Head of EPR and Digital Programme Delivery

Job summary

We are inviting internal expressions of interest for the Band 8c Head of EPR and Digital Programme Delivery. This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape the delivery, optimisation and ongoing development of the Trusts Electronic Patient Record and wider digital programme portfolio. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, you will bring together clinical, operational, technical and corporate colleagues to deliver complex digital change safely, effectively and in line with Trust priorities. We are looking for an inclusive and credible leader with substantial digital programme delivery experience, strong governance skills and the ability to translate strategic priorities into clear, deliverable plans. The post is based at Darlington Memorial Hospital, with hybrid working and travel across Trust sites as required.

Main duties of the job

You will lead the EPR optimisation programme and provide senior delivery leadership across a portfolio of complex digital initiatives. You will set clear delivery priorities; maintain integrated plans; oversee milestones, resources, risks, dependencies and benefits; and provide robust assurance to programme boards and senior governance forums. Working across clinical, operational, technical, information governance, finance, procurement and supplier teams, you will ensure changes are clinically informed, operationally deliverable and implemented safely. You will strengthen programme and project delivery capability, promoting consistent standards, an improvement-focused culture and clear accountability for delivery. You will manage supplier relationships, releases, upgrades and escalations, and ensure effective transition into business as usual through readiness, adoption, training, documentation, handover and benefits realisation.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Details

• Date posted: 17 September 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8c
• Salary: £79,504 to £91,609 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: C9439-2627-NP-1236
• Job locations: Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 6HX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Key responsibilities

Lead planning, prioritisation, governance and delivery assurance for EPR optimisation and the wider digital programme portfolio.

Coordinate approved EPR developments, configuration changes, upgrades, workflow improvements and benefits activity, ensuring safe implementation and effective change control.

Develop and maintain integrated programme plans, RAID logs, decision logs, highlight reports, dependency maps, benefits plans and escalation routes.

Provide clear, evidence-based reporting and recommendations to digital, clinical, operational and executive governance forums.

Work closely with clinical and operational leaders, EPR teams, integration, ICT, information, data quality, information governance, clinical safety, training, communications, procurement and finance colleagues.

Manage supplier, implementation partner and external stakeholder relationships, progressing releases, upgrades, dependencies, issues and implementation requirements.

Lead and develop project managers, programme support officers, business analysts and matrix-managed delivery resources, setting clear expectations and supporting professional development.

Contribute to budget monitoring, workforce and resource planning, procurement activity, risk management and benefits tracking.

Ensure programmes transition effectively into business as usual through operational readiness, adoption, documentation, training, handover and post-implementation review.

What we are looking for

You will be educated to Masters level or have equivalent specialist knowledge and experience in digital, programme management, health informatics, service transformation or a related field.

You will have significant experience of leading complex digital, EPR, transformation or programme delivery activity in a large organisation, together with strong leadership, influencing, negotiation and delivery assurance skills.

You must be able to analyse complex risks, dependencies, resource constraints and delivery options and present clear recommendations to senior stakeholders.

Experience of healthcare or the NHS, Oracle Health/Cerner Millennium, portfolio governance, business cases, benefits tracking and relevant programme, project, Agile, ITIL or change qualifications would be advantageous.

The role requires flexibility to support implementation, go-live or escalation activity outside normal hours when necessary and the ability to travel across Trust sites and partner organisations.