Director of People Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FoundationTrust

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) is seeking an exceptional Director of People to join our Executive Team at a pivotal time for both the organisation and the wider NHS.

This is a high profile Board level leadership role, reporting directly to the Chief Executive and playing a central part in shaping the future workforce, culture and organisational development strategy of the Trust. As a key Executive Director, you will help lead an organisation serving over one million people across Cheshire and Merseyside through community physical health, mental health, learning disability and specialist services.

Using your strategic workforce expertise and compassionate leadership style, you will lead the delivery of an ambitious People agenda focused on workforce transformation, staff wellbeing, inclusion, leadership development and organisational culture. You will work collaboratively across the Trust and wider health and care system to ensure CWP continues to attract, retain and develop a skilled, engaged and motivated workforce capable of delivering excellent patient care.

You will provide visible and credible leadership across the full People portfolio, ensuring the Trust has high quality, modern and responsive People services that support operational delivery and long term organisational sustainability.

Working closely with Executive colleagues, Board members, staff networks and trade union partners, you will lead the development and implementation of the Trust's People Plan, workforce strategy and organisational development priorities.

You will oversee workforce transformation, recruitment and retention, employee relations, leadership development, talent management, equality, diversity and inclusion, staff wellbeing and workforce planning.

As Executive Lead for the Board's People Committee, you will provide expert advice and assurance on all workforce related matters, supporting effective governance and organisational performance.

You will also play a key system leadership role across Cheshire and Merseyside, contributing to collaborative workforce solutions and supporting delivery of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and wider system reform agenda.

The role includes responsibility for:

• Strategic leadership of the People Services Directorate
• Delivery of the Trust's People Plan and workforce strategy
• Workforce transformation and organisational development
• Staff health and wellbeing
• Recruitment, retention and workforce planning
• Leadership development, talent management and succession planning
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Employee relations and partnership working
• Workforce governance, assurance and risk management
• System leadership across Cheshire and Merseyside

The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across the Trust and wider Integrated Care System to support service transformation, workforce sustainability and improved patient outcomes.

Person specification

• Chartered Fellow or Member of the CIPD
• Educated to Master's degree level or equivalent senior leadership experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development

• Extensive senior leadership experience within a large and complex organisation, ideally within the NHS or wider health and care sector
• Proven track record of leading workforce strategy, organisational development and cultural transformation
• Significant experience of operating effectively at Board level
• Experience of leading large People functions and delivering high quality HR and OD services
• Strong understanding of NHS workforce priorities, employee relations and employment legislation
• Experience of partnership working across organisations and systems

• Compassionate, inclusive and engaging leadership style
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills
• Strong strategic and operational leadership capability
• Ability to lead organisational change and continuous improvement
• Political awareness and sound judgement
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• Ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams

This advert closes on Monday 22 Jun 2026.