Chief People Officer

Sandwell Council; West Midlands Combined Authority; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the West Midlands is seeking a Chief People Officer to lead the transformation of HR and organizational development services. The role involves driving a modern HR function that empowers staff and enhances service delivery, underpinned by strategic advice to executives. Candidates should have significant experience in HR transformations, relationship building with trade unions, and familiarization with modern operational tools like Oracle Fusion. This position offers an opportunity to significantly impact local governance and community services.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic HR operations with a modern business partnering approach.
• Ability to lead organizational development and change within local government.
• Demonstrated capacity to improve service delivery and implement performance cultures.

Responsibilities

• Act as strategic advisor to the Chief Executive and Members.
• Lead the implementation of a revitalised workforce strategy.
• Ensure people practices align with council ambitions.

Skills

Transforming HR operations

Developing constructive relationships with trade unions

Embedding agile practices

Customer-focused HR

Tools

Oracle Fusion system

Job description

Enabling People, Empowering Communities, Enhancing Places

Sandwell’s story is one of potential and striving to realise the ambitions of our borough, our residents and communities. We have been through a period of significant challenge including government intervention, but through determination and our drive for excellence, we look to the future with pride and a sense of purpose. While we have come so far, there is more to do; breaking down silos, embedding our values across the organisation, and ensuring that we continue to transform to deliver the best services for our residents. Created 50 years ago from six proud towns, each unique but united by a shared identity and rich culture, Sandwell is a place built on making things happen. It’s where industry met innovation, and where strong communities continue to shape the future.

At Sandwell Council, we’re on a bold journey, modernising how we work and how we serve our communities. As part of this journey, we are transforming our workforce strategy and developing an organisational development plan that empowers our people to deliver for our residents. Our HR service needs to evolve to offer business partnering support across the authority, and as Chief People Officer you will act as strategic advisor to corporate colleagues, the Chief Executive and Members. You will drive a customer-focused HR and OD function that supports real organisational change, leading the implementation of a revitalised workforce strategy, embed a culture of performance and accountability, and ensure our people practices are fit for the future. You will lead our organisational development strategy, moving beyond training to deliver a robust OD plan that aligns with our council ambitions and supports directorates to deliver better outcomes.

As Chief People Officer you will bring experience of transforming HR operations to provide a modern, business partnering approach, and deliver an OD service that leads and responds to the many challenges facing local government, empowering colleagues to improve service delivery at levels in the council. You will bring a wealth of experience of developing constructive relationships with trade unions, whilst addressing long-standing workforce challenges, updating our people policies and embedding agile practices. Maximising the use of our new Oracle Fusion system to improve data, insight and decision-making. We are open to sector background and experience, but require someone with the energy and enthusiasm to transform HR and OD in Sandwell Council and be central to supporting our ongoing journey of improvement and modernisation.

For further information speak to our executive search partners GatenbySanderson: Sandra Jones (07826 404091) or Philip Emms (07590 225472).

Closing date: Tuesday 26th August 2025

To apply please click the Apply Now link below.