Strategic Innovation Lead

Go back Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 15 March 2026

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

You’ll 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.

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 dashboards— that 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 we're 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:

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

We Listen - We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs

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

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.

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,…