Job overview
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking an exceptional leader to drive the safe, scaled adoption of artificial intelligence across our clinical and corporate services. As Associate Director of AI Implementation, you will build and lead the Trust's AI programme — establishing our AI centre of excellence, owning the delivery pipeline, and ensuring AI is adopted responsibly, governed rigorously, and delivers measurable benefit to patients and staff.
This is a rare opportunity to shape one of the most ambitious AI programmes in the NHS, working at board level, across the Thames Valley system, and in direct partnership with national and industry leaders.
Main duties of the job
- Lead BHT's AI implementation programme, building a managed centre of excellence that governs how AI is adopted safely across clinical and corporate services
- Own the AI pipeline from ideation to benefits realisation, ensuring every initiative has measurable outcomes and a clear delivery owner
- Establish and lead a formal AI PMO, setting delivery standards and coaching project managers across the wider digital portfolio
- Manage the enterprise AI tool portfolio — including large language model, productivity and meeting-governance platforms — ensuring coordinated, coherent deployment at scale
- Contribute to the capital business case for AI investment and represent the programme at board and Capital Management Group level
- Shape BHT's contribution to the Thames Valley APC pathway orchestration layer, positioning the Trust as a lead voice in regional AI infrastructure
- Build and lead the AI Implementation team, scaling the function as the programme matures
- Drive a transformation-first culture — working with clinical and operational leaders to reimagine workflows before deploying technology
- Lead BHT's MHRA regulatory engagement, working towards a framework-level approach to AI clinical safety assurance
- Deliver regular assurance reporting to the Finance and Business Performance Committee, Non-Executive Directors and board-level governance forums
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.
If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.
If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on [email protected] quoting the vacancy reference number.
Person specification
Education
Essential
- Educated to master's level or equivalent senior leadership experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development in digital health, AI or transformation
Desirable
- Project or programme management qualification, e.g. MSP, APM or PRINCE2 Practitioner
- Postgraduate qualification in health informatics, data science or clinical informatics
Experience
Essential
- Substantial senior leadership experience in NHS digital transformation or an equivalent complex healthcare environment
- Demonstrated experience leading large-scale technology implementations, e.g. EPR, AI tools or clinical systems
- Experience designing and managing benefits realisation frameworks
- Experience holding or setting a significant budget and managing financial delivery within it
- Experience as a line manager, including recruitment, appraisal and development of a team
- Experience managing multi-supplier and partner relationships, e.g. consultancies and technology vendors
- Experience establishing or leading a PMO in a complex programme environment, including coaching project managers and setting standards across a wider portfolio
- Understanding of NHS clinical safety frameworks (e.g. DCB0129, DCB0160) and information governance requirements
- Understanding of MHRA regulatory requirements and the medical device framework as it applies to AI in clinical settings
Desirable
- Experience engaging with regulators or national bodies on AI or medical device governance at a programme or framework level
- Experience deploying AI or automation tools in a clinical or NHS operational setting
- Knowledge of EPR strategy and systems, e.g. System C CareFlow or Epic
- Experience working with Integrated Care System or regional digital programmes
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Associate Director of AI Implementation with Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in Aylesbury, South East, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is £94,356 - £108,814 per annum pro rata. The contract type is 12 months (FTC / Secondment). The application deadline is 29 Jul 2026.
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