Trac proudly powers the recruitment for
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
About
We are also the first UK centre to be officially accredited as a comprehensive cancer centre.
As part of the NHS we provide:
- Radiotherapy, in one of the world's largest radiotherapy departments and at our radiotherapy centres in Oldham, Salford and Macclesfield. We are also home to the UK’s largest brachytherapy service and we are also the first NHS organisation in the UK to deliver high energy proton beam therapy.
- Chemotherapy, in the UK's largest chemotherapy unit, as well as via 13 other sites and in patients’ homes. We also provide prostate cancer community clinics at 5 different locations.
- Highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer. Find out more about surgery at The Christie.
- A wide range of support and diagnostic services.
Find out more about how we treat cancer.
Largest single-site cancer centre in Europe
We are the largest single-site cancer centre in Europe looking after more than 60,000 patients a year and the first UK centre to be accredited as a comprehensive cancer centre.
Based in Manchester, we serve a population of 3.2 million people across Greater Manchester and Cheshire while more than a quarter of our patients are referred to us from across the UK.
Find out where we are.
We are ranked as the most technologically advanced cancer centre in the world outside North America, and have been named, by the National Institute for Health Research, as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to take part in clinical research studies.
Find out more about our Foundation Trust.
Delivering world-first breakthroughs for over 100 years
We are part of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) working with The University of Manchester and Cancer Research UK. We are also one of 7 partners in the Manchester Academic Health Science Research Centre.
Find out more about how we're beating cancer through research.
We established The Christie Institute for Cancer Education to provide undergraduate education, clinical professional and medical education - the first of its kind in the UK.
Chief Information Officer
Closed for applications on: 3-Mar-2026 00:00
Vacancy status: Closed
Closed for applications on: 3-Mar-2026 00:00
Key details
Location
- Site
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
- Town
- Manchester
- Postcode
- M20 4BX
- Major / Minor Region
- Manchester
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
Salary
- Salary
- £109,179 - £125,637 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AfC: Band 9)
Specialty
- Main area
- Digital Services Management
- Interview date
- 24/03/2026
Job overview
Join Us as Chief Information Officer and help shape the Future of Cancer Care at The Christie
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead our digital transformation and information strategy. This is a unique opportunity to lead Digital Services and drive innovation at one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, as we deliver our ambitious Future Christie programme – a 10-year vision to create a patient and staff focussed, intelligent, data-driven hospital.
As CIO, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for digital services, ensuring technology and data are harnessed to deliver safe, efficient, and personalised care. You will ensure that champion cutting-edge initiatives such as Joint Analytics for Cancer (JAC) – our flagship platform unlocking real-time insights for clinical decision-making, research, and operational excellence. Working at the heart of our digital strategy, you will shape systems that integrate care, research, and innovation, enabling The Christie to remain at the forefront of cancer treatment.
If you are passionate about transforming healthcare through digital innovation and want to make a lasting impact on patient outcomes, join us and help build the hospital of the future.
Advert
What You’ll Do
Lead the development and delivery of a Trust-wide digital strategy aligned with national priorities.
Digital Strategy & Transformation
Develop and implement the Trust’s digital strategy, ensuring systems support integrated care, research, and performance improvement. Champion innovation, including AI and machine learning, to enable evidence-based decision-making and personalised care and deliver the ambition of the Future Christie program
- Lead digital service delivery across software development, clinical applications, infrastructure, user support, and cybersecurity
- Ensure robust digital governance and compliance with NHS and legal standards. Provide assurance to the Senior Management Committee and act as delegated Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) when required
- Manage and support the Digital Services team, including deputy CIO, Chief Clinical Information Officers, and departmental leads. Foster a culture of collaboration and digital literacy across clinical and operational team
What We’re Looking For
We’re seeking a visionary leader with proven digital experience in senior data leadership, ideally in healthcare or public sector. You will have strategic insight and technical expertise in data platforms, governance, and analytics and a passion for innovation, curiosity, and solving complex system-wide challenges. You will have the ability to influence at executive level and inspire multidisciplinary teams and a commitment to equity and sustainability.
Working for our organisation
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.
We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
CORPORATE
• Contribute effectively as a member of the Senior Management Committee ensuring all relevant matters are brought to the attention of the meetings.
• Provide updates to the board of directors as required on the digital strategy, programmes and risks.
• Undertake the role (delegated by the Director of Future Christie) of SIRO and support the work of the Information Governance and Caldicott panels providing expert knowledge and assurance ensuring that highly sensitive and confidential data is managed appropriately.
• Ensure that the Senior Management Committee and Future Christie Director/Medical Director are briefed on the benefits and risks of new digital related projects.
• Ensure effective working relationships and engagement within the organisation particularly with all divisional, corporate, clinical, and operational teams.
• Provide digital leadership to the Greater Manchester (GM) Cancer Alliance, support the development of GM system digital cancer strategy
• Ensure effective working relationships and engagement outside the organisation particularly with third party suppliers, NHS bodies, academic institutions, and other external bodies. Participate effectively in local and national CIO networks.
• Produce action plans and implement policies to meet all requirements for risk management, audit, controls assurance, health & safety and information governance relating to the work of the digital service.
• Ensure there is continual improvement and learning within the digital service and that all decisions are based on an assessment of risk.
STRATEGY
• Develop and lead implementation of a digital strategy which supports the overall trust strategy and the associated strategies for clinical services, research and innovation and education.
• Remain up to date on digital trends and emerging technologies.
• Identify opportunities for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of services through changes to digital services and technology.
• Contribute actively to the development of strategies and plans for other departments ensuring that the contribution of digital technology is incorporated
DIGITAL SERVICES PROVISION
• Ensure provision of modern digital infrastructure, software, and services that fully support the operational, clinical, and business needs of the trust
• Oversee the delivery of an effective digital service desk and set of comprehensive and proactive digital support services.Ensure the effective management of digital assets, including all hardware and software, ensuring that these are actively monitored.
• Ensure the provision of effective digital security measures to adequately protect and maintain systems and data.
• Ensure the support, maintenance, and development of the core clinical systems, including the procurement and implementation of clinical systems ensuring that benefits are maximised, and functionality fully supports the delivery of excellent patient care.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
• Work collaboratively with the Chief Data Officer to develop an information management service and oversee the infrastructure required for data storage
• Manage and develop approaches to data integration, including for clinical systems
• Oversee relationships with external vendors, suppliers and developers.
• Manage the project management services that support the delivery of the digital strategy and trust service transformation activities
GOVERNANCE
• Ensure implementation of appropriate digital governance systems which conform to legal and NHS requirements and fit within the wider governance systems of the trust.
• Ensure maintenance of an effective digital risk register, manage identified risks and escalate risks as required.
• Ensure the reduction, identification, management, and reporting of untoward digital incidents. Ensure compliance with the requirements of information governance, data protection and freedom of information guidance and legislation.
• Ensure that the Trust complies with the requirements of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT).
• Ensure that Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity plans are in place for all digital services and that these are routinely tested, weakness identified, and appropriate improvement plans developed and implemented.
• Ensure compliance of the clinical systems with Safety of Health Systems standards, appropriate NHS Information Standards Notices (ISNs) and National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) notices.
• As SIRO, oversee Information Asset Owners (IAOs) providing assurance on risks and compliance ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory requirements (including GDPR and NHS standards) and promote good information governance practices across the organisation.
• Working with the CDO, maintain an Information Asset Register, and oversee data security, integrity, and availability.
MANAGEMENT OF THE DIGITAL SERVICE
• Manage and lead the digital services team in line with the trust’s workforce and related policies, standing financial instructions and scheme of delegation, and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Develop and achieve annual objectives for digital services within the framework of the Trust’s objectives and agreed digital strategy
• Manage the digital budget within the requirements of the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation and Standing Financial Instructions.
• Produce an annual rolling investment plan for digital infrastructure including capital, revenue and staffing resource.
• Plan, deploy, and maintain the Trust’s digital systems and operations.
• Manage the Trust’s software development needs.
• Develop and implement digital policies and procedures in line with requirements and best practice.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONDUCT
• Adhere to impeccable standards of personal conduct and demonstrate commitment to the Trust’s Values and Behaviours
• Ensure personal professional knowledge is regularly updated and keep abreast of
• relevant developments.
• Adhere to the Code of Conduct for NHS Managers.
• Implement systems and processes, so that in the event of absence, access to all appropriate information is maintained to allow the continued safe and effective running of the digital service
• Participate in and embrace Trust initiatives to optimally develop and support our workforce (eg Real World Leadership and Respectful Resolution).
ON CALL
• Participate in the Digital Services on call rota
Please see attached Job Description for full list of responsibilities.
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to degree level in informatics related subject or equivalent experience.
- Master’s degree or equivalent experience.
- Evidence of continuing professional and personal development in digital transformation, information governance, or technology leadership
Desirable criteria
- Specific qualification or training in healthcare management or business.
- Certifications in project management (eg PRINCE2), enterprise architecture (eg TOGAF), information security (eg CISSP, ISO 27001), cloud-based enterprise solutions (eg AWS/GCP Cloud Architect) or service management (eg ITIL)
- Membership or fellowship of relevant professional bodies (eg BCS, Faculty of Clinical Informatics
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Extensive working at a senior level (eg AFC 8d/equivalent or above with Board/sub-Board experience) in Digital Services.
- Significant experience of digital leadership within an NHS organisation
- Experience of leading the development of digital services and programmes with associated business (and/or clinical) process change, over the full life-cycle from business case development and approval through to operational implementation and steady state support.
- A proven track record of leading, developing and inspiring large IT/Informatics teams including experience managing large (>£5m) revenue budgets.
- Innovative management experience with a track record of developing digital services that have achieved demonstrable and continuing benefits for organisations.
- Experience of influencing and working in partnership with senior leaders and also with other organisations on the management and development of digital services.
- Experience working with 3rd party suppliers and undertaking complex contract negotiations.
Desirable criteria
- Experience in cross-organisational collaboration, such as Integrated Care Systems (ICS) or regional digital programmes.
- Exposure to research and innovation initiatives, including AI and advanced analytics.
- Experience in vendor management and procurement of large-scale digital solutions
- Experience of developing high quality management, research and clinical outcome information reporting.
- Experience developing, procuring, implementing and supporting complex clinical systems or ICT infrastructure.
- Experience of undertaking the role of SIRO.
- Commercial experience.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Well-developed and credible leadership, management and motivational skills.
- Confident and articulate with well-developed communication, interpersonal, presentational and report writing skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with clinical and non-technical audience
- Proven project and programme management skills.
- Excellent planning, organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to prioritise own and others’ workloads effectively to meet tight deadlines whilst managing conflicting priorities.
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
- Enthusiastic and self-motivated.
- Able to translate technically complex information to nontechnical staff.
- Ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams.
Desirable criteria
- Able to think creatively and innovatively.
- Able to engender an environment in which teams and individuals can flourish
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Deep understanding of NHS digital priorities, interoperability standards, and regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR, DSP Toolkit)
- Ability to manage cybersecurity risks, resilience planning, and business continuity.
- An understanding of how digital can support the provision of high quality and efficient patient care.
- Specialist knowledge of how digital can support operational, clinical and business needs of an NHS acute hospital and affect service improvement and efficiency.
- An understanding of digital concepts, principles, products and terminology.
- Understanding of data protection legislation and NHS policies for the protection and use of personal and health data.
- Knowledge and understanding of ICT security standards
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of regulations governing the Safety of Health Systems.
- Knowledge and understanding of ICT security standards.
- An awareness of NHS data definitions, reporting requirements and data quality standards.
- An understanding of NHS and European procurement processes.
Valus
Essential criteria
- Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Adrian Bloor
- Job title
- Consultant - Haematology Oncology
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0161 446 3657
No longer accepting applications
Sorry, this vacancy is no longer accepting applications.
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