Director for Workforce and Organisational Development

Job summary

We are seeking an exceptional and experienced Workforce & OD leader to join our Executive Committee as Director for Workforce & Organisational Development.

This is an influential senior leadership role with the opportunity to shape the future of our workforce, organisational culture and people services, ensuring our people priorities directly support the delivery of high-quality patient care and the Trust's strategic ambitions.

Reporting to the Executive Director who holds Board-level responsibility for the people portfolio, you will be our most senior professional Workforce & OD leader, providing expert advice, constructive challenge and strategic leadership across a broad and complex portfolio.

We are looking for an inclusive, credible and values-led leader who combines deep professional expertise with strong strategic and organisational leadership. You will bring the judgement, confidence and ambition to influence at Executive level while building trusted relationships with colleagues, trade unions and partners across organisational and system boundaries.

Interviews will take place in two rounds - round one (Monday 23rd November 2026) / round two (Tuesday 24th November 2026)

Main duties of the job

You will lead the Trust's Workforce & OD Directorate and Workforce Strategy, providing strategic leadership across workforce planning, employee and industrial relations, organisational development, culture and climate, inclusion, staff experience, leadership development and workforce governance.

As a member of the Executive Committee, you will make a significant contribution beyond your professional portfolio, ensuring workforce opportunities and risks are fully considered within strategic, clinical, quality, operational, financial and transformation decisions.

You will provide authoritative professional advice on complex workforce and employment matters, lead constructive partnership working with recognised trade unions and provide senior Workforce & OD leadership to major transformation and strategic partnership programmes.

You will also lead the continued development of our people services, identifying opportunities through digital transformation, new operating models and collaboration with partner organisations to improve capability, resilience, efficiency and staff experience

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities

The post-holder will lead the Workforce & Organisational Development (W&OD) Directorate, ensuring it is fit for purpose and provides an excellent, proactive, efficient service to stakeholders. As a member of the Trust Executive Committee, the post-holder will also make a significant contribution to the overall strategic leadership, performance and development of the Trust.

The post-holder will lead the Workforce Strategy for the Trust and ensure that workforce and organisational development priorities enable and support the delivery of the Clinical Strategy, Patient Safety & Quality Strategy and the associated enabling strategies.

As the most senior professional lead for the workforce and organisational development agenda, the post-holder report to and work closely with the Executive Director who holds Board-level accountability for the people portfolio. The post-holder will provide authoritative professional advice to the Executive Director, Executive Committee and, where required, the Board of Directors and its committees.

The post-holder will provide strategic leadership for the Trusts organisational culture and climate, working with the Executive Director and Executive Committee to create the conditions in which people can thrive and deliver high-quality patient care. This will include using workforce intelligence, staff experience and employee voice to understand organisational climate, identify areas requiring intervention and lead sustained improvement in leadership behaviours, inclusion, engagement, wellbeing and organisational effectiveness

The post-holder will have significant delegated authority for the leadership and delivery of the Workforce & OD portfolio, identifying and escalating material workforce risks and supporting the Executive Director in the discharge of their Board-level responsibilities and provision of assurance to the Board.

Please refer to the job description / person specification for full details.

Job description