Deputy Chief People Officer

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust; Colchester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Deputy Chief People Officer to enhance their People Strategy and promote a high-performing culture. The ideal candidate will have significant HR leadership experience, fostering inclusivity and commitment to organisational change. This role offers competitive benefits including flexible working and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Wide range of training and development opportunities

Flexible working options

Generous pension scheme

Access to NHS discounts

Staff Health and Wellbeing programme

27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata)

Qualifications

• Significant senior HR or workforce leadership experience in complex organisations.
• Proven track record of driving cultural and organisational change.
• Ability to build relationships and influence collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the People Directorate.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Trust's People Strategy.
• Champion a compassionate and inclusive culture within the organisation.

Skills

People leadership

Cultural change management

Organisational development

Strategic HR management

Staff engagement

Collaboration

Job description

Position Overview

We are seeking an exceptional Deputy Chief People Officer (Deputy CPO) to join our senior leadership team within the People Directorate. You will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the Trust's People Strategy, supporting the Chief People Officer in leading a high‑performing, innovative, and inclusive People function that underpins everything we do at ESNEFT.

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership across the People Directorate, ensuring the effective delivery of high‑quality HR, OD, and workforce services. Lead the development and implementation of the Trust's People Strategy, ensuring it supports our vision of providing the best possible care and experience for patients and staff alike. Champion a compassionate, inclusive, and values‑led culture where colleagues feel engaged, empowered, and supported to achieve their potential. Oversee the delivery of high‑quality transactional HR services to drive improvements in workforce planning, recruitment, retention, and talent development.

Qualifications

Accomplished and inspirational people leader with significant senior HR or workforce leadership experience in a complex organisation, ideally within the NHS or wider public sector. Proven track record of driving cultural and organisational change at scale, with expertise in workforce strategy, talent management, organisational development, and staff engagement. Strong relationship‑building and influencing skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across systems and professional boundaries, and a clear commitment to the NHS People Promise and to creating a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment where staff can thrive.

Benefits

• Wide range of training and development opportunities
• Flexible working options
• Generous pension scheme
• Unsocial hours payments (where applicable)
• 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata)
• Access to NHS discounts
• Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offering a variety of services

About ESNEFT

We are ESNEFT, providing hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes. We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. We pride ourselves on supporting our staff and offer a range of development opportunities, flexible working and a comprehensive benefits package.

Digital Transformation

Our commitment to Time Matters is realised through a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what is widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

Apply

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, we want to hear from you.