Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Associate Director of People Services

The closing date is 29 December 2025

Job summary

As a strategic and compassionate leader, joining WWL as our new Associate Director of HR will be a rewarding opportunity to influence and shape the delivery of our People Services function, as we strive to deliver efficient, customer focused and value adding services, that enhance staff experience and support outstanding patient care.

Please note that this vacancy may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received. We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

Main duties of the job

About the RoleAs a key member of the People Services Senior Leadership Team, you'll ensure that our operational and clinical leaders are supported by highly capable, professional and future focussed Business Partnering and Medical Workforce functions. You'll work closely with the Associate Director of OD and Inclusion, and Associate Director of Workforce Transformation and Planning to develop, implement and measure the impact of plans and strategies which address our key workforce challenges, now and for our future.You'll also nurture our open and effective relationship with our Joint Trade Unions, ensuring partnership working is embedded in everything we do. About YouWith substantial experience of leading People Services, you'll also have significant experience of advising on complex employee relations and organisational change matters.You'll have an in-depth knowledge of NHS workforce challenges and be steadfast in your commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Our values will strike a chord with you, and you'll share our ambition to be an outstanding organisation.If you're up for the challenge, please get in touch for an informal chat.

About us

Choose Well - Choose WWL

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and living our values.

People at the Heart

Listen and Involve

Kind and Respectful

ONE Team

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. We are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information available by contacting covid-19.vaccine@wwl.nhs.uk where you can also ask about how to access vaccinations.

Details

Date posted

15 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

302-25-7650034CPR-A

Job locations

Buckingham Row

Brick Kiln Lane

Wigan

WN1 1XX


Job description

Job responsibilities

For a detailed list of the main responsibilities of the role, please view the job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For a detailed list of the main responsibilities of the role, please view the job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters level HR/OD qualification
  • MCIPD
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Coaching qualification
  • Employment law qualification
  • Project management qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience at a senior level of leading HR/People services - motivating and developing the team, including setting out clear priorities, objectives, mentoring and coaching to maximise potential
  • Experience of leading, developing and embedding Business Partnering model
  • Experience of working in a rapidly changing environment with multiple senior stakeholders and building trust, securing their engagement, resulting in sustainable change
  • Experience of leading the development of HR&OD strategies to support service and workforce transformation
  • Significant experience of advising on complex employee relations and organisational change matters, including Employment Tribunal cases
  • Experience of developing and cultivating effective partnership working with Trade Union colleagues
  • Experience in developing and implementing strategies that promote equality and inclusion and staff experience
  • Experience of working with different professional groups including medical workforce
  • Experience in using digital HR systems

Desirable

  • Experience of leading HR services within NHS
  • Experience within or leading a Medical Workforce function

Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information
  • Ability to negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information verbally and through reports
  • Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
  • Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise
  • Ability to develop and maintain positive, high-level relationships and professional credibility with key stakeholders and influencers
  • IT skills - proficient in use of Microsoft Office
  • Compassionate and inclusive leadership style
  • Ability to drive efficiency, productivity and cost improvement through workforce interventions

Knowledge

Essential

  • Highly developed specialist professional knowledge across a range of HR disciplines
  • Demonstrable knowledge of complex change management principles and TUPE
  • Up to date knowledge of employment legislation and its application
  • Knowledge of NHS workforce challenges (including those related to medical workforce)
  • Knowledge of NHS strategic plans and priorities
  • Knowledge and understanding of NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and NHS 10 Year Plan

Desirable

  • Knowledge of NHS terms and conditions and employment policy
  • Knowledge of NHS Job Evaluation process

Additional

Essential

  • Commitment to the delivery of the highest standard of customer service
  • Steadfast commitment to promotion of equality, diversion and inclusion
  • Commitment to embedding, promoting and championing WWL Values and Behaviours
  • Able to travel and work flexibly across the geographical footprint of the organisation
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters level HR/OD qualification
  • MCIPD
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Coaching qualification
  • Employment law qualification
  • Project management qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience at a senior level of leading HR/People services - motivating and developing the team, including setting out clear priorities, objectives, mentoring and coaching to maximise potential
  • Experience of leading, developing and embedding Business Partnering model
  • Experience of working in a rapidly changing environment with multiple senior stakeholders and building trust, securing their engagement, resulting in sustainable change
  • Experience of leading the development of HR&OD strategies to support service and workforce transformation
  • Significant experience of advising on complex employee relations and organisational change matters, including Employment Tribunal cases
  • Experience of developing and cultivating effective partnership working with Trade Union colleagues
  • Experience in developing and implementing strategies that promote equality and inclusion and staff experience
  • Experience of working with different professional groups including medical workforce
  • Experience in using digital HR systems

Desirable

  • Experience of leading HR services within NHS
  • Experience within or leading a Medical Workforce function

Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information
  • Ability to negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information verbally and through reports
  • Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
  • Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise
  • Ability to develop and maintain positive, high-level relationships and professional credibility with key stakeholders and influencers
  • IT skills - proficient in use of Microsoft Office
  • Compassionate and inclusive leadership style
  • Ability to drive efficiency, productivity and cost improvement through workforce interventions

Knowledge

Essential

  • Highly developed specialist professional knowledge across a range of HR disciplines
  • Demonstrable knowledge of complex change management principles and TUPE
  • Up to date knowledge of employment legislation and its application
  • Knowledge of NHS workforce challenges (including those related to medical workforce)
  • Knowledge of NHS strategic plans and priorities
  • Knowledge and understanding of NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and NHS 10 Year Plan

Desirable

  • Knowledge of NHS terms and conditions and employment policy
  • Knowledge of NHS Job Evaluation process

Additional

Essential

  • Commitment to the delivery of the highest standard of customer service
  • Steadfast commitment to promotion of equality, diversion and inclusion
  • Commitment to embedding, promoting and championing WWL Values and Behaviours
  • Able to travel and work flexibly across the geographical footprint of the 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Buckingham Row

Brick Kiln Lane

Wigan

WN1 1XX


Employer's website

http://www.wwl.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Buckingham Row

Brick Kiln Lane

Wigan

WN1 1XX


Employer's website

http://www.wwl.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Deputy Chief People Officer

Charlotte Wright

charlotte.wright@wwl.nhs.uk

07795021694

Details

Date posted

15 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

302-25-7650034CPR-A

Job locations

Buckingham Row

Brick Kiln Lane

Wigan

WN1 1XX


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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