Job summary
At the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust, we're building a healthier future together for the population of Norfolk, working collaboratively as part of the Norfolk and Waveney Acute Hospitals Group. We are therefore looking for an exceptional and experienced senior people and culture leader to be a key member of our Hospital Leadership Team (HLT) who shares our ambition, is driven by purpose and guided by values.
This is a pivotal role within the Trust, responsible for shaping and delivering our people and culture strategies to ensure an engaged, inclusive workforce that provides outstanding care for our patients.
Closing date: 11 January 2026
Interview date: 05 February 2026
Main duties of the job
Alongside HLT colleagues, you will be jointly accountable for all aspects of the Trust's operations and performance.
As an expert in your field, you will also act as a professional adviser to the HLT on all people and culture matters and will be responsible for strategic leadership and operational planning for people and culture, enabling an engaged, inclusive workforce, fit for the future, and delivering the best possible care to our patients.
You will also provide professional leadership to the People and Culture function, ensuring a responsive, efficient and effective service, maximising use of digital advancements. You may also lead teams and portfolios of work across the Hospitals Group.
About us
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Flexible working hours
- Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
- Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
- Discounted gym memberships
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
- Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
- Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
- On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
- On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
- Support in career development
- Flexible staff bank
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Successful Applicant
You will have senior people and culture experience gained from within the NHS, have a proven track record in the development and implementation of effective organisational people and culture plans and leading complex people and culture related projects and programmes of work. You will have strong and effective communication skills and be a positive advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Personal qualities such as integrity, emotional intelligence and alignment with our PRIDE values are essential to succeed in this role.
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further details on the job role and personal attributes required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Successful Applicant
You will have senior people and culture experience gained from within the NHS, have a proven track record in the development and implementation of effective organisational people and culture plans and leading complex people and culture related projects and programmes of work. You will have strong and effective communication skills and be a positive advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Personal qualities such as integrity, emotional intelligence and alignment with our PRIDE values are essential to succeed in this role.
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further details on the job role and personal attributes required.
Person Specification
Qualifications/training/professional development
Essential
- MCIPD qualified.
- Masters degree in relevant specialism or equivalent level experience.
Experience
Essential
- Development and implementation of effective organisational people and culture plans.
- Senior management experience, including people, finance and risk management responsibilities.
- Leadership of complex people and culture related projects / programmes of work.
- Delivery of innovation / improvement.
- Cross-organisational working.
- Senior people and culture experience within the NHS.
- Experience as Board / member of most senior organisational leadership team within large public sector or NHS organisation.
Skills, abilities and knowledge
Essential
- Emotional intelligence.
- Ability to provide strategic direction.
- Strong and effective communicator.
- Compassionate, inclusive leader; acts as a positive advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Competent user of Microsoft Office programs and virtual platforms.
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Personal integrity.
- Ability to work flexibly and travel, as required by role.
- Fit and Proper Person' in accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulation 2014.
- Champions and role-models Trust's Values
Person Specification
Qualifications/training/professional development
Essential
- MCIPD qualified.
- Masters degree in relevant specialism or equivalent level experience.
Experience
Essential
- Development and implementation of effective organisational people and culture plans.
- Senior management experience, including people, finance and risk management responsibilities.
- Leadership of complex people and culture related projects / programmes of work.
- Delivery of innovation / improvement.
- Cross-organisational working.
- Senior people and culture experience within the NHS.
- Experience as Board / member of most senior organisational leadership team within large public sector or NHS organisation.
Skills, abilities and knowledge
Essential
- Emotional intelligence.
- Ability to provide strategic direction.
- Strong and effective communicator.
- Compassionate, inclusive leader; acts as a positive advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Competent user of Microsoft Office programs and virtual platforms.
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Personal integrity.
- Ability to work flexibly and travel, as required by role.
- Fit and Proper Person' in accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulation 2014.
- Champions and role-models Trust's Values
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
