Deputy Divisional Head of Workforce

Deputy Divisional Head of Workforce

The closing date is 06 May 2026.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced and strategic HR professional to join our Workforce Directorate as Deputy Divisional Head of Workforce.

Working closely with Divisional Heads of Workforce and Associate Directors of Workforce, you will provide expert HR leadership across Divisions and Corporate areas, supporting the delivery of high quality workforce advice and guidance. You will play a key role in workforce planning, employee relations, recruitment and retention, staff engagement, organisational change and financial efficiency.

You will have significant senior HR experience in a large, complex organisation and a strong track record of leading complex employee relations and workforce change. This is a highly influential role requiring excellent leadership, negotiation and relationship management skills.

Join us and help shape a skilled, engaged and sustainable workforce aligned to our values of Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Main duties of the job

The Deputy Divisional Head of Workforce will work in partnership to lead the HR provision in Divisions and Corporate areas - providing expert advice on a full range of workforce matters.

The role supports the provision of strategic and HR/OD direction for Divisions and Corporate areas to support the delivery of high quality patient care, productivity, workforce efficiencies and performance plans and Divisional strategic objectives.

The Deputy Divisional Head of Workforce works proactively with a wide range of senior stakeholders, both internal and external to support workforce planning, organisational change and transformation, engagement and workforce performance, embedding good HR practice and raising management capability within Divisions.

The role works in partnership with the Divisional Heads of Workforce and Associate Directors of Workforce to achieve the Trust's strategic workforce objectives.

About us

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1,100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve.

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. We launched the first of our staff pod break spaces, located in the Deakin Centre, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outdoor area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part time working, job share, term time working and flexible start and finish times.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level in a relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level
• MCIPD qualified or equivalent proven HR skills and experience
• Evidence of further continuous professional development

Experience

• Significant experience of working in an HR function at a senior level in a large complex organisation / large acute teaching hospital
• Extensive experience demonstrating competence across complex employee relations matters, including performance management and direct involvement in complex disciplinary and grievance cases
• Significant experience of complex, large organisational change programmes including TUPE and redundancies
• Experience of leading and managing a team, inspiring confidence and facilitating their development
• Experience of developing long range workforce plans, recruitment and retention and staff engagement strategies
• Proven track record in board member responsibility and active participation in creating and executing divisional business plans and PEP programmes
• Previous NHS experience
• Experience of working in an HR function in the NHS
• Experience of working in a unionised environment
• Experience of integrated workforce information systems
• Experience of contributing to regional network meetings when required
• Policy review and development

Knowledge

• Specialist and expert knowledge of agenda for change terms and conditions
• Knowledge and understanding of key NHS and HR issues both local and national
• Sound working knowledge of employment legislation and case law and its application to a wide range of professional groups
• Understanding of the role of HR in the planning and delivery of the Trust Business Plan
• Sound knowledge, understanding and direct experience of best practice in people management issues
• Appreciation of the requirements of working in a large complex organisation

Skills

• Political awareness and sensitivity in particular when working with senior operational and clinical staff including directors
• Able to work in a multi disciplinary team
• Strategic awareness - able to align workforce activities with wider Trust and Divisional objectives
• Planning and organisational skills - able to prioritise and work to tight timescales
• Ability to deliver bespoke and management training
• Self motivated with resilience and tenacity
• Able to evaluate situations and assimilate information quickly
• Excellent IT skills including ability to use the full range of MS Office applications
• Responsive and outcome driven
• Highly effective interpersonal skills including negotiation and influencing skills
• Able to be assertive when appropriate
• Able to manage pressure
• Able to deal with emotionally difficult and challenging situations, sometimes including verbal aggression
• Excellent verbal and written communication - able to draft well written and reasoned cases, investigation and appeal reports
• Able to identify, interpret and analyse workforce reports, financial reports, complex legal decisions and case law
• Leadership and drive to champion improvement initiatives
• Proven coaching and facilitation skills
• Project management

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent
• Customer focused and able to work within the Trust values
• Ability to develop strong working relationships both internally and externally
• Able to attend meetings or conferences outside the region and outside normal working hours as required
• Undertake departmental and Trust induction
• Undertake mandatory training on an ongoing basis
• Maintains own continuing professional and personal development

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.