Digital Proximity Capability Lead (Capability)
Job Description
Job summary
The Pandemic Preparedness Digital Capability Lead sits within the Trusted Data & Technology Directorate at UKHSA. The role leads the development of digital capability to support pandemic response, focusing on digital proximity and contact tracing technologies.
Working across UKHSA, NHS England, DHSC and partners, the post holder will shape strategy, lead discovery work and build evidence for future investment in digital solutions.
The role is central to the Digital Proximity Programme, ensuring technologies are aligned with public health needs, policy, and governance requirements. It requires strong stakeholder engagement and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Main duties of the job
The main duties will include:
- Lead discovery work on digital pandemic technologies
- Define requirements for digital proximity solutions
- Develop strategy recommendations and business cases
- Establish governance and stakeholder engagement
- Build partnerships across government, NHS and industry
- Analyse technology landscape and innovation opportunities
- Lead market engagement and supplier activities
- Provide briefings to senior leaders
- Manage programme risks, reporting and delivery oversight
- Address policy, legal and ethical considerations
- Support cross-government alignment and collaboration
This is not an exhaustive list.
About us
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Job responsibilities
The Pandemic Preparedness Digital Capability Lead is responsible for leading the development of digital capabilities to support pandemic response across UKHSA.
The role focuses on the discovery phase of the Digital Proximity Programme, identifying requirements, assessing technological options and building the evidence base for future capability. This includes analysing emerging technologies, exploring partnerships and shaping strategic direction.
The post holder works across multiple stakeholders, including UKHSA, NHS England, DHSC, academia and industry, to build consensus and ensure alignment with public health priorities and policy objectives. Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills are essential.
The role includes establishing governance structures, supporting programme delivery and ensuring effective reporting, risk management and oversight. It also involves ensuring consideration of ethical, legal and operational factors, including privacy, inclusion and public trust.
The post holder provides clear advice and briefings to senior leaders, translating complex technical and public health concepts into practical recommendations.
The role contributes to business case development, market engagement and identification of viable delivery options, supporting future procurement and investment decisions.
Working in a fastpaced and evolving environment, the post holder must manage competing priorities, operate independently and respond flexibly to changing requirements.
Essential criteria:
- Experience building crossgovernment partnerships or equivalent experience of building partnerships across large and complex organisations
- Experience in public health or complex programme delivery in a similar large organisation
- Experience developing strategy and capability
- Understanding of digital technologies and programmes
- Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
- Strong communication and analytical skills
- Ability to work in ambiguity and fastmoving environments
- Ability to manage priorities and work independently
Desirable criteria:
- Knowledge of public health (or UKHSA context)
- Experience translating complex technical issues into policy
- Experience delivering complex programmes at pace
- Understanding of digital systems and governance
Selection process
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours and strengths.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe listed 8essentialcriteria,and this will be in the form of:
- an application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- a 1000wordsupporting statement.
This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V please beadvisedyou will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.
HealthjobsUK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than1000words. We will not consider any words over1000words.
Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
- Meets no essential criteria
Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:
- Experience building crossgovernment partnerships or equivalent experience of building partnerships across large and complex organisations
- Experience in public health or complex programme delivery in a similar large organisation
- Experience developing strategy and capability
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a remote interview.
Behaviours and strengths will be tested at interview.
The behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Working together (Lead)
- Delivering at pace
- Seeing the big picture
- Changing and improving
Interviews will be held in early July 2026. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London (Canary Wharf).
We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) on-site.
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Eligibility criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Security clearance level requirement
Part 1
Successful candidates must pass a basic Disclosure and Barring Security (DBS) check before they can be appointed.
Part 2
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard clearance.
Salary information
If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary.
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