Chief Technical Officer

University Hospitals Tees are seeking an exceptional Chief Technical Officer (CTO) to provide strategic leadership for all digital development, implementation, and technology operations across the Trust. This is a pivotal role at the forefront of shaping our digital future, ensuring we deliver outstanding services through modern, innovative and resilient technology.

As CTO, you will drive the Trust's digital strategy-leading advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, automation, and robotics, while ensuring robust technical foundations that support safe, efficient and high-quality patient care.

Main duties of the job

The CTO will lead the Digital Workplace Programme, driving the adoption and optimisation of modern solutions that enable staff to work more efficiently while reducing cyber security risks. They will oversee the Trusts' IT infrastructure and cyber security programmes, ensuring the continuous modernisation and protection of the IT estate.

The CTO will direct programme workstreams to ensure delivery against cost, quality, time and benefits realisation targets, setting clear objectives and KPIs while ensuring any impact on service management is well understood and effectively supported.

This role requires a leader capable of managing day-to-day operations while shaping future digital capabilities and introducing innovation across the Trusts. The CTO will act as a subject matter expert in emerging technologies, including cloud services, AI, RPA, and a range of operating systems.

About us

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust now form University Hospitals Tees and as such you may be required to work at any site across both Trusts.

At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.

We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition - a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.

We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

We recruit for values and "Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool".

Job responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and direction for all digital, technical and infrastructure services across the Trust.

Lead the development and delivery of future-focused digital innovations, including AI, VR, robotics, and emerging technologies.

Oversee the full lifecycle of technology development, delivery, and optimisation to support organisational priorities and service excellence.

Hold overall responsibility for delivering secure, resilient and efficient technology solutions, including:

• Network and communications infrastructure
• Data centre and cloud services
• Cyber security and information protection
• Reprographics and digital communications
• All enduser devices used to access digital systems (excluding medical equipment)

Ensure technical services are safe, reliable and aligned with national standards, regulatory requirements and digital best practice.

Work collaboratively with clinical, operational and corporate leaders to embed digital transformation across the Trust.

Lead, inspire and develop high-performing digital and technical teams.

Job description Job responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and direction for all digital, technical and infrastructure services across the Trust.

Lead the development and delivery of future-focused digital innovations, including AI, VR, robotics, and emerging technologies.

Oversee the full lifecycle of technology development, delivery, and optimisation to support organisational priorities and service excellence.

Hold overall responsibility for delivering secure, resilient and efficient technology solutions, including:

• Network and communications infrastructure
• Data centre and cloud services
• Service desk operations
• Cyber security and information protection
• Reprographics and digital communications
• All enduser devices used to access digital systems (excluding medical equipment)

Ensure technical services are safe, reliable and aligned with national standards, regulatory requirements and digital best practice.

Work collaboratively with clinical, operational and corporate leaders to embed digital transformation across the Trust.

Lead, inspire and develop high-performing digital and technical teams.

About You

We are looking for a visionary and influential leader with:

Demonstrable experience operating at a senior level within complex digital or technology environments.

Deep technical expertise across infrastructure, cloud, networks, cyber security and digital service delivery.

A strong track record of leading transformational programmes and embedding innovative technologies.

Exceptional communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.

The ability to build strategic partnerships and inspire teams to deliver excellence.

A passion for using technology to improve services, outcomes and experiences.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Masters degree or equivalent experience in an IT technical environment
• Relevant professional certifications for example: CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) for cybersecurity leadership TOGAF for enterprise architecture ITIL for IT service management

Experience

• Proven and significant experience working at a senior level in a large and complex organisation
• Experience of successfully applying technology innovation to complex problems related to technical architecture
• Experience of developing, managing and prioritising budgets including financial planning and projected overspends
• Worked as a Chief Technology Officer within healthcare environment

Knowledge

• Up to date on latest IT industry standards and trends related to infrastructure management
• Understanding of cyber security & IT compliancy and interoperability, ITSM good practice (ITIL)

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.