Job summary
The New Hospital Programme is more than building hospitals, it's a once in a generation opportunity to shape the future of healthcare in England. We're delivering over 40 new hospitals that will be modern, sustainable and built around the needs of patients and staff.
We're looking for people who care about purpose, who thrive in complex environments and who want to help deliver change at scale for future generations.
Main duties of the job
The New Hospital Programme (NHP) is recruiting for the Workforce & Capability Director to lead the people agenda for one of the most ambitious healthcare infrastructure programmes in a generation. You'll shape and deliver the workforce strategy across NHP, Delivery Partners and Trusts building a collaborative, inclusive and high performing culture.We're seeking a bold, strategic HR leader with experience in complex, large-scale programmes, who can influence at the highest levels and deliver real, system-wide change. This role will help shape the hospitals and workforce of the future.Key skills and experience:
- Proven leadership in large scale workforce or programmes
- Deep understanding of HR strategy, workforce planning, and organisational development
- Strong stakeholder management and governance experience
- Ability to influence across complex, multi-agency environments
- Passion for social value, inclusion and long-term system impact
About us
The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:
Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
Delivering value for money.
If you would like to know more or require further information, please visithttps://www.england.nhs.uk/.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
If you are successful at interview, we will run an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) in the Electronic Staff Record system (ESR). This transfer gathers valuable information from a previous or current NHS employer to support the onboarding process, including; statutory and mandatory competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You will have the opportunity throughout the recruitment process to inform us if you do not consent.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Please note that the grade for this post is ESM 1.
For more information on the NHP programme
Advert closing:06 July 2025 midnight
Interview will be held:TBC
Due to ongoing organisational change and developments, aspects of this role may be subject to change.
By applying for this position, you acknowledge and understand that NHS England is currently undergoing a consultation process to finalise its structure, which may impact this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Please note that the grade for this post is ESM 1.
For more information on the NHP programme
Advert closing:06 July 2025 midnight
Interview will be held:TBC
Due to ongoing organisational change and developments, aspects of this role may be subject to change.
By applying for this position, you acknowledge and understand that NHS England is currently undergoing a consultation process to finalise its structure, which may impact this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to master's level in relevant subject or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a similar level in across the entire range of HR and OD specialist area
- Experience of project and programme management techniques and tools such as Prince 2 or Managing Successful Projects
Desirable
- Fellow/Member of Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development or equivalent experience at a senior level
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working at a senior leadership level in a public sector major infrastructure or manufacturing programme environment
- Significant experience of working with commercial/private sector delivery partners and supply chains
- Experience of designing and delivering people strategies, across complex systems with multiple stakeholders
- Experience of large-scale delivery of transformation and people change management
- Strategic experience of developing the infrastructure and leading complex major programmes and new build projects
- Analytical rigour coupled with pragmatic problem-solving in addressing complex situations
- A high level of relevant professional, technical skills and knowledge of workforce, talent management and HR & EDI
- Extensive knowledge of workforce design, redesign, relevant legal frameworks and regulations
- Extensive knowledge of quality standards including the KLOE and fundamental standards set out by the CQC and how to translate this into practice
- In depth knowledge of performance management and accountability frameworks
Desirable
- Senior level experience within an NHS organisation
- An understanding of innovative approaches to achieve long-term sustainability and positive impacts from NHS or other industries
Skills, & Attributes
Essential
- Recognised credible senior leader who is able to form and manage high performance, output driven teams
- Highly developed negotiation and political skills and awareness and experience of operating at Board level
- Consensus builder with the ability to work constructively with, and advise, local health systems
- Strong external communications skills in a politically sensitive environment
- Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to master's level in relevant subject or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a similar level in across the entire range of HR and OD specialist area
- Experience of project and programme management techniques and tools such as Prince 2 or Managing Successful Projects
Desirable
- Fellow/Member of Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development or equivalent experience at a senior level
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working at a senior leadership level in a public sector major infrastructure or manufacturing programme environment
- Significant experience of working with commercial/private sector delivery partners and supply chains
- Experience of designing and delivering people strategies, across complex systems with multiple stakeholders
- Experience of large-scale delivery of transformation and people change management
- Strategic experience of developing the infrastructure and leading complex major programmes and new build projects
- Analytical rigour coupled with pragmatic problem-solving in addressing complex situations
- A high level of relevant professional, technical skills and knowledge of workforce, talent management and HR & EDI
- Extensive knowledge of workforce design, redesign, relevant legal frameworks and regulations
- Extensive knowledge of quality standards including the KLOE and fundamental standards set out by the CQC and how to translate this into practice
- In depth knowledge of performance management and accountability frameworks
Desirable
- Senior level experience within an NHS organisation
- An understanding of innovative approaches to achieve long-term sustainability and positive impacts from NHS or other industries
Skills, & Attributes
Essential
- Recognised credible senior leader who is able to form and manage high performance, output driven teams
- Highly developed negotiation and political skills and awareness and experience of operating at Board level
- Consensus builder with the ability to work constructively with, and advise, local health systems
- Strong external communications skills in a politically sensitive environment
- Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required
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.
