Job summary
We are looking to recruit an inspirational leader, who has a passion for excellence and a demonstrable background in organisational development within complex organisations. Our current Chief People Officer (CPO) will be retiring in December and we're now looking for someone who can work as part of the board and executive teams across the group structure and through the two Trusts, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (WHT) in the next step in our journey to outstanding. The group has a turnover of over £1.5bn and as such we are looking for a leader already working at board level who understands the importance of forging effective partnerships with our people and system partners to drive the change we need.
As a member of the two Trust Boards and Group Executive you will have responsibility with the Chief Executive (CEO) to lead on ensuring we have a workforce who are engaged, have the skills to enable the Group to build and deliver a comprehensive set of clinical services in line with the 10-year NHS plan.
The role will focus on how we deliver our group strategy, from board to every colleagues. You will establish an approach to engaging everyone in how they contribute to the strategic objectives, embedding a culture of improvement which is patient centred, empowers staff, promotes personal accountability, is fair and collaborative and delivers continuous improvement.
Main duties of the job
You will provide strategic and operational leadership on all People matters to the executives and wider board, the Group Chief People Officer will lead the implementation of the People Strategy and delivery of the NHS People Plan and NHS People Promise.
As a Corporate and Executive Director of the RWT/WHT Group Board the post holder is expected to contribute fully to the development of trust strategy and policy and to delivery of statutory and corporate responsibilities.
Ensure there is a clear workforce plan to deliver on the Group strategy and 10-Year NHS Plan, supporting the delivery of clinically and financially viable services.
To understand and drive organisation-wide strategy and change that supports our values, delivers our objectives and strategic goals and impacts value and reputation.
To provide visible, credible, and effective leadership to drive OD and add organisational business value through staff engagement, culture and values through the effective utilisation of OD techniques.
Customer focused and able to provide innovative advice and support to the Group Chief Executive, Trust Board, Committees of the Board and senior leaders on all matters relating to OD, Learning and Development and HR across the Group.
About us
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.
We are delighted that we have been rated as "Good" by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.
The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be an exceptional leader of people, with drive, vision, a strategic mind-set, clarity of purpose, proven track record of Organisational Delivery (OD) delivery, and high levels of integrity. You will act as the professional lead for human resources for the group, delivered through the individual trusts People Directors. You will also lead on the engagement of our workforce and ensure we have a strong focus on well-being. You will have the experience we need to develop, implement and deliver our people and workforce strategy.The group has strong working relationships through formal collaborative arrangements within the Black Country and well-developed Place Based arrangements and the postholder will be key to ensuring we have a collaborative approach to workforce development. You will be responsible for ensuring our workforce is developed reflecting the needs of our local communities and structured to ensure we can deliver on the 3 strategic shifts: Analogue to digital Sickness to prevention Acute to community
Please see the attached candidate application pack for more information regarding job description and main responsibilities. Full person specification and role requirements are listed within the document.
Interview Details:
- Stakeholder panel (virtual) - 22nd July 2025
- Final interview - 24th July 2025
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be an exceptional leader of people, with drive, vision, a strategic mind-set, clarity of purpose, proven track record of Organisational Delivery (OD) delivery, and high levels of integrity. You will act as the professional lead for human resources for the group, delivered through the individual trusts People Directors. You will also lead on the engagement of our workforce and ensure we have a strong focus on well-being. You will have the experience we need to develop, implement and deliver our people and workforce strategy.The group has strong working relationships through formal collaborative arrangements within the Black Country and well-developed Place Based arrangements and the postholder will be key to ensuring we have a collaborative approach to workforce development. You will be responsible for ensuring our workforce is developed reflecting the needs of our local communities and structured to ensure we can deliver on the 3 strategic shifts: Analogue to digital Sickness to prevention Acute to community
Please see the attached candidate application pack for more information regarding job description and main responsibilities. Full person specification and role requirements are listed within the document.
Interview Details:
- Stakeholder panel (virtual) - 22nd July 2025
- Final interview - 24th July 2025
Person Specification
Experience / Skills
Essential
- Significant senior leadership experience in an NHS acute Trust at Board Level in a large complex organisation.
- Experience of increasing staff engagement and motivation to improve performance
- Demonstrable experience of setting and delivering a long term vision, whilst responding to short-term challenges and opportunities.
- Demonstrable experience of working between Board and Ward with credibility at all levels
- Current understanding and broad knowledge of the whole NHS context including knowledge of the national agenda and the impact on the NHS
- Strong knowledge of national, system and local strategies and policies and the regulatory and inspectoral frameworks
- Ability to influence and operate effectively in a challenging environment
- Evidence of leading significant change
- Appropriate professional qualification e.g. CIPD membership
- Ability to think strategically and analytically
- Thorough understanding of contemporary HR practices and OD methodologies
- Educated to master's degree level or equivalent.
- Board level experience in providing HR and OD advice in a comparably large and complex organisation
Person Specification
Experience / Skills
Essential
- Significant senior leadership experience in an NHS acute Trust at Board Level in a large complex organisation.
- Experience of increasing staff engagement and motivation to improve performance
- Demonstrable experience of setting and delivering a long term vision, whilst responding to short-term challenges and opportunities.
- Demonstrable experience of working between Board and Ward with credibility at all levels
- Current understanding and broad knowledge of the whole NHS context including knowledge of the national agenda and the impact on the NHS
- Strong knowledge of national, system and local strategies and policies and the regulatory and inspectoral frameworks
- Ability to influence and operate effectively in a challenging environment
- Evidence of leading significant change
- Appropriate professional qualification e.g. CIPD membership
- Ability to think strategically and analytically
- Thorough understanding of contemporary HR practices and OD methodologies
- Educated to master's degree level or equivalent.
- Board level experience in providing HR and OD advice in a comparably large and complex organisation
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).
