Job summary
Digital Applications Manager
About the Department, Team and Environment
Our Digital Healthcare service is delivering exciting transformations as the Trust delivers new clinical digital systems across Cumbria. The Digital Applications Team sits within the wider Applications Delivery Service, which includes Applications Operations, Digital Systems Training, Data Engineering & Automation, and Primary Care Informatics (PRIMIS). Together, these teams support the end‑to‑end lifecycle of clinical applications, ensuring our systems are safe, reliable and aligned to the Trust's strategic direction.
Key duties
* Lead the operational delivery of the Digital Applications service, covering day‑to‑day support of systems and delivery of new initiatives.
* Represent the service at senior forums when deputising for the Head of Applications Delivery.
* Lead the digital applications team to deliver safe, effective and resilient application services.
* Oversee incoming work and ensure resource capacity to deliver.
* Liaise with key stakeholders regarding the overall service.
* Manage digital incidents and contribute to emergency preparedness and patient safety processes.
* Work collaboratively with clinical, operational and technical teams at all levels.
* Lead cross‑functional initiatives with Data Engineering and wider Digital Services.
* Manage budgets, contracts and supplier relationships.
* Lead corporate risk and incident management.
* Support digital transformation and application convergence initiatives aligned to Trust strategy.
* Drive continuous improvement and user experience enhancements across all supported systems.
Previous experience in applications management, systems lifecycle management, leading technical teams and working with suppliers is essential, as is the ability to work confidently across a large, complex organisation.
About us
At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and offers a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.
Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':
* Being a clinically led organisation
* Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
* A positive patient experience every time
* A great place to work
* Managing our money well
We are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.
Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.
Details
Date posted: 24 March 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: 8a
Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full‑time
Reference number: 262‑A‑26‑7851113‑A
Location: Maglona House, Unit 68, Kingstown Industrial Estate, Carlisle, CA3 0HA
Job description
Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.
Due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for before completing an application. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.
If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all essential criteria for the post, you will be guaranteed an interview.
Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our policy for eligible vacancies.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Educated to undergraduate Degree level in a relevant subject or equivalent experience
* ITIL qualification
* Evidence of continued professional development
* Master’s Degree in a relevant subject or proven work experience
* PRINCE2 Practitioner (desirable)
* Certification or training in data integration, automation or analytics (e.g. SQL, RPA, HL7, FHIR or similar) (desirable)
* Leadership or management qualification (e.g. ILM, CMI) (desirable)
Knowledge
* High levels of computer literacy
* In‑depth working knowledge of the NHS across Cumbria and the region
* Extensive knowledge of different NHS applications and their use in operational theatres
* ITIL Standards
* Project management standards
* Familiarity with NHS Digital standards and regional digital strategies
* Awareness of clinical safety and the application of DCB0129 and DCB0160
* Awareness of patient safety principles and how digital systems impact clinical risk
* Trust objectives and their relevance to applications (desirable)
* Data integration principles (desirable)
* NHS data architecture and interoperability standards (desirable)
* Understanding of NHS EPRR frameworks and their relevance to digital services (desirable)
Experience
* Confidence and capability to deal with all levels of an organisation
* Project, planning and resource management
* Establishing ITIL standards
* Experience in planning, implementation and change management of systems and processes
* Working and negotiating with system suppliers
* Implementation and management of applications
* Management of a service desk function
* Managing a diverse team
* Management of application lifecycle from implementation, through upgrades and on to decommissioning
* Applications and Systems management
* Managing a budget
* Extensive use and understanding of Microsoft Office products
* Experience managing digital incidents and working with data integration, automation or interface development teams
* Cross‑functional leadership or support across technical and operational teams
* Experience contributing to strategic planning or digital transformation initiatives
* Experience of managing a team, including appraisal, performance and capability management
* Structured report writing and research
* Contracts management and contract performance (desirable)
* Contributing to digital strategy (desirable)
* Regional NHS digital programmes (desirable)
* Supporting or managing data engineering or analytics teams (desirable)
* Leading or deputising for senior digital leadership roles (desirable)
* Developing and implementing performance metrics or KPIs for digital services (desirable)
* Coordination with patient safety or emergency preparedness and resilience (EPRR) teams (desirable)
* Experience developing or implementing incident response protocols and contributing to business continuity planning (desirable)
* Experience leading investigations into digital service failures or disruptions affecting clinical systems or patient care (desirable)
Skills and Aptitudes
* Advanced skills in a range of software products
* Ability to manage and develop a team
* Excellent communication and negotiation skills
* Problem solving
* Leadership skills
* Tenacity and empathy
* Ability to learn quickly
* Ability to cope with pressure and uncertainty
* Logical, flexible, approachable and enthusiastic
* Organisational and time management skills
* Ability to lead and support cross‑functional teams, including technical specialists
* Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across clinical, operational and technical domains
* Ability to interpret complex technical information and communicate effectively to non‑technical audiences
* Strategic thinking and problem‑solving in complex, multi‑system environments
* Ability to assess, prioritise and respond to digital incidents in a high‑pressure environment
* Strong communication skills to liaise effectively with clinical, operational, and governance teams during incident resolution
* Ability to mentor and coach technical staff in leadership and service delivery (desirable)
* Skills in service design, user experience and continuous improvement methodologies (desirable)
Other requirements
* Excellent interpersonal skills, good team player
* Willing to undertake personal development
* Flexible working hours
* Clean driving licence
* Ability to travel across the areas covered by the Trust
* Ability to handle unreceptive reactions to information compliance issues
* Drive, enthusiasm, commitment and resourcefulness
* Team player with a focus on achievement of corporate goals
* Lateral thinking, problem solver, analytical
* Promote equality and value diversity; develop a culture that promotes equality and diversity
* Commitment to innovation and continuous improvement in digital healthcare delivery
* Ability to work collaboratively across organisational boundaries to deliver integrated digital solutions
* Ability to work as part of a team as well as alone
* Willingness and ability to travel across Trust sites and regional partner organisations
* Flexibility to support occasional out‑of‑hours service needs, including digital on‑call coordination if required
* Active participation in regional or national digital health networks or forums (desirable)
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires submission for Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions. The cost of the DBS will be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction.
Benefits
* 27‑day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
* Flexible working scheme
* NHS Discounts
* Salary sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
* Excellent opportunities for development
* Competitive NHS pension scheme
* Vivup – free, confidential counselling and information service for personal or work‑related problems
Additional Information
Ensure that you document evidence of meeting all essential criteria in the supporting information. If sufficient responses are received the post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, so please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered. Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.
#J-18808-Ljbffr