Associate Director - Digital ICT Services

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Responsibilities

Supplier & Contract Management

• Manage ICT-related contracts and service level agreements whilst ensuring compliance with the agreed standards for provision, including delivery of statutory responsibilities.
• Responsible for identifying risks, mitigating risks, budget management and maintaining plans for the lifecycle contracts and projects.
• To build and strengthen vendor and partner relationships to encourage innovation and alignment to a single set of common goals.
• To lead multiple contracts through implementation into operational delivery.
• To identify and deliver cost savings for externally provided services and solutions.
• To keep abreast of new legislation, government policy, ICT best practice and other external factors, and to use this knowledge in ensuring the continuous improvement of the ICT service.
• To work with the business to review and investigate services with identified problems and to work with partner organisations to resolve these including, where necessary, the decommissioning of services.
• Have domain expertise in relation to ICT Procurement and Contract Management.
• To work with the business to deliver processes that deliver the robust, pragmatic and effective procurement, contracting and monitoring of services.
• To undertake service reviews on the performance of contracted services to ensure then are meeting service specifications, key performance indicators and the desired outcomes are being delivered.
• Act as a guardian on ICT security matters and provide support and guidance to the IT supplier and the organisation as and when required.
• Ensure a coherent record of contracted ICT services is held, monitored and updated.

Technical Responsibilities

• Act as the technical representative of Digital ICT Services for major transformation projects, providing appropriate challenge and input to ensure plans are robust, well developed and evidence based.
• Regularly initiate formal research and development activity to appropriate standards to ensure best fit of emerging technology to the Trusts business requirements.
• Work with the outsourced IT supplier to ensure that the development and ownership of IT Service Catalogue for all standard IT services along with related service levels
• Ownership of service delivery budget and accountable for the cost of IT service delivery
• In conjunction with the outsourced IT supplier produce and maintain technology roadmaps and strategies for all aspects of networks, server technology, virtualisation, information security and application delivery ensuring that it is consistent with the overall trust ICT strategy.
• Develop and ensure compliance to ITIL-based service delivery policies and procedures across Acute ICT Services

Customer needs and requirements

• Ensure a customer focused approach to the planning and delivery of ICT services and developing a positive working environment through the active involvement of end-users in shaping the development and delivery of services.
• Responsible for proactively and creatively engaging with end-users to ensure that customers needs and requirements are understood and met.
• To implement negotiation strategies through effective use of challenge, engagement and consultation ensuring that the agreed objectives, outcomes and delivery mechanisms are linked to the commercial strategy for ICT Services.
• Have domain expertise in relation to ICT Procurement and Contract Management.
• To work with the organisation to develop Operational Level Agreements (OLAs) deliver processes that deliver the robust, pragmatic and effective IT procurement, contracting and monitoring of services.
• To work with the organisation to review and investigate services with identified problems and to work with partner organisations to resolve these.
• Report to the relevant stakeholders at agreed intervals on progress and performance of contracted services.

Communication and Relationship

Be an effective communicator operating at director level and with senior department heads and senior clinical leadership teams. Capable of presenting complex, sensitive and sometimes contentious information to key stakeholders and senior trust leadership teams. Be a confident persuasiveleader who can both influence and negotiate on all key issues covering healthcare IT services. Remain calm and show diplomacy dealing with senior leaders or external suppliers/partners when faced with hostility.

Liaise between the Trust and digital suppliers developing constructive working relationships to optimise the delivery of solutions and maximise the Trusts influence on the future direction of the suppliers products, working closely with the following areas: -

1. Outsourced IT Suppliers

2. Other System Suppliers

3. Systems Administrators within the organisation

4. Systems & Development Team Managers; Application & Integration Support Manager, Release, Change & Problem Manager

5. Programme Directors

6. Clinicians, Managers & staff across the Trust

7. Other internal ICT staff

8. Other NHS Trusts and healthcare providers locally and nationally

Represent the trust at ICS level for digital initiatives and be an active member of the various regional program boards.

Knowledge, Training & Experience

The postholder will have experience working at a senior level within a large organization and will likely be an existing Head of department or similar ideally within a NHS healthcare setting. Additionally, the role will require extensive experience managing large teams of both technical and non-technical staff. Experience of staff management including recruitment and staff development and performance management is expected as is experience of multi million pound departmental budget management.

Extensive experience in IT leadership are expected along with a broad knowledge of IT covering applications, hardware, cyber security and networking. The postholder will be a strategic leader but will also be comfortable having detailed technical discussions and will act in an advisory capacity to assist with Operational issues. Experience of project management is expected, and applicants will likely be qualified in MSP or Agile,

Demonstrable experience of multi-million pound Capex and Opex budget management is expected. Strong knowledge and experience of IT service management methodologies and of working in an environment that is ITIL aligned.

Experience of leading on the management of major incidents covering a range of areas such as applications, networking, storage and infrastructure and having the technical knowledge and experience to be able to contribute to, as well as challenge on remedial actions.

Analytical & Judgemental Skills

Take the lead on strategic objectives in relation to software and systems for the department and regularly review performance and progress against targets. Develop business plans for the department in relation to large scale projects. Provide advice and clear direction on all IT matters and make appropriate judgements based on a number of expert views. Advise on the

Planning & Organsational Skills

The postholder will be expected to formulate the strategic plans and roadmaps for the department. In addition there will be a requirement to contribute to all business planning within the wider directorate. The role will also be expected to ensure plans contribute to, and contribute to the success of the trust strategy and that of the ICS

Responsibility for Policy/Service development

Be responsible for ensuring the trust adhere to all national IT policies. As the lead for the IT function of the Digital Division take responsibility for setting and implementing local policy. Develop and enforce all policy relating to the use of applications and software across the trust. Ensure policies and procedures covering disaster recovery and business continuity are in place, communicated and fully understood.

Define technical digital/IT standards, data standards complying with relevant NHS national standards & best practice and ensure existing new systems and system upgrades comply with any such standards.

Responsibility for Financial & Physical Resources

Take responsibility for the financial performance of the IT function, including achievement of financial targets, balancing potentially conflicting demands of budgetary requirements and service requirements. Monitor for, prompt and anticipate procurement requirements associated with the digital transformation agenda liaising with other multi-disciplinary teams and business teams as necessary. Act as a budget manager for the department.

Responsibility for Human Resources

Lead the 4 teams that sit within the IT Systems and software functions to ensure a cohesive, coordinated approach to all aspects of delivery enabling the function, as a whole, to meet priority demands and ensure needs of the Trust and Division supersede those of individual services and staff.

Set performance standards for services and teams, monitor achievement against these, review working practices and devise improved ways of working where necessary to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of services delivered.

Agree workload priorities and resolving internal issues to ensure the whole IT function supports and enhances Trust service delivery to patients and the very best of its ability.

Person Specification

Communications

Essential

• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to produce and present reports to clinical and senior management level audiences, often in relation to complex or contentious subject matter Highly developed oral communication skills, ranging from 1:1 discussions, formal presentations, and effectively chairing meetings. Able to communicate difficult messages to senior level staff and partners in challenging circumstances Exceptional negotiating skills with the ability to influence others

HR

Essential

• Demonstrate a commitment to undertake further training and development as agreed Self-motivated with the ability to motivate and empower others to achieve specific goals Ability to train others on business change / service improvement techniques Transformational leadership skills based both on theory and practical experience Demonstrable record of successful management and leadership of large teams Ability to motivate, persuade and influence others effectively

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience of operating at senior level within a large organisation, including staff and budget management Substantial knowledge of and experience in developing commercial partnerships in the ICT industry Experience of formulating short and long term strategic plans for organizational wide IT issues. Substantial experience in successfully operating and negotiating with private organisations. Track record of delivery of IT projects or system implementation to defined standard, on time and within budget. Experience should include the implementation of new organisational wide systems and core system upgrades. Experience of working collaboratively across organisational and administrative boundaries Experience of developing and presenting business cases briefings and reports to a range of diverse audiences including at Board level Extensive experience of dealing with highly complex IT problems including first response, resolution and long-term solutions Experience of managing capital and revenue budgets of significant value. Experience of managing major incidents that are complex in nature. Experience of designing and implementing change delivery teams from staff in multi-disciplinary backgrounds Experience of successful delivery across the full project lifecycle, including scope and design, project planning, risk and issue management, and benefits realisation. In-depth professional knowledge and experience of the technical aspects of IT services including networks, server technology, virtualisation, information security and application delivery. Experience of managing third-parties to provide complex IT services. The ability and confidence to delegate effectively and empower others to meet clearly-defined objectives.

Skills & Ability

Essential

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage staff in all disciplines and at all level Highly developed expert technical skills across a broad range of IT systems. Able to understand complex technical problems with clarity and proficiency. Expert Knowledge of Cyber Security Services Advanced facilitation skills to bring others together in support of effective delivery of shared outcomes Ability to lead transformation by defining and implementing information and IT solutions in support of delivery of effective healthcare Financial management skills and the ability to define and deliver cost improvement programs Highly developed analytical skills and the ability to understand and evaluate complex information A logical approach to problem solving in a challenging environment Strong planning skills with the ability to work to strict deadlines Proven track record of managing system and equipment testing across multiple sites, including applications and hardware Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage staff in all disciplines and at all level Highly developed expert technical skills across a broad range of IT systems. Able to understand complex technical problems with clarity and proficiency. Expert Knowledge of Cyber Security Services Advanced facilitation skills to bring others together in support of effective delivery of shared outcomes Ability to lead transformation by defining and implementing information and IT solutions in support of delivery of effective healthcare Financial management skills and the ability to define and deliver cost improvement programs Highly developed analytical skills and the ability to understand and evaluate complex information A logical approach to problem solving in a challenging environment Strong planning skills with the ability to work to strict deadlines Proven track record of managing system and equipment testing across multiple sites, including applications and hardware Ability to work independently and on own initiative, with limited supervision Ability to draw on skills, experience and knowledge to evaluate competing evidence, and advise on a range of complex options Experience with Agile software development processes. Good knowledge of ITIL processes and ITIL qualified Skilled in the use of PC software applications to manipulate, analyse and present information (in particular, Power BI and Excel) Good knowledge and experience of managing software development teams. Advanced level of technical expertise in the manipulation of spreadsheets and databases, and use of statistical tools and techniques, including modelling, forecasting and statistical process control. Broad and detailed knowledge of NHS data definitions and statutory reporting requirements. Thorough understanding of the NHS Operating Framework and Contract, Service Improvement agenda and NHS key performance indicators (or strongly demonstrate willingness to learn about these) Expert knowledge of benchmarking systems and techniques, and practical experience of their effective application. Experience in management of large and complex projects. Expert knowledge of national and local NHS targets and performance indicators associated monitoring processes, and their application to the Trust (or strongly demonstrate willingness to learn about these) Expert knowledge of Information Governance, Data Protection legislation and Caldicott principles, GDPR and the Freedom of Information Act. Proven mathematical reasoning skills

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters Degree or equivalent qualification in an IT related subject. Experience of working at a senior level within an IT department. Evidence of continuing professional development. A qualification relating to best practice in IT management methods, such as ITIL. Evidence of specialist knowledge, expertise and experience in ICT, project management, software development, service improvement and transformation. A clear understanding of improvement techniques and opportunities for clinical redesign enabled by effective use of technology Knowledge of GDPR and its impact on IT and information management within the organization.

Desirable

• Agile, MCP, PRINCE 2 qualification

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Employer's website

https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)