Genomics Data & Digital Director

Job summary

We are seeking an exceptional data & digital leader with a robust background in data analytics, ideally within the healthcare sector. Your passion should lie in the transformative potential of genomics to redefine patient care and outcomes across the NHS. With a demonstrable track record in leading successful collaborations across digital teams and with leaders at both regional and national levels, you bring a strategic approach to the digital enablement and optimisation of genomic services.

Your expertise is not just in implementing cutting-edge technologies but also in leveraging complex datasets to inform and shape the strategic direction of genomic services. This includes a profound ability to analyse and interpret large-scale, population-level genomic data sourced from the genomic laboratories and across the NHS, driving forward precision medicine and improving healthcare delivery.

A significant part of your role will be dedicated to leading data-driven initiatives that place genomics at the heart of the NHS's data and digital revolution. You will be adept at creating and sustaining partnerships across the healthcare and research sectors, contributing to the evolution of genomic medicine through innovation, and using data analytics to enhance patient care and access to genomic testing and treatments.

Main duties of the job

The Genomics Data & Digital Director plays a critical leadership role as the custodian of genomic data and digital intelligence, responsible for realizing the NHS England genomics strategy and transformation agenda across the Northwest region. A key role engaging at senior executive and board levels regionally and nationally to foster innovation in genomic medicine.

Reporting to the Alliance Director, this position is responsible for collaborating with NHS England digital teams, regional genomic medicine Service entities GMSA digital leaders, and northwest regional digital transformation programs to drive forward the digital enablement and optimisation of genomics services.

The role will provide strategic vision and direction for genomics digital capabilities, overseeing the effective delivery of key digital change initiatives and projects aligned to genomics strategy goals. This encompasses managing project lifecycles and ensuring adherence to digital delivery standards and processes.

Through collaboration with senior genomics stakeholders within the GLH, GMSA, GNOE and NHS England, as well as external regional and national partners, the Genomics Data & Digital Director will help realise the promise of genomics to improve patient outcomes through digitally enabled, high-quality genomics services.

About us

MFT is one of the largest NHS Trust In England with a turnover of £ & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We're creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.

Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 28,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you'll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.

We've also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research, and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our Electronic Patient Record system which launched in September 2022.

We're proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What's more, we're excited to be embarking on our Green Plan which sets out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.

At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open, and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at .

Were looking forward to hearing from you!

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Education to a minimum of master's degree level or equivalent post graduate qualification or equivalent senior level experience. Prince 2 Foundation or equivalent experience. Evidence of continued personal and professional development.

Desirable

Degree level or equivalent qualification specifically in an IT or business discipline related to post. Post graduate or equivalent diploma in relevant field for post or management (, MBA, PhD). Managing Successful Programmes (MSF) Prince 2 Practitioner.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Essential

Significant experience working at senior informatics level experience within an NHS Informatics environment. across several Trusts. Proven track record of leading, developing and managing an Informatics team. Significant experience in delivering complex regional digital workstreams across multiple NHS providers across primary, secondary, and tertiary care. Substantial knowledge and understanding of system integration and interoperability. Experience of developing and implementing highly complex IM&T strategies and operational plans at a regional wide level. Experience of influencing national and local policies. Experience of budget setting and management for multiple services and IM&T projects. Previous experience of managing multi-disciplinary team/matrix management. Experience of delivering IM&T projects on time and within resource constraints. Experience of dealing with staff performance and disciplinary issues.

Desirable

Experience of developing and delivering business intelligence solutions or services. Skills in programming languages like Python or R to build healthcare-related models and tools. Understanding of AI/ML and ability to implement these technologies. Able to gather, analyse and visualise complex healthcare data from various sources. Data skills in tools like Excel, SQL, Tableau, etc.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Essential

In depth knowledge of Data Protection Legislation and Common Law Duty of Patient Confidentiality. Expert knowledge of the NHS Information Governance Framework, including the Data Security and Protection Toolkit. Specialist expertise in regional health and care informatics systems and data flows. Extensive experience in leading and managing multidisciplinary technical teams, demonstrating a high level of proficiency in executive oversight and workforce management. Proven ability to inspire and foster staff development, effectively enhancing team capabilities and professional growth through strategic mentorship and motivational leadership. Advanced understanding of NHS and social care interconnected information systems. Expertise in system integration and interoperability solutions. Communicates complex concepts clearly and concisely in writing and verbally to both technical and non-technical audiences. Applies proven change management techniques to drive adoption. Leads, motivates, and develops cross-functional teams strategically with compelling vision. Analyses complex, sensitive data to identify key insights, risks, and determine strategic actions. Combines data analytics aptitude with deep sector knowledge and clear communication skills. Formulates long-term roadmaps involving uncertainty, weighing regional health economy implications. Forges consensus amongst multi-stakeholder teams, staff and leadership. Operates skilfully at high-level strategic as well as detailed execution levels simultaneously. Champions and institutes best-practice working methods for themselves and team members. Listens intently to capture user needs and priorities, building confidence. Logical and systematic approach to planning and organisation. Highly competent within Microsoft Office packages with exceptional presentation abilities with PowerPoint. Advanced keyboard skills and VDU use.

Desirable

Working knowledge of statistical analysis and modelling techniques (regression, classification, clustering, etc) to derive insights. Practical skills to collect, clean, transform and load complex data from disparate sources into integrated databases, data lakes, or warehouses. Familiarity with analytics platforms and tools like SQL, Python, R, Power BI, Tableau, Qlik to analyse large datasets and uncover trends. Aptitude for data mining, machine learning and AI to optimise analysis yield. Talent for data visualisation and graphical representation to translate insights easily for technical and non-technical stakeholders. Keen interest in analytic trends like prescriptive analytics and forecasting to expand business intelligence capabilities. Balances software engineering skills with softer abilities like business acumen and communication to uncover and clearly convey data-driven business value. Working knowledge of leading Integration Engine technologies ( Azure Logic Apps, Mulesoft) to create and orchestrate complex integration flows and interoperability between disparate healthcare systems. Mastery over healthcare integration and interoperability standards (HL7 FHIR, IHE profiles etc.) allowing seamless yet secure data exchange across various provider EHR systems. Technical breadth to appropriately evaluate and advise on suitable integration architectures and tools to fit expanding ecosystem of healthcare applications and data sources. Familiarity with containerization, APIs, microservices and related integration patterns to reliably scale out ecosystem with agility while managing complexity.

ATTRIBUTES

Essential

Ability to undertake highly complex literature reviews and critical appraisal to support the implementation of best practice. Able to effectively prioritise key tasks, work independently using own initiative, and manage a complex workload. Enthusiastic self-starter who readily learns new skills to respond to emerging demands and welcomes change. Demonstrates initiative by proactively taking responsibility for decisions. Seeks and responds well to constructive feedback for personal development. Uses a logical, pragmatic approach to break down and solve complex problems. Proven ability to deliver under significant pressure, managing competing priorities. Builds credibility and quickly gains the confidence of executives and stakeholders. Exemplifies honesty, transparency, and integrity. Remains composed under unpredictable, intense situations to see tasks through. Adopts a patient- and customer-centred approach to service design.

OTHERS

Essential

Self-motivated and proactive, able to work independently using own initiative. Process-driven yet flexible and outcome-focused. Excellent team player who embodies NHS values in their responsiveness to service, staff and patient needs. Superb organisational abilities to prioritise and deliver against a backdrop of complex demands and rapid change. Cultivates partnerships across disciplines and seniority levels, building effective collaborative relationships. Demonstrates excellent leadership skills - able to motivate and guide teams. Based primarily in the northwest but ability to travel nationally as required.