Job summary
Director of People and DevelopmentSalary: Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
We are seeking a collaborative and inspired individual to join our Board of Directors for a 12 month period commencing in January 2024 with accountability for not only strong people leadership and human resource management but also importantly to lead our communication, engagement and equality & diversity agenda - all key to deliver the Trust's strategy.
You will need to be a strong and experienced leader to support the Trust in what continues to be an ever-changing and challenging environment of the NHS, and be willing to continue embedding the strong foundations we have made on our improvement journey in relation to the delivery of high quality patient-centred care as monitored by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), as well as positive staff experience.
Resilient and engaging, with a wealth of experience working at Board/Sub Board level and responsibility for a broad portfolio within a complex organisation, this is an exciting opportunity for you to utilise your leadership skills and make a real difference across our organisation, and the wider system. With an empowering leadership style and evidence of successful development and implementation of organisational strategies, you'll be focused to create a climate and culture of high performance throughout your teams and the organisation.
Main duties of the job
The Director of People & Development is a key professional member of the Trust Board and Executive Management Group, reporting to the Chief Executive with shared responsibility for corporate leadership, strategic development and planning and governance of the Trust.
The post holder is responsible for advising the Trust Board and Governors on issues relating to People and Development, Communications and Engagement, alongside professional standards, discharging full statutory responsibilities to ensure that the Trust is compliant with appropriate policy and practice.
The Director provides professional advice to the Board regarding Human Resources, Organisational Development, Education, Equality & Diversity, Communications and Engagement working in conjunction with the Assistant Director of People Services, Assistant Director of People Development, and Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement.
The post holder will advise and support the Board to ensure there is a high level of understanding and assurance linked to how strategic decisions impact on the workforce, and how our people impact upon the quality and safety of patient care.
About us
We employ 3,500 staff in 63 locations and serve a population of 2,600,000 in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham, and Tees over 3230 square miles.
Many people think the job of the ambulance service is to collect patients and take them to hospital, but we do much more!
Paramedic skills have developed hugely in recent years, meaning we carry out more treatment at the scene and en-route to hospital.
We have a dedicated clinical assessment service that allows us to provide patients with the most appropriate care from the beginning of the patient journey.
We have a specialised branch of the Trust called HART which deal with explosions or terrorist attacks.
Ultimately patients are the heart of everything that we do to support our mission of "safe, effective and responsive care for all".
We value and respect the diversity employees bring to our workplace. We recruit a workforce that reflects the community we serve, and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. To ensure we deliver on our aims in relation to diversity and inclusion we assess ourselves against a range of frameworks. We are ENEI Gold employer, Disability Confident Leader, Dyslexia Smart Award employer, Dementia Friendly, and part of Mind Blue Light programme and the Race at Work Charter from the Princes Responsible Business Network and are achieving across all objectives in NHS Equality Delivery System.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description for a full detailed list of duties and responsibilities for this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description for a full detailed list of duties and responsibilities for this role.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential
- Member of Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development at a minimum of Chartered Level (Chartered Fellow desirable), Masters degree level education in a people related subject, or equivalent experience
- Demonstrable/detailed understanding of current health issues, national policy and professional standards, as well as best practice locally, nationally and internationally, particularly related to workforce. Additional Leadership qualification at executive/senior level. In-depth/proven knowledge of HR and Equality & Diversity, including employment law. Evidence of recent and on-going continuous professional and personal development
Desirable
- A detailed understanding of engagement/experience/cultural improvement methodologies
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable successful, experience and achievement as a very senior leader at, or near, Board Director level in a similarly complex organisation or system
- Experience of successfully implementing change programmes including: Service and organisation redesign to improve staff experience, reduce workforce risks, improve performance and assure the highest standards of service delivery. Complex people management changes across large staff groups. Cultural change and cost efficiency
- Experience of senior leadership in some or all of the following: Staff Experience, Human Resource Management, Communications, Education and Training, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Demonstrable experience of developing relationships into productive partnerships, cross boundary working and working with stakeholders at all levels (including trade unions). Practical experience of project/programme management.
Desirable
- Experience of working as a senior leader in, or closely with, the Ambulance Sector, NHS or emergency services.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Highly developed negotiating and influencing skills and an ability to develop and maintain constructive relationships.Track record of building high performing, cohesive teams that deliver high standards, collaborative working and inspiring others to achieve excellence. Politically astute, with knowledge of national, regional and local decision making and influencing bodies
- Ability to assimilate, analyse and present complex problems and data, identify necessary action to be taken, make recommendations and ensure actions are followed up. Computer literate, especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint. There is a requirement to use VDU equipment for periods of time most days.
Behaviours
Essential
- Aligned to Trust professional and leadership behaviours and organisational values. Demonstrable commitment to promoting and celebrating equality and diversity in the workplace and in service delivery.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential
- Member of Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development at a minimum of Chartered Level (Chartered Fellow desirable), Masters degree level education in a people related subject, or equivalent experience
- Demonstrable/detailed understanding of current health issues, national policy and professional standards, as well as best practice locally, nationally and internationally, particularly related to workforce. Additional Leadership qualification at executive/senior level. In-depth/proven knowledge of HR and Equality & Diversity, including employment law. Evidence of recent and on-going continuous professional and personal development
Desirable
- A detailed understanding of engagement/experience/cultural improvement methodologies
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable successful, experience and achievement as a very senior leader at, or near, Board Director level in a similarly complex organisation or system
- Experience of successfully implementing change programmes including: Service and organisation redesign to improve staff experience, reduce workforce risks, improve performance and assure the highest standards of service delivery. Complex people management changes across large staff groups. Cultural change and cost efficiency
- Experience of senior leadership in some or all of the following: Staff Experience, Human Resource Management, Communications, Education and Training, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Demonstrable experience of developing relationships into productive partnerships, cross boundary working and working with stakeholders at all levels (including trade unions). Practical experience of project/programme management.
Desirable
- Experience of working as a senior leader in, or closely with, the Ambulance Sector, NHS or emergency services.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Highly developed negotiating and influencing skills and an ability to develop and maintain constructive relationships.Track record of building high performing, cohesive teams that deliver high standards, collaborative working and inspiring others to achieve excellence. Politically astute, with knowledge of national, regional and local decision making and influencing bodies
- Ability to assimilate, analyse and present complex problems and data, identify necessary action to be taken, make recommendations and ensure actions are followed up. Computer literate, especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint. There is a requirement to use VDU equipment for periods of time most days.
Behaviours
Essential
- Aligned to Trust professional and leadership behaviours and organisational values. Demonstrable commitment to promoting and celebrating equality and diversity in the workplace and in service delivery.
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
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).
