England's DHSC offers £285k for new tech director to drive NHS digital transformation

The UK's Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has advertised a new senior role with a maximum salary of £285,000 per year, positioning it as one of the highest-paid positions within the government department. The recruitment campaign for the Director General for Technology, Digital and Data closes on 9 February, with final interviews scheduled for early March.

This salary benchmark is notably higher than the £170,000 to £200,000 range offered for the department's permanent secretary role, which was filled by Samantha Jones in April 2025. For context, the Prime Minister's annual salary is approximately £170,000. The compensation package signals the government's recognition of the technical expertise required to lead the NHS's digital overhaul.

Role Requirements and Responsibilities

The job description outlines significant responsibilities that extend beyond typical IT management. The successful candidate will be accountable for:

• Leading comprehensive digital transformation initiatives across the NHS
• Managing multi-million pound technology budgets
• Ensuring technology projects are delivered "within scope, budget and timelines"
• Effectively managing vendor relationships and external technology providers

The department seeks candidates with substantial experience in healthcare or other heavily regulated industries, including banking, telecommunications, utilities, or transportation. This requirement reflects the complex regulatory environment in which NHS technology operates, where data protection, patient safety, and interoperability standards are paramount.

Strategic NHS Technology Priorities

The recruitment aligns with the government's 10-year NHS plan published in July 2025, which outlines several major technology-driven initiatives:

NHS App Expansion

The government aims to transform the NHS app into "a full front door to the entire NHS" by 2028. This expansion would provide:

• Instant advice for non-urgent care
• Ability to choose healthcare providers
• Booking capabilities for tests and appointments
• Management tools for medicines and long-term conditions

Genomics Population Health Service

A new genomics population health service is planned for completion by the end of the decade. This initiative will rely heavily on data analytics and technology infrastructure to support personalized medicine and population health management.

Digital Hospital Services

In September 2025, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced plans for a "digital hospital" service that will provide online consultations for treatment areas that can be delivered remotely. This represents a significant shift toward telemedicine and virtual care delivery.

Historical Context and Challenges

The current digital transformation efforts occur against the backdrop of the National Programme for IT (NPfIT), a failed initiative launched in 2002 under Prime Minister Tony Blair. The NPfIT aimed to create integrated electronic health records systems across the NHS but ultimately failed to deliver its primary objective, though it did result in improved infrastructure.

The new role will operate within a complex organizational structure. While NHS England—the national body currently being absorbed into the DHSC—manages some national technology systems, much of the critical data and technology infrastructure remains under the control of individual NHS trusts that operate hospitals and healthcare services. This decentralized model presents coordination challenges that the new director will need to address.

Industry Context and Market Rates

The salary offered reflects competitive rates in the technology sector. According to recent reports, AI specialists at companies like Anthropic command average pay packets of £560,000, while former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has taken a role with Microsoft and Anthropic. These market rates help explain why the government needs to offer competitive compensation to attract qualified candidates from the private sector.

The role represents a critical leadership position at the intersection of public health, technology, and data management. The successful candidate will need to navigate complex stakeholder relationships, including NHS trusts, technology vendors, regulatory bodies, and patient groups, while delivering tangible improvements to healthcare delivery through technology.

Applications for the position close on 9 February 2026, with the department expecting to make a final appointment following interviews in early March. The recruitment process will likely include rigorous technical assessments and leadership evaluations to ensure the candidate can meet the substantial challenges of modernizing one of the world's largest healthcare systems.