Deputy Chief People Officer

NHS; Colchester; On-site; GBP 91,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Colchester seeks a Deputy Chief People Officer to shape and deliver a comprehensive People Strategy. The role includes leading HR services, driving organisational change, and ensuring a supportive environment for staff. Candidates should have significant HR leadership experience, ideally within the NHS or public sector, and a strong commitment to inclusivity and patient care. Competitive salary and development opportunities offered.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

27 days annual leave

NHS discounts

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Track record of senior HR leadership and management.
• Experience at or near Board level.
• Ability to work with recognized unions.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across the People Directorate.
• Lead the development of the Trust's People Strategy.
• Drive improvements in workforce planning and recruitment.

Skills

Leadership

HR Strategy

Organisational Change

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Masters degree or equivalent

MCIPD

Job description

Job summary

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.

You will be an 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. You will have a proven track record of driving cultural and organisational change at scale. You should have expertise in workforce strategy, talent management, organisational development, and staff engagement.

You will have strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across systems and professional boundaries. A clear commitment to the NHS People Promise and to creating a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment where staff can thrive.

For the right candidate we would consider a 8D developmental role

Main duties / Responsibilities

• You will provide strategic and operational leadership across the People Directorate, ensuring the effective delivery of high-quality HR, OD, and workforce services.
• You will 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.
• You will champion a compassionate, inclusive, and values-led culture where colleagues feel engaged, empowered, and supported to achieve their potential.
• By overseeing the delivery of high-quality transactional HR services you will drive improvements in workforce planning, recruitment, retention and talent development to ensure we have the right people in the right roles.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide 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. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

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

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

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Details

Date posted: 24 October 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8d

Salary: £91,342 to £125,637 a year pro rata, per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 432-HR821-25

Job locations: Ipswich/Colchester

IP4 5PD

Job description / responsibilities

For full details on the duties and responsibilities please see the attached Deputy Chief People Officer information pack

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to a Masters degree or equivalent post-graduate qualification or equivalent level of experience
• MCIPD

Experience

• Demonstrable track record of senior HR leadership and management covering a range of people functions
• Experience of operating at or near Board level, either as a Deputy or Associate/Assistant Director.
• Experience of working in partnership with recognised unions and professional groups, including leading complex discussions and negotiations

Knowledge

• A proven track record of leading, designing and delivering complex and/or large-scale organisational change, working with diverse stakeholder groups

Desirable

• FCIPD
• Formal project/programme management Qualification
• Experience of working in the NHS and / or other public sector organisation at a senior level
• Good knowledge of NHS contracts (AfC and Medical & Dental)

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Ipswich/Colchester

IP4 5PD

Employer's website: ESNEFT official site