Chief People Officer

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Gloucester is searching for a Chief People Officer to provide strategic HR leadership and drive workforce transformation. The role demands expertise in equality and inclusion, as well as the ability to manage large budgets to ensure operational excellence. The ideal candidate will be an experienced leader capable of fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture. Join our Trust to make a significant impact and support our mission in delivering exceptional care to our communities.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Generous annual leave

NHS pension scheme

Competitive bank rates

Local discounts

Access to on-site nurseries

Reduced public transport costs

Reward and recognition schemes

Wide range of health and wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic HR leadership and workforce planning.
• Demonstrated ability to drive transformation and organisational development.
• Strong understanding of diversity and inclusion practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across People and Organisational Development.
• Drive workforce transformation and ensure organisational sustainability.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Chief Executive and senior leaders.

Skills

Leadership capability

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Workforce transformation

HR systems and processes

Cultural change

Job description

Chief People Officer – Role Overview

As Chief People Officer, you will provide strategic leadership across all aspects of our People and Organisational Development agenda. You will drive workforce transformation and delivery, ensuring the Trust is future‑ready and our people are supported to deliver exceptional care.

You will champion equalityाठमाडौं diversity and inclusion, restorative justice and learning culture, leadership capability, and organisational development, all underpinned by robust workforce planning and performance, and digital transformation and workforce analytics. Your key focus will be to provide exceptional HR leadership, drive transformation of HR systems and processes, empowering managers and strengthening accountability at every level. Through teaching, learning and co‑production, you will amplify the staff voice and nurture a culture of openness, growth and collaboration.

As an Executive Director, you will play a key role in shaping strategic engagement and decision‑making across the Trust, ensuring that our people strategy drives both organisational excellence and outstanding patient outcomes.

The role will oversee large budgets, ensuring workforce efficiency and financial sustainability within the people function, while acting as a trusted advisor to the Chief Executive, Board and senior leaders on complex workforce and compliance matters.aison champion cultural change and organisational development, leading Trust‑wide Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives and embedding social value principles such as local employment and apprenticeship programmes.

Key Dates

• Application closing date: Thursday 8th February


• Stakeholder focus groups and Interviews: w/c 2nd March 2026

About Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

At Gloucestershire Hospitals, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the county's largest employer, we provide high‑quality acute, elective and specialist services to more than 650,000 people across our county. Our care is delivered across Gloucestershire Royal, Cheltenham General and Stroud Maternity Hospital.

With over 9,000 employees representing more than 95 nationalities, яшь bring together a mix of cultures and experiences to the care that we deliver. Whether you're beginning your NHS journey or looking to take the next step in your career, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from a comprehensive package that includes flexible working opportunities, generous annual leave, the NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, local discounts, access to on‑site nurseries, reduced public transport costs, reward and recognition schemes and a wide range of health and well‑being initiatives.

Benefits

• Flexible working opportunities


• Generous annual leave


• NHS pension scheme


• Competitive bank rates


• Local discounts


• Access to on‑site nurseries


• Reduced public transport costs


• Reward and recognition schemes


• Wide range of health and wellbeing initiatives

Join Our Team

Be part of Gloucestershire Hospitals, explore your future with us today. As Chief People Officer, play a central role in shaping the future of Gloucestershire Hospitals. This is an opportunity to lead with purpose and impact, championing a culture where our people feel valued, inspired and empowered to deliver outstanding care for our communities.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and a key member of the Board, you will set the strategic direction for all aspects of People and Organisational Development. Lead the design and delivery of an ambitious, evidence‑driven people strategy that fosters inclusion, supports transformation and builds leadership capability at every level.

Your influence will extend across the organisation as you inspire a high‑performing workforce through innovative approaches to engagement, talent and wellbeing. Driving cultural transformation, embedding restorative and just practices that enable openness, accountability and continuous learning.

As well as leading workforce transformation in line with the Trust's strategic goals and the NHS 10‑Year Plan. You will direct the organisation's equality, diversity and inclusion agenda, ensuring every colleague has the opportunity to grow, contribute and belong, while developing world‑class HR systems that strengthen capability and deliver operational excellence. Join an ambitious and values‑driven Executive Team, united by a vision to make Gloucestershire Hospitals an exceptional place to work and to receive care.ഹ>