Job overview
Stakeholder Event: 7th July 2026
Panel Interview: 14th July 2026
Deputy Director of Cyber & IT Operations (B9)
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dynamic and visionary Deputy Director of Cyber & IT Operations to join our senior leadership team at a pivotal time of transformation. This is a rare opportunity to lead digital operations at scale, supporting over 18,000 staff across seven hospitals and serving a population of 1.3 million people.
Reporting to the Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO), you will play a central role in delivering our ambitious One UHSussex strategy, bringing together digital operations, infrastructure, data, and clinical coding into a cohesive, high-performing service. You will act as a trusted deputy to the CDIO, influencing decisions at Trust, regional and national levels.
This role offers significant breadth and impact. You will lead operational performance and technical strategy across cyber security, infrastructure, networks, service desk, end user support, and data services, ensuring high availability, resilience, and security of critical systems. Your leadership will be instrumental in driving service excellence, improving user experience, and enabling frontline staff to deliver outstanding patient care.
Main duties of the job
You will bring visible, inclusive leadership to multidisciplinary teams, fostering a positive culture and developing high-performing services. With responsibility for substantial budgets and resources, you will ensure value for money while balancing operational demands with strategic transformation programmes, including the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) programme and Sussex Pathology network (SPN). You will also deputise for the CIO.
A key element of the role is advancing cyber security and data quality, ensuring compliance with national standards and safeguarding sensitive patient information. You will lead incident response, risk management, and continuous improvement, while shaping policies and strategies that strengthen the Trust’s digital maturity.
We are looking for an experienced and credible digital leader with a strong track record in complex IT operations, strategic delivery, and stakeholder engagement. You will be resilient, forward-thinking, and able to navigate competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
If you are passionate about digital operations and want to make a tangible impact on patient outcomes, staff experience, and system-wide collaboration, this is your opportunity to lead change at scale within a forward-thinking NHS organisation.
Working for our organisation
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Deputy Director of Cyber and IT Operations will support the CIO in leading the provision of an efficient, effective and high-quality professional and well-co-ordinated digital and data services capable of meeting all statutory, regulatory and NHS requirements ensuring alignment with the activity of the organisation.
Duties will include:
· Deputise operationally for the CIO
· Work with the CIO to deliver the digital and data strategy
· Establish and deliver exceptional levels of customer (digital service user) experience and service responsiveness, with a focus on purpose and the need to maximise service user productivity and effectiveness
· Improvement of performance, availability, reliability, and security, of service under-pinning technologies (Hosting & Data Centres, Compute, Storage, Networking, End User Computing)
· Developing master data management and ensuring data quality to enhance the patient record and optimise income generation through activity recording.
· Visible leadership to the digital and information teams, deputising for the CIO as required, and ensuring teams within their remit deliver on strategic, operational and regulatory objectives.
· Develop and deliver the technical strategy for the Trust in conjunction with the subject matter experts including, systems and security architecture, integration, cyber-security posture, effective management, reporting, accountability and compliance for all aspects of Cyber & IT Security including compliance with law and guidance, compliance with the annual Data Security protection Toolkit assessment and resolution of Cyber & IT security risks and law issues.
Person specification
Professional Registration
Essential criteria
1. Security certifications, including: CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional); CISM (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
Experience/ Qualifications
Essential criteria
2. Educated to a minimum of Master’s degree level, or equivalent post graduate qualificatio
3. Degree level or equivalent qualification specifically in IT/Informatics
4. IT Service Management (ITSM) certifications
5. Evidence of management development through Continuous Professional Development and/or formal management course
6. Previous experience of all aspects of people management, from recruitment to dealing with disciplinary matters
Desirable criteria
7. ITIL 3 / 4
8. Specialist training in areas such as: • Cyber Security • Risk Management • Certified Incident Manager • PRINCE2 / agile project management qualifications • MSP
9. Previous experience of working in digital in the NHS or a healthcare setting.
Skills
Essential criteria
10. Significant relevant experience as a leader of IT operations environment with a high degree of complexity over an extended period
11. Substantial experience of working to tight KPI’s/targets with the ability to work well under pressure to achieve these.
12. Experience of working in a large and complex multi-tiered environment
13. Recognised credible leader who can form and manage high I Significant knowledge and understanding of the NHS, including the political, strategic and operational environment in which it operates performance, output driven teams
14. Experience of preparing and presenting reports of complex, sensitive or contentious information at senior forums
15. Demonstrable track record in delivering complex targets and objectives to tight deadlines
16. Resilient and tenacious in a fast paced and challenging environment
17. Highly developed specialist knowledge and experience of managing IT Operations acquired over a significant period
18. Significant knowledge and experience of applying budgeting, benefits tracking and demand management principles to both capital and revenue allocations
19. Significant knowledge and experience of risk management
20. Signification knowledge and experience of Capital planning
Desirable criteria
21. Significant knowledge and understanding of the NHS, including the political, strategic and operational environment in which it operates
People Management and Development
Essential criteria
22. Able to build relationships with ease, gaining trust and maintaining confidentiality at all levels.
23. A flexible and a ‘can-do’ approach to work.
24. Demonstrates compassionate leadership.
25. Able to hold coaching conversations with team members, guiding and supporting as necessary.
26. Commitment to CPD of self and others; maintaining relationships with NHS E to stay informed, looking at tools that could be the best for the organisation and keeping up to date with current threats e.g. listening to podcasts etc.
27. Ability to add value as part of the digital leadership team across all areas of the organisation.
Specific Requirements
Essential criteria
28. Ability to synthesise and prioritise complex and potentially conflicting demands.
29. Budgetary management experience
30. Proven ability to stay on budget, on time and on plan with successful outcomes
31. Participating on the Manager on-call rota
32. Essential Car user – must hold full driving licence and have access to own vehicle for work purposes
33. Attendance at local, regional and national meetings on behalf of the Trust
Freedom to Act
Essential criteria
34. Ability to work autonomously, liaise and coordinate the Management Team on a day-to-day basis and to take appropriate action as necessary
35. Identify and adhere to best practice
36. Responsible for own professional actions and have sufficient autonomy for the delivery of the role
37. Able to interpret national and local guidance and to develop local policies to reflect standards
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential criteria
38. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
39. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications