Chief People Officer

NHS; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent mental health organization in Maidstone seeks a Chief People Officer to lead workforce transformation and develop an inclusive culture. This role involves shaping future workforce strategies while enhancing staff wellbeing. Ideal candidates should be Chartered Members of the CIPD with extensive experience in HR at a senior level. Join us to drive positive change in mental health care as part of an evolving team committed to excellence and inclusion.

Benefits

Flexible working

Home or remote working

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Demonstrable track record of success at director level in HR and organisational development.
• Extensive experience at senior leadership level.
• In-depth knowledge of human resources practices and strategic workforce planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead our workforce transformation and strategy.
• Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion at every level.
• Enhance staff wellbeing, engagement, and belonging.

Skills

Exceptional communication skills

Strong critical thinking

Strategic problem solving

Energy, vision, and passion

Education

Chartered Member or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

Job description

Thank you for your interest in joining Kent and Medway Mental Health Trust. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. As Chief Executive, I am proud of the incredible commitment and compassion shown by our teams across Kent and Medway. This is an exciting time for us, as we continue to evolve our culture to meet the opportunities presented by the NHS 10-year plan and continue our journey in becoming a leading mental health trust in the country.

The Chief People Officer will play a vital role in shaping the future of our organisation leading our people strategy, championing inclusion, and ensuring every colleague feels they belong.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute to the best possible care for our communities. Your leadership will help us make that ambition real.

Main duties of the job

This is a pivotal time to join Kent and Medway Mental Health Trust. We are growing and changing, taking on children's and young people's services, embedding our new identity and values, and strengthening our culture of care and inclusion. The Chief People Officer will lead our workforce transformation at a time when the NHS is evolving. You'll shape the future of how we attract, develop, and support our people, ensuring every colleague feels valued and every leader is empowered to make a difference.

As Chief People Officer, you will lead the delivery of our People Strategy and play a key role in delivering our vision. You will be responsible for developing our workforce, building an inclusive culture, and embedding compassionate leadership across the organisation. Key responsibilities include:

• Leading our workforce strategy and planning for the future.
• Championing equality, diversity and inclusion at every level.
• Strengthening leadership capability and talent pipelines.
• Enhancing staff wellbeing, engagement and belonging.
• Driving improvement through data, insight and partnership.
• Ensuring compliance with employment law, NHS policy, and CQC workforce standards.
• Supporting system-wide collaboration through the Kent and Medway Integrated Care System.

Please refer to the full recruitment pack and job description attached.

About us

We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together.

Job responsibilities

Please find attached the full recruitment pack and job description.

If you wish to be considered for this role, please provide:

• A CV that includes your address and contact details, highlighting and explaining any gaps in your employment history.
• A supporting statement that highlights your motivation for applying and your understanding of the NHS and the role. You should outline your personal responsibility and achievement within previous roles and how your experience matches the person specification.
• The names, positions, organisations and contact details for three referees. Your referees should be individuals in a line‑management capacity, and cover your most recent employer, any regulated health or social care activity or where roles involved children or vulnerable adults. Your references may be taken prior to the interview and may be shared with the selection panel.

Please email this information, along with your application to [e-mail]

Online applications will not be accepted; all applicants must follow the guidelines above.

Interviews

Virtual Focus Group 12 February 2026

• Executive Management Team

In‑person interview 13 February 2026 held at Farm Villa, Maidstone,

Qualifications

• Chartered Member or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
• Evidence of continued professional development.

Experience

• Demonstrable track record of success at director level in HR and organisational development.
• Extensive experience at senior leadership level.
• Experience of leading cultural transformation and workforce planning in large, complex environments.
• Proven record of developing high‑performing teams and implementing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives.
• In‑depth knowledge of human resources practices and strategic workforce planning.
• Strong knowledge of the current strategic context of the NHS and the strategic direction of the ICB.

Skills

• Exceptional communication skills which engender community confidence, strong collaborations, and partnership.
• Demonstrate energy, vision and passion; engaging people by the way they communicate, behave and interact with others.
• Strong critical thinking and strategic problem solving; the ability to lead a joint strategic plan and undertake problem resolution and action.
• Personally committed to upholding the NHS principles and values as set out in the NHS Constitution, the values of the Long‑Term Plan, the NHS People Plan, Nolan Principles and Fit and Proper Persons regime, along with an ability to reflect them in their leadership role and the culture of the ICB.

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.

Full‑time, Flexible working, Home or remote working