Deputy Chief People Officer

NHS; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS trust in Shrewsbury is seeking a Deputy Chief People Officer to lead and implement innovative people strategies. This role focuses on addressing workforce challenges, enhancing staff wellbeing, and ensuring patient-centric operations. The ideal candidate will have extensive HR leadership experience within the NHS and a proven track record in managing change effectively. This is a permanent full-time position offering a competitive salary based on experience.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience as a director in a complex NHS organisation.
• Track record of developing and delivering people strategies.
• Advanced knowledge of employment law and HR practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for the People & OD Directorate.
• Support and implement the Joint People Strategy.
• Foster a supportive culture within the HR Division.

Skills

Leadership

Change Management

Employee Relations

Talent Management

Budget Management

Education

Master's degree in Human Resources or Employment Law

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

Job description

Job Summary

As Deputy Chief People Officer for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, you will play a crucial role in shaping and implementing the joint people strategy, driving transformational change throughout both organisations.

Your efforts will be pivotal in addressing the workforce challenges within the NHS, whilst creating new opportunities. Prioritising the wellbeing, safety, and engagement of our staff, while ensuring patients remain at the heart of our efforts, is essential.

We are looking for an inspiring leader who is action‑oriented, highly motivated, and passionate about building high‑performing and engaged teams.

This presents an exciting opportunity to join an ambitious People and OD team, where the two Boards of Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust and The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust have agreed to establish a Group between the two organisations to accelerate our exciting transformational work.

For an informal discussion about the role with the Chief People Officer, please contact Kelly Hall, Executive Assistant (email: [e-mail]).

Main duties of the job

• Provide leadership, vision, and direction for the People & OD Directorate.
• Support and deputise for the Chief People Officer, ensuring the development and delivery of the Joint People Strategy through operational plans.
• Offer leadership and strategic direction to team leads, ensuring they are supported to meet their role and team objectives, while maintaining effective and supportive relationships across all areas of the People & OD Division.
• Support innovative workforce plans that align with new ways of working and the assumptions in the workforce strategy.
• Foster a culture where operational HR advice is based on expertise and is supportive, considerate, and value‑adding.

About us

Our vision, 'To provide excellent care for the communities we serve,' is not just a statement; it's a promise we live by every day. Guided by our core Values – Partnering, Ambitious, Caring, and Trusted – we're determined to make a real difference in the lives of those who matter most: our patients and their families.

If you're ready to be part of a team that's dedicated to continuous improvement, come join us and let's make a difference together!

Person Specification

Qualifications and training (Essential)

• Educated to a Master's degree in Human Resources or Employment Law.
• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
• Evidence of on‑going personal and professional development.

Qualifications and training (Desirable)

• Formal training or qualification in management and/or leadership.

Knowledge and experience (Essential)

• Significant leadership experience ideally as a director within the people profession in a complex NHS organisation.
• Recognised leader with influence and personal credibility.
• Track record of developing, shaping and delivering people strategies.
• Significant experience of leading teams across a variety of disciplines within the people profession.
• Demonstrable experience of impacting organisational effectiveness through quantifiable performance improvement.
• Experience of leading and delivering change.
• Advanced detailed knowledge of employment law.
• Detailed understanding of different ways to measure the implementation and impact of initiatives.
• Advanced practical knowledge of staff engagement, talent management and employee relations.
• Successful track record in a sub‑board level role in Human Resources within a complex unionised environment.
• Leading a Human Resources / Workforce/People function and developing and implementing sound workforce and employee relations strategies, policies and procedures.
• Evidence of success in implementing transformational change within a large and complex organisation, including service and workforce redesign in the public or commercial sector.
• Experience of building a positive approach to managing employee relations.
• Experience in building personal and professional credibility with the Board, management teams and staff.
• Formulating and implementing successful people and organisational development strategies.
• Managing workforce issues arising from significant structural re‑organisation or service change.
• Experience of workforce planning in an environment of comparable complexity.
• Working across professional and organisational boundaries, and in partnership with a wide range of key stakeholders.
• Demonstrable achievement in delivery of corporate objectives and performance improvement in a devolved management structure.
• Budgetary and financial management.
• Knowledge and understanding of the diversity and equality agenda with an appreciation of structural or systematic inequalities and how to develop an inclusive culture.
• Broad understanding of the current NHS policy context, financial regime and workforce and training issues and of NHS working practices.

Knowledge and experience (Desirable)

• Experience with working with a large medical workforce and understanding of medical contracts and terms and conditions.

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details

Employer name: The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

Address:

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital NHS Trust
Mytton Oak Road
Shrewsbury
SY3 8XQ

Employer's website: http://www.sath.nhs.uk/

Details

Date posted: 06 November 2025

Pay scheme: Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary: Depending on experience

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 223-DPO-822

Job locations: Royal Shrewsbury Hospital NHS Trust, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury, SY3 8XQ