Strategic Innovation Lead

Are you ready to shape the future of healthcare? As our Strategic Innovation Lead, youll spark digital transformation across Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust. Youll launch and lead our new Digital Innovation Academy, turning fresh ideas into real-world solutionsthink apps, automatons, and smart dashboards that make a difference for staff and patients.

Youll champion new ways of working, inspire teams to embrace technology, and make sure our digital projects are safe, inclusive, and truly impactful. If you love leading change, building partnerships, and making things better for everyone, this is your chance to shine.

Key Relationships Will Include

Work closely with the Head of Improvement and Innovation, Digital Services, Business Intelligence, Information Governance, and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion teams.

Collaborate with patients, carers, and experts by experience to ensure solutions meet real needs.

Partner with external organisations, including higher education, suppliers, and NHS digital providers.

This is a hybrid role, with a mix of on-site and home working, and the expectation to travel as needed to meet operational and stakeholder needs.

Closing date: 15th March 2026

Shortlisting: week commencing 16th March 2026

Interviews: Provisional date 2nd April 2026 TBC

Lead the creation and delivery of innovative solutions like apps, automation, agents and dashboardsthat make life easier for staff and patients, using a human-centered design approach from idea to launch.

Launch and run the Digital Innovation Academy, helping colleagues learn new digital skills and turn ideas into real improvements.

Inspire teams to embrace new technology and ways of working, making sure everything we do is safe, inclusive, and effective.

Use your proven experience in Quality Improvement (QI) to drive positive change and ensure our projects deliver real benefits.

Work closely with people across the Trust and beyond, building strong partnerships and sharing best practice.

Use data and feedback to spot opportunities, solve problems, and make sure our digital projects deliver real value.

Support and coach others, helping to build a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Make sure our digital work meets high standards for quality, safety, and accessibility.

Key Skills And Qualities Were Looking For

A passion for digital innovation and making a difference.

Proven experience in QI and delivering solutions from human-centered design to deployment.

Great communication and teamwork skills.

Confidence to lead, coach, and inspire others.

Ability to turn ideas into practical solutions.

Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -

We Care - We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference

We Listen - We understand peoples views and respond to their individual needs

We Deliver - We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners

Benefits

We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :

Increase mileage rates for > 3500

A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages

A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities

Plus many more.

We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.

The Trust reserves the right to close this position early if a significant number of applications are received.

Responsibilities

As Strategic Innovation Lead, you will be at the forefront of transformation within Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust. Your main responsibilities will include:

Leading Digital Innovation: Design, deliver, and scale digital solutionssuch as apps, automatons, and dashboardsthat improve care, reduce waste, and empower staff and patients. Youll take projects from human-centered design through to deployment, ensuring they are safe, inclusive, and effective.

Running the Data/Digital Innovation Academy: Set up and lead the Trusts Data & Digital Innovation Academy, helping colleagues develop new digital skills and turn ideas into practical improvements.

Championing Quality Improvement: Use your proven experience in Quality Improvement (QI) to drive positive change, embed best practice, and ensure all digital projects deliver real, measurable benefits.

Building Partnerships: Work closely with clinical, operational, and corporate teams, as well as external partners, to co-design solutions and share learning across the Trust and beyond.

Ensuring Compliance and Safety: Establish and maintain standards for digital development, making sure all solutions meet requirements for information governance, accessibility, equality, and clinical safety.

Coaching and Leadership: Support, coach, and inspire multidisciplinary teams, apprentices, and colleagues, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Driving Value and Sustainability: Oversee budgets, track benefits, and ensure digital initiatives deliver value for money and long-term impact.

Representing the Trust: Act as an ambassador for digital innovation at local, regional, and national forums, influencing policy and sharing best practice.

Please read the attached Job description and person specification for more details about this role.

Right to Work in the UK

Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.

Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.

Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.

As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.

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