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NHS England

About

NHS England leads the NHS in England to deliver high quality care for all. We support NHS organisations to deliver better outcomes for our patients and communities, work to get the best possible value for taxpayers, and drive improvement across the NHS.

Through our seven regional teams, NHS England supports local integrated care systems, made up of public services that provide health and care – NHS organisations, primary care professionals, local councils, social care providers and the community, voluntary and social enterprise sector – to improve the health of the population, improve the quality of care, tackle inequalities and deliver care more efficiently.

Contact

Address
Wellington House
133-155 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8UG
Contact Number
0300 330 1369

Find out more

Jobs Website
Open
Ref: 990-TDD-D&A-EC1254-E Vacancy ID: 7820249

Chief Data and Analytics Officer

Accepting applications until: 11-Mar-2026 23:59

Open

Accepting applications until: 11-Mar-2026 23:59

Location

Any NHS England Office
Nationally
LS1 4AP
West Yorkshire

Contract type & working pattern

12 months (Fixed term until 31 March 2027) (Secondment only for NHS Employees)
Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Salary

£161,601 per annum
Yearly

(ESM3)

Specialty

Technology, Digital and Data

Our Organisation

The NHS is building a culture that is positive, compassionate and inclusive – and we all have our part to play.

As employers we are committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution and supports us to be an Employer of Choice, while helping our colleagues to deliver high quality services for our patients and communities.

As a flexible employer, we want to support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you. Talk to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time, hybrid working or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

We are an accredited Living Wage Employer which means that every colleague working for our organisation and third-party contractors will earn a real Living Wage.  We are one of over 15,000 organisations, who voluntarily chose to pay the real Living Wage.

Job overview

Lead the data and analytics transformation of the NHS

NHS England is seeking an exceptional Interim Chief Data & Analytics Officer (CDAO) to provide national leadership at a pivotal moment for the health and care system. This is a rare opportunity to shape how data, analytics and emerging technologies are used at scale to improve patient outcomes, reduce inequalities and support the sustainability of the NHS.

Last year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and waste. As the two organisations come together, there is an opportunity to reshape how technology, digital, and data services are delivered across the health and social care system.

This executive‑level interim role sits at the heart of government, policy and delivery—offering significant scope, influence and challenge for a senior leader with a strong track record in data‑driven transformation.

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The role

Reporting to the Director General for Technology, Digital and Data, the Interim CDAO is accountable for building and leading a world‑class Data and Analytics function for NHS England and the wider health and care system. You will work in partnership with the Chief Information Officer, under the DG, to deliver the Digital, Data and Technology programmes of work.

You will provide strategic and professional leadership for national data and analytics services, ensuring that high‑quality, timely and secure data underpins clinical care, operational performance, planning, research and innovation. Working in close partnership with the Chief Information Officer and senior leaders across government, regions and Integrated Care Systems, you will help move the NHS decisively from analogue to digital.

The role carries responsibility for major national programmes, significant investment, and stewardship of sensitive health data on behalf of citizens.

Working for our organisation

Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms — enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

We lead the NHS in England by:

  • Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities
  • Making the NHS a great place to work, where people can develop and make a difference
  • Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
  • Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
  • Delivering value for money

In 2025, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and waste.

If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key priorities

As Interim CDAO, you will:

  • Set the strategic direction for data, analytics and insight across the NHS in England
  • Support ministers, Joint Executive Team, and colleagues at all levels to successfully deliver the DHSC-NHSE Transformation programme.
  • Lead major national transformation programmes that improve decision‑making, productivity and patient care
  • Champion the ethical, safe and transparent use of health data, building and maintaining public trust
  • Strengthen system‑wide data quality, interoperability and analytical capability
  • Provide thought leadership on the use of advanced analytics, AI and emerging technologies in health and care
  • Build, lead and inspire senior data and analytics professionals across a complex national system

This is a highly visible role, requiring confidence operating in a complex, politically aware environment and the ability to deliver at pace through collaboration and influence.

Who we are looking for

This interim opportunity will appeal to an established Chief Data Officer, Chief Analytics Officer, Chief Digital Officer or equivalent, with experience operating at board or enterprise level in large, complex and regulated organisations.

You are likely to bring:

  • A strong track record of leading data, analytics or digital transformation at scale
  • Deep understanding of data strategy, analytics, governance and modern data platforms
  • Credibility with senior stakeholders, including ministers, executives, clinicians and external partners
  • Experience balancing innovation with risk, assurance and public accountability
  • Personal resilience, sound judgement and the ability to lead through ambiguity

Experience within the NHS or public sector is valuable but not essential; applications are welcomed from leaders with relevant experience across government, arm’s‑length bodies, academia or regulated industries.

Additional Information

Regular travel to our London and Leeds offices will be required.

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

You can find further details about the job, in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Please note that the reason for the fixed term of this contract is  due to the DHSC-NHSE Transformation Programme.

Important: Please be aware there are residency requirements you need to meet:

This role requires the successful candidate to undergo DV level clearance as a minimum.

To meet National Security Vetting requirements for DV Clearance, you must have resided in the UK for a minimum 10 continuous years, immediately preceding from the point of application.

Candidates who were posted abroad for service with HM Government, Armed Forces or within a UK government role - will still be considered.

Please make sure you meet these requirements before applying for this role. You don’t need to have Developed Vetting already, however, failure to achieve the requirements for Developed Vetting after offer, will result in the job offer being withdrawn.

For further advice please check https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/nationa…

For further information on National Security Vetting please check National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK, information on the Security Vetting and Clearances Intranet page or contact [email protected].

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents. 

Secondments 

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application. 

Applicant requirements

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to Masters' level or equivalent experience with evidence of continuing professional development
  • Postgraduate management or professional qualification at Doctorate level or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Track record in development and delivery of a data strategy and capability building across complex multi-partnership organisations.
  • Proven leader with strategic vision, influencing skills, strong decision making, negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
  • Demonstrable experience of anticipating major change and preparing the organisation to respond and maximising opportunities to develop capability faster considering changes such as the COVID-19 pandemic
Desirable criteria
  • Proven leader in the NHS, able to work collaboratively with effective relationship building skills at executive level. Able to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and suppliers for digital, data and analytics services, as well as other business leaders and cross government department and other ALB (CQC; DHSC) leaders.

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Strong leadership and engagement skills to create high performing, self-motivating, customer-focused teams in the context of changing requirements and ambiguity.
  • Engagement and credibility with ministers, senior executives in academia, supplier organisations and in industry, and with the ICO.
  • Proven ability to operate effectively at board level and beyond
Desirable criteria
  • Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders across the Health and Social Care system.

Documents

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Faye Sims
Job title
Chief of Staff
Email address
[email protected]
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