Job Overview
Position: Head of Digital Portfolio
Grade: NHS AfC Band 8c (Permanent, Full time – 37.5 hours per week)
Salary: £76,965 – £88,682 per annum (Yearly)
Closing date: 11/12/2025 23:59
Job Ref: 193-7618862COR
Location: Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for the Head of Digital Portfolio, a senior leadership role responsible for delivering the Trust’s complex Digital Programme portfolio. The post holder will monitor, report and drive progress of key digital initiatives, ensuring governance and assurance at senior level and across the Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Key Responsibilities
* Direct and lead the delivery and implementation of the Trust Digital programme portfolio, taking personal accountability for outcomes and benefit realisation.
* Manage digital delivery governance arrangements, initial stakeholder engagement, risk and issue management.
* Chair programme reviews, audit programme health and oversee development and execution of business cases and bids for digital investment.
* Build and maintain excellent working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including NHS England, Digital Programme Management Office, IT service providers, clinicians and executive leadership.
* Plan, organise and coordinate stakeholder management, governance, documentation, and reporting to senior management and ICB.
* Lead the application of Agile, Scrum or Kanban practices, coach teams and deliver complex data analysis and vendor management.
* Enable the creation of IT strategic direction, roadmaps, and long‑term Digital Service strategies for the organisation.
* Support staff performance management, learning, and professional development within the Digital and Data Technology (DDAT) team.
* Ensure compliance with health & safety, risk management and equality impact assessments.
Person Specification
Education/Professional Credentials – Essential
* Master’s level degree or equivalent experience.
* Professional Scrum Master (PSM) I / AgilePM / Lean Six Sigma or equivalent.
* Evidence of continuing professional development.
Education/Professional Credentials – Desirable
* ITIL v3 Service Management Qualification (Foundation).
* NHS relevant Management qualification.
* Advanced Agile / Scrum or professional leadership qualifications.
* Business analysis qualification or equivalent experience.
Essential Experience
* Practical experience delivering complex digital projects within NHS or UK public sector.
* Experience with Agile Scrum or Kanban methodologies.
* Proven ability to develop and present business cases, bids, statements of work and technical requirements.
* Strong vendor management, data analysis and reporting skills.
* Experience of managing multiple interdependencies and complex programme environments.
* Understanding of NHS procurement (e.g., G‑Cloud) and strategic IT frameworks.
Desirable Experience
* Experience with NHS senior management procurement processes.
* Experience leading portfolio planning in a very complex environment.
Essential Skills & Knowledge
* Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills across all stakeholder levels.
* Leadership and team empowerment, with a track record of performance management.
* Strong capability in transformation, programme management and strategic change delivery.
Desirable Skills & Knowledge
* Expertise in Agile and Lean practices.
* Knowledge of NHS Digital Service Standards and GDS principles.
* Experience in facilitating workshops to map processes and define requirements.
* Capability to coordinate dependency management across projects and services.
Benefits
* Flexible working opportunities and emphasis on work–life balance.
* Annual leave: 27 days for new starters (increases to 29 after 5 years, 33 after 10 years NHS service), pro‑rata for part‑time.
* NHS pension scheme and Employee Assistance Programme.
* Money Advice Service and generous maternity, paternity, adoption leave.
* On‑site nursery (RBH) and full educational library services.
* Cycle to work scheme, lockable cycle storage, bus & rail links.
* Wide range of health‑service discounts and brand offers.
We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from candidates requiring sponsorship, alongside all other applicants.
To apply online, visit NHS Jobs or the Trust’s recruitment site. For assistance with your application, contact the recruitment team at 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.
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