11  essential criteria, and this will be in the form of  a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills,  experience  and  knowledge  provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be  advised  you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000  words. We will not consider any words over  1000  words.

Longlisting: In the event of  a large number of applications  we  will longlist  into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Experience delivering strategy across organisations
• Experience of creating partnerships with multiple organisations to deliver strategy and the implementation of shared outcomes
• Experience of working i