Director for Workforce and Organisational Development

Company: National Health Service
Apply for the Director for Workforce and Organisational Development
Location: Sunderland
Job Description:

Overview

In this senior role you will lead the Trust’s Workforce & OD function and strategy, aligning people plans with clinical, quality and transformation aims. As a trusted Exec Committee member, you’ll shape culture, improve staff experience, and drive workforce governance across complex systems. You will partner with unions and leaders to support high-quality patient care and strategic priorities. This is a values‑led, influential position with a mandate to deliver sustainable culture and capability improvements.

Pay / Benefits

  • Flexible working policy
  • Access to fitness centre (SRH)
  • Hospital libraries
  • Chaplaincy support
  • Education, training and career progression
  • Care Co-ordinator support for staff childcare

Responsibilities

  • Lead the W&OD Directorate and Workforce Strategy to enable delivery of clinical, safety and quality priorities
  • Provide strategic leadership across workforce planning, employee relations, OD, culture and climate, inclusion, staff experience, and leadership development
  • Serve on the Executive Committee, ensuring workforce risks and opportunities are considered in organisational decisions
  • Offer authoritative professional advice on complex workforce matters to Executives and Board committees
  • Drive transformation programmes and strategic partnerships, across organisational and system boundaries
  • Develop people services through digital transformation and new operating models to improve capability and staff experience

Key requirements

  • Substantial experience leading a complex W&OD function or service
  • Deep understanding of the NHS landscape, ICSs and People agenda in patient care
  • Experience at director or deputy level in a complex organisation with senior executive collaboration
  • Ability to provide authoritative advice on sensitive workforce issues to senior leaders
  • Track record of managing significant workforce risks and executive assurance
  • Expert knowledge of employment legislation, NHS terms and conditions, employee relations and OD methodologies in a complex NHS setting
  • Experience leading major change, cultural transformation and union engagement
  • Experience working across partnerships or system arrangements with cross-boundary people and culture considerations
  • Resilience under pressure
  • Inclusive leadership and empowerment
  • Trustworthy and credible demeanor
  • Strategic leadership and executive influence
  • Organisational development and culture diagnostic capability
  • Workforce intelligence and staff experience insights

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Posted: October 22nd, 2026