Chief Information Officer with certificate of sponsorship to the UK
Visa and Sponsorship Information
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to offer a certificate of sponsorship to international candidates for this Chief Information Officer position. If you are a skilled professional seeking to relocate to the UK, this opportunity provides a pathway to work at one of Europe’s leading cancer centers. The certificate of sponsorship will support your visa application, allowing you to live and work in the UK while contributing to our digital transformation initiatives.
Please note that receiving a certificate of sponsorship does not guarantee visa approval. Applicants must still meet all UK visa requirements, including English language proficiency, financial maintenance, and other eligibility criteria set by UK Visas and Immigration. We recommend consulting with UK immigration authorities or a qualified immigration advisor before applying.
For skilled worker applicants who require entry clearance into the UK, you will need to present criminal record certificates from any country where you have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Detailed guidance can be found on the UK government’s official website for overseas applicants.
About the Position
We are seeking an exceptional Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead our digital transformation and information strategy at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. This is a unique opportunity to lead Digital Services and drive innovation at one of Europe’s leading cancer centers as we deliver our ambitious Future Christie program – a 10-year vision to create a patient and staff focused, intelligent, data-driven hospital.
The salary for this position is £109,179 to £125,637 per annum pro rata, based on the Agenda for Change pay scale, Band 9. This is a permanent, full-time position based at our main facility in Manchester. The successful candidate will become a key member of our senior leadership team, contributing directly to the strategic direction of the organization.
The closing date for applications is 02 March 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be notified shortly after this date and invited to interview. Interviews are expected to take place virtually or in-person at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, depending on your location.
Key Responsibilities
As Chief Information Officer, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for digital services, ensuring technology and data are harnessed to deliver safe, efficient, and personalized care. You will champion cutting-edge initiatives such as Joint Analytics for Cancer (JAC) – our flagship platform unlocking real-time insights for clinical decision-making, research, and operational excellence.
Your responsibilities will include developing and implementing the Trust’s digital strategy, ensuring systems support integrated care, research, and performance improvement. You will lead digital service delivery across software development, clinical applications, infrastructure, user support, and cybersecurity, while ensuring robust digital governance and compliance with NHS and legal standards.
You will manage and support the Digital Services team, including deputy CIO, Chief Clinical Information Officers, and departmental leads. This includes fostering a culture of collaboration and digital literacy across clinical and operational teams, providing assurance to the Senior Management Committee, and potentially acting as delegated Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) when required.
Corporate responsibilities will include contributing effectively as a member of the Senior Management Committee, providing updates to the board of directors on the digital strategy and programs, and ensuring effective working relationships within the organization and with external partners such as third-party suppliers, NHS bodies, and academic institutions.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential qualifications include being educated to degree level in an informatics-related subject or equivalent experience, along with a Master’s degree or equivalent experience. You must also demonstrate evidence of continuing professional and personal development in digital transformation, information governance, or technology leadership.
Desirable qualifications include specific training in healthcare management or business, certifications in project management (e.g., PRINCE2), enterprise architecture (e.g., TOGAF), information security (e.g., CISSP, ISO 27001), cloud-based enterprise solutions (e.g., AWS/GCP Cloud Architect), or service management (e.g., ITIL). Membership or fellowship of relevant professional bodies is also desirable.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential knowledge includes extensive working at a senior level (e.g., AFC 8d/equivalent or above with Board/sub-Board experience) in Digital Services, significant experience of digital leadership within an NHS organization, and experience of leading the development of digital services and programs with associated business and/or clinical process change.
You must have a proven track record of leading, developing, and inspiring large IT/Informatics teams, including experience managing large (>£5m) revenue budgets. Innovative management experience with a track record of developing digital services that have achieved demonstrable and continuing benefits for organizations is also essential.
Desirable knowledge includes experience in cross-organisational collaboration such as Integrated Care Systems (ICS) or regional digital programs, exposure to research and innovation initiatives including AI and advanced analytics, experience in vendor management and procurement of large-scale digital solutions, and experience developing, procuring, implementing, and supporting complex clinical systems or ICT infrastructure.
Skills
Essential skills include well-developed and credible leadership, management, and motivational skills, confident and articulate communication with well-developed interpersonal, presentational, and report writing abilities. You must be able to communicate effectively with clinical and non-technical audiences, demonstrate proven project and program management skills, and possess excellent planning, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
You must be able to prioritize your own and others’ workloads effectively to meet tight deadlines while managing conflicting priorities, work independently as well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and self-motivated, and be able to translate technically complex information to non-technical staff. You should also have the ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams.
Desirable skills include the ability to think creatively and innovatively and to engender an environment in which teams and individuals can flourish. Essential knowledge includes a deep understanding of NHS digital priorities, interoperability standards, and regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR, DSP Toolkit), and the ability to manage cybersecurity risks, resilience planning, and business continuity.
About The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centers, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist, around 15% of patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world, chemotherapy on-site and through 14 other hospitals, highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancers, and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world-first breakthroughs for over 100 years.
We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken at the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK. As a digital leader, we are committed to leveraging technology to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please visit the NHS Jobs website and search for reference number 413-102766-SNR. You will need to create an account if you don’t already have one and complete the online application form.
International applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK or are eligible for sponsorship. You will need to include details of any required visas in your application. We recommend applying as early as possible to allow sufficient time for visa processing if required.
Your application should include a comprehensive CV and a supporting statement that demonstrates how you meet the person specification for this role. The supporting statement should be no more than four pages and should clearly outline your relevant experience, skills, and knowledge as they relate to the essential and desirable criteria.
For international applicants, please include information about your current immigration status in the UK, or if you require sponsorship. You may also include any relevant information about your experience working in different healthcare systems or with diverse teams, as this will be valuable in our assessment process.
Contact Information
For questions about the job, contact Adrian Bloor (Consultant – Haematology Oncology) at a.bloor1@nhs.net or by phone at 01614463657. Please note that all inquiries about the application process or sponsorship should be directed through these contact channels.
For general inquiries about The Christie NHS Foundation Trust or the relocation process to Manchester, you can visit our website at https://www.christie.nhs.uk/. The website includes information about living in Manchester, which is consistently ranked as one of the best cities to live in the UK.
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. We are particularly keen to receive applications from candidates who can bring diverse perspectives and experiences to our organization.
Additional Information
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and 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.
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is a smoke-free organization, and smoking is not permitted anywhere on our premises. We are also committed to sustainability and expect all employees to contribute to our environmental objectives.