Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Interim Chief Information Officer
The closing date is 29 June 2026
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO) who will operate as a key Executive Director and non‑voting Board member, providing strategic leadership for digital, information and technology services across the Trust. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the CIO will lead the development and delivery of the Trust's Digital Strategy and associated transformation programmes, ensuring digital capability is a core enabler of safe, high‑quality, efficient and innovative patient care.
As the Trust's most senior digital leader, the CIO will be accountable for the strategic and operational leadership of the Digital function, encompassing application development, IT support services, cyber security, information governance and programme delivery. Acting as the Senior Information Risk Officer (SIRO), the postholder will ensure the integrity, security and resilience of the Trust's information assets and digital infrastructure.
The CIO will lead the delivery of major digital transformation initiatives, including Electronic Patient Record (EPR) optimisation and re‑procurement, the development of secure and resilient digital infrastructure, and the advancement of data, analytics and digital capabilities. The role will ensure that all digital programmes are delivered to time, cost and quality, underpinned by robust business cases and aligned to both Trust priorities and national NHS policy.
Main duties of the job
Operating at Board level, you will combine strategic leadership with strong commercial, financial and operational oversight. You will work in close partnership with clinical leaders (including CMIO, CNIO and other digital clinical leads), operational teams and external stakeholders, including NHS partners, suppliers and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
You will be responsible for establishing effective governance frameworks, leading a rolling multi‑year digital investment plan, and ensuring compliance with national standards in cyber security, information governance and digital delivery. You will lead and develop high‑performing digital teams, ensuring workforce capability supports the delivery of transformation programmes and business‑as‑usual services.
You will bring extensive executive‑level experience leading complex digital transformation within highly regulated environments, with a strong track record in ICT‑enabled change, programme delivery, financial management and supplier engagement. You will be a credible, values‑led leader, able to influence at Board level, communicate complex and sensitive information, and drive innovation while balancing competing organisational priorities.
About the Trust
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the UK's leading heart and lung hospital, delivering care to more than 50,000 patients a year in its new state‑of‑the‑art hospital in Cambridge. We perform the most heart and or lung transplants in the UK and carried out the UK's first successful heart transplant in 1979. It also offers emergency heart attack treatment, sleep centre care and is one of just five centres nationally for those in severe respiratory failure.
Based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the largest centre of medical research and health science in Europe, the Trust is at the heart of treatments of the future. Royal Papworth became the first hospital trust in the country to be rated outstanding in all five areas assessed by the Care Quality Commission – a rating it still holds today. The Trust holds its values of compassion, excellence & collaboration at its core, and all colleagues joining the team are expected to uphold these in their day‑to‑day roles and interactions. Royal Papworth is proud of its diverse workforce and encourages people to embrace their individuality.
The Trust values difference and welcomes all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion & belief, sex and sexual orientation. Providing they meet the minimum post criteria, applicants with disabilities will be offered an interview.
Job responsibilities
The role requires the ability to deliver the Trust's Digital Strategy, oversee major ICT projects, manage budgets, ensure compliance with national standards, and lead a high‑performing digital workforce.
Qualifications
* A recognised leadership qualification to master's level or equivalent experience
* Master's degree in informatics or equivalent relevant qualification from a recognised provider (Higher Education, BCS, CHIME)
* Project and Programme Management qualifications (MSP and PRINCE2)
* IT Service Management Qualification (ITIL)
* Evidence of CPD
* Membership of relevant professional or registered body
Experience
* Previous experience of successfully managing major, corporate, complex ICT projects
* Previous experience of successfully managing ICT and Change teams to deliver ICT enabled business change and the subsequent realisation of benefits
* In depth experience and knowledge of developing relationships with commercial suppliers and in the effective performance management of outsourced relationships
* In depth experience and knowledge of change management processesPrevious experience of managing major financial budgets (capex and opex)
* Knowledge of and experience in NHS procurement and business case development (to include Frameworks, OJEU, 5 case model)
* Extensive experience of managing and developing large teams / people to deliver services
* Knowledge of existing and emerging technologies applicable to health and clinical practice
* Previous experience of managing a new hospital ICT equipping programme
* Previous NHS and private sector experience
* Knowledge of Microsoft, VMWare and other Core ICT Services licencing models
Additional Criteria
* Effective leadership, management and motivational skills and the ability to develop an efficient team
* Ability to formulate long‑term strategic plans in uncertain situations
* Able to communicate highly complex, contentious or sensitive information and overcome barriers to understanding
* Able to synthesise large volumes of complex information and make strategic decisions based on those judgements
* Ability to find innovative and cost‑effective solutions to project delivery problems
* Ability to apply judgement in balancing various competing service needs
* Ability to demonstrate examples of how they work in a way that is consistent with our values of compassion, excellence and collaboration, and demonstrate commitment to driving culture change through equality, diversity and inclusion
* Ability to work unsocial hours
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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