Overview

Head of Development (Band 8B)

Are you ready to lead digital innovation that truly makes a difference? We're looking for a Head of Development to drive modern software, data and integration across the Trust.

Responsibilities

• Lead expert development, data engineering and DevOps teams.
• Shape and deliver a 3-5 year roadmap for digital innovation and transformation.
• Oversee in-house software, legacy modernisation and system integration.
• Work closely with clinicians to design safe, impactful digital solutions.
• Champion innovation, agile delivery and continuous improvement.
• Manage budgets, suppliers and complex stakeholder relationships.
• Make a measurable impact on patient care, staff experience and efficiency.
• Join us and help deliver the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

About us

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides 24 hour, 365 days a year accident and emergency services to those in need of emergency medical treatment and transport.

Our highly skilled staff provide life-saving care to patients in the community and take people to hospital or a place of care if needed. We also provide non-emergency patient transport services for those patients who require non-emergency transport to and from hospital and who are unable to travel unaided because of their medical condition or clinical need.

Alongside the other emergency services, we also work to ensure the safety of the public and treatment of patients in the event of a major incident. We also deliver the NHS 111 service in the North West. NHS 111 replaced NHS Direct in 2013. This service was introduced to make it easier for people to access local NHS healthcare services in England. It provides non-emergency medical help fast, and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Details

Date posted: 27 March 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £64,455 to £74,896 a year PA

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 242-4991-LR1

Job locations: Ladybridge Hall, Manchester, M14 7LU

Job responsibilities

Please ensure that you have read and understood the job description and person specification before applying.

Person Specification

Skills / Competencies Essential

• Politically aware and astute
• Experienced in communicating effectively with both internal and external stakeholders using a wide variety of techniques (e.g. Presentation)
• An awareness of current issues affecting the NHS and its technology challenges
• Innovative thinker and able to develop new solutions
• Evidence of leadership and mentoring skills
• Excellent written and analytical skills to provide reports to both Internal and External stakeholders
• Ability to influence and negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders (e.g. GPs, Commissioners, Acute services) to develop multidisciplinary working
• Development skills
• Ability to motivate, performance manage and develop teams and individuals
• Strong organisational and time management skills, and evidence of working in a systematic manner
• Excellent IT literacy skills
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
• Car driver able to work across the North West footprint
• Flexible approach to working and requirement to work unsociable hours in line with the needs of the service
• Demonstrable compassionate and inclusive leadership
• Experience in the application of HR processes
• Demonstrable experience of line management responsibilities

Qualification and Knowledge Essential

• Educated to Masters level in relevant subject; or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in this area and currently working towards a Master\'s degree
• Evidence of relevant CPD activities
• Experience as a lead or senior innovation or development specialist in an enterprise level organisation with evidenced practice including successfully introducing disruptive technologies and/or ideas across the organisation

Experience Essential

• Skills in line managing a team of staff
• Expert knowledge of Pre-Hospital and Urgent Care systems, acquired through substantive experience
• Experience in working collaboratively with across other NHS organisations
• Experience of system changes, including IM&T system development to support practice
• Demonstrated capability to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales
• Experience of professional and engaging report writing for and presentation to senior management audiences and the development of other documents such as research findings, options appraisals, risk analysis, and proposals
• Have demonstrable working experience in the majority of the following areas - Innovation in Healthcare and/or Social care services; environments at the forefront of innovation such as UX and design development, crowd sourcing, open innovation networks, research and development grant applications, liaison with university and industry researchers, innovation networks and communities, formal continuous improvement programs; IT practices such as systems analysis, development, Agile / Devops, programming, testing, enterprise architecture and project management; experience of developing and implementing organisation-wide related strategies, policies and procedures.

Values and Behaviours Essential

• Working together - demonstrate collaborative and inclusive working and challenge behaviour that is not inclusive or acceptable

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name: North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Address: Ladybridge Hall, Manchester, M14 7LU

Employer's website: https://www.nwas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)