Job summary
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust employs around 10,000 staff and delivers highly regarded healthcare services to local communities. We are undergoing an ambitious period of transformation, including major investment in our hospital estate, service redesign, and a clear focus on delivering sustainable, high quality care for the future.
At the heart of this transformation is our People agenda and the ambition to be a Great Place to Work, underpinned by inclusive leadership, strong engagement, and a culture that supports our people to deliver their best for patients.
You will be joining the Trust at a pivotal time, working within a newly forming Senior Leadership team led by the Chief People Officer, who brings extensive experience across the public and private sectors, national leadership roles within NHS England, and a strong track record in leading complex change, shaping people strategy (including the People Promise), and championing inclusive leadership. The People Directorate plays a critical role in enabling the workforce to thrive and supporting excellent patient care.
Following the coming together of local hospitals, the development of the Patient First improvement strategy, expanded pan-Dorset collaboration, and the imminent introduction of a new electronic patient record system, there is an exciting programme of work ahead and a genuine opportunity to contribute to the next phase of the Trust's transformation.
Main duties of the job
This is a senior Trustwide leadership role, operating at executive level, with accountability for shaping and leading the organisation's organisational development, culture, leadership and inclusion agenda.
As Associate Director of Organisational Development, Culture and Leadership, you will provide enterprise level leadership for how culture, leadership capability, engagement, talent and inclusion are developed and sustained across the Trust. You will act as the Trust's senior professional expert in organisational development and culture, ensuring these agendas are fully integrated into corporate strategy, decision making and delivery.
Working as part of the Trust's senior leadership community, you will advise, influence and support the Executive Team and Board, ensuring organisational development and culture are positioned as critical enablers of quality, safety, workforce sustainability and performance. You will also act as a senior system leader, representing UHD with authority at regional and national level and contributing to wider system leadership and collaboration.
The role provides senior leadership to the Organisational Development, Leadership and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion teams, including the Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, and will deputise for the Chief People Officer within the portfolio as required.
About us
This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the culture and leadership of a major NHS organisation at a pivotal point in its transformation, with visible impact on patient care, staff experience and organisational sustainability.
You will join a supportive and ambitious executive leadership environment, with genuine scope to influence strategy, culture and long-term outcomes. The Trust offers the full NHS benefits package, including generous annual leave and pension arrangements.
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
-
Shape and lead the Trusts organisational development, culture and engagement strategies, ensuring alignment with the Trusts mission, values and long-term strategic objectives.
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Act as the Trusts senior lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, ensuring EDI principles are embedded across organisational development, leadership, engagement and culture.
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Provide executive oversight of the Trusts staff engagement approach, including the annual NHS Staff Survey and pulse surveys, ensuring insight is translated into meaningful, sustained improvement.
You will be a highly credible, enterprise-level leader,with the presence, judgement and authority to operate confidently at Executive Board and system level.
You will bring:
A Masters qualification (or equivalent experience) and CIPD membership (or equivalent) are required.
Our closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 22nd February 2026
Shortlisting will take place on Monday 23rd February2026
We will be contacting applicants from Tuesday the 24th February 2026 onwards
The selection process will take place on Thursday 12th March 2026 or Friday 13th March 2026 - please ensure you are available on these dates
Job description
Job responsibilities
-
Shape and lead the Trusts organisational development, culture and engagement strategies, ensuring alignment with the Trusts mission, values and long-term strategic objectives.
-
Act as the Trusts senior lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, ensuring EDI principles are embedded across organisational development, leadership, engagement and culture.
-
Provide executive oversight of the Trusts staff engagement approach, including the annual NHS Staff Survey and pulse surveys, ensuring insight is translated into meaningful, sustained improvement.
You will be a highly credible, enterprise-level leader,with the presence, judgement and authority to operate confidently at Executive Board and system level.
You will bring:
A Masters qualification (or equivalent experience) and CIPD membership (or equivalent) are required.
Our closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 22nd February 2026
Shortlisting will take place on Monday 23rd February2026
We will be contacting applicants from Tuesday the 24th February 2026 onwards
The selection process will take place on Thursday 12th March 2026 or Friday 13th March 2026 - please ensure you are available on these dates
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience working in organisational development, organisational design, leadership development, learning or workforce roles within a large, complex, multi-professional organisation
- Extensive, successful track record of leading large-scale organisational development strategies and interventions, including cultural change and leadership development
- Substantial senior HR/OD experience operating at a very senior level, including working closely with and influencing Executive team members
- Experience of managing teams and holding budgetary responsibility
- Experience of chairing, reporting to, or presenting at senior committees or boards
Desirable
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's qualification or equivalent experience.
- Fellow or Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) or equivalent.
Desirable
- Specialist OD, leadership development or learning qualification.
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of organisational development, organisational design and leadership development
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience working in organisational development, organisational design, leadership development, learning or workforce roles within a large, complex, multi-professional organisation
- Extensive, successful track record of leading large-scale organisational development strategies and interventions, including cultural change and leadership development
- Substantial senior HR/OD experience operating at a very senior level, including working closely with and influencing Executive team members
- Experience of managing teams and holding budgetary responsibility
- Experience of chairing, reporting to, or presenting at senior committees or boards
Desirable
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's qualification or equivalent experience.
- Fellow or Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) or equivalent.
Desirable
- Specialist OD, leadership development or learning qualification.
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of organisational development, organisational design and leadership development
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they 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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they 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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
