Deputy Director of People and Organisational Development

Deputy Director of People and Organisational Development

The closing date is 07 June 2026

We are on an ambitious journey of significant People and organisational transformation, redesigning how we deliver workforce and OD services across our Trust. This is an exciting opportunity to join us as a Deputy Director of People & OD, playing a key leadership role in shaping a modern, high performing People function.

Reporting to the Director of People & OD, you will provide strategic leadership across one of two major People portfolios, leading high performing teams and delivering impactful, Trust wide services.

You will act as a trusted adviser to executives, clinical and corporate leaders, supporting complex workforce, culture and organisational change programmes, and deputising for the Director when required.

Main duties of the job

• Lead one of two major People & OD portfolios delivering high quality, integrated services.
• Drive delivery of the People Strategy and workforce transformation programmes.
• Provide expert advice to Executive and senior clinical leaders on workforce, culture and organisational change.
• Lead the implementation of a newly designed People function, including embedded People & OD Partners within Clinical Boards and Corporate Services.
• Oversee complex workforce issues, organisational redesign and People related risk.
• Represent the Trust at regional and national workforce forums.

About us

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the NHS's largest and most complex organisations, committed to excellent patient care through a modern and values led People function.

Job responsibilities

What you will be responsible for:

As part of our transformation, we are:

• Embedding People & OD Partners within services.
• Strengthening our focus on leadership, culture and staff experience.
• Delivering large scale workforce transformation and redesign.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful, lasting change.

We are looking for an experienced, resilient and strategic senior leader who can:

• Demonstrate significant senior leadership experience in complex organisations.
• Lead large scale workforce and organisational transformation.
• Influence at Executive, Board and system level.
• Show resilience, tenacity and sound judgement in complex environments.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering the very best outcomes for patients through our people.

Qualifications & Education

• Educated to Masters level (Level 7) or equivalent.
• Evidence of postgraduate study showing the acquisition of specialist knowledge in the area of people and OD.
• Chartered Member of the CIPD or above.
• OD, Coaching or Leadership qualification.

Knowledge & Experience

• Extensive senior leadership experience in a large, complex organisation (ideally NHS).
• Significant experience operating at Board or Executive level, providing strategic workforce and OD leadership.
• Proven track record of leading multi disciplinary People & OD teams and senior managers.
• Demonstrable experience leading organisational development, culture transformation, leadership development and workforce change at scale.
• Experience delivering workforce redesign, financial workforce efficiency programmes and workforce elements of Trust wide cost reduction programmes.
• Strong understanding of national NHS workforce policy, NHS People Plan priorities, regulatory workforce requirements, and employment law.
• Experience managing large budgets and complex workforce risks.
• Evidence of effective partnership working across regional/national bodies, regulators, or system level collaboratives.
• Experience representing an organisation at national NHS workforce forums.
• Experience in IC/ICB workforce collaboration or system level workforce planning.
• Experience leading shared service models or cross organisational workforce transformation.

Skills & Abilities

• Highly developed strategic leadership skills with the ability to influence, challenge and engage Executives and senior clinicians.
• Outstanding communication skills, with ability to present highly complex, sensitive or contentious information to large and diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical capability, able to interpret complex workforce data and produce insight driven recommendations.
• Demonstrable ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results at pace in high pressure environments.
• Expertise in organisational design, change management and culture transformation.
• Ability to manage sensitive ER issues, workforce risk and organisational change with sound judgement and professionalism.
• Strong programme and project management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously while providing visible, collaborative leadership.
• High level of digital literacy (Microsoft Office, workforce systems, analytics platforms).
• Experience using advanced workforce analytics tools or modelling platforms.
• Coaching, facilitation or mediation skills.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.