Director of Learning and Workforce Development

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Director of Learning and Workforce Development to shape the future of our workforce across the organisation. You will lead a modern, high-impact education and career pathways function, advising executives and system partners to align learning with patient needs and NHS priorities.

Reporting to the Chief People and Culture Officer, you will set strategy, oversee apprenticeships, governance and transformation programmes, build trusted relationships and

Qualifications

• Master's degree level or equivalent experience.
• Education/CIPD qualification or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and application in practice.
• Senior leadership experience in a large, complex organisation, including management of multidisciplinary education teams.
• Significant experience leading workforce development and organisational transformation programmes.
• Experience of reporting and providing assurance to Executive and Board-level committees.
• Significant experience managing large budgets and financial resources.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver BFT's future workforce and skills strategy.
• Lead a modern, high-impact learning and workforce development function.
• Provide strategic leadership across education, apprenticeships, learning and development, career pathways, workforce transformation and education governance.
• Work with clinical, operational, system and education partners to shape future roles, skills and learning pathways.
• Support delivery of the NHS 10 Year Plan and BFT's Clinical Strategy by preparing the workforce for changing patient needs, technological advances and new models of care.
• Build trusted relationships, influence at executive and system level and lead large-scale change.
• Promote inclusion and create a culture in which people can learn, grow and thrive.
• We are looking for an experienced senior leader with a strong record of delivering strategic learning and workforce development in a large, complex organisation.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Education governance

Change management

Communication skills

NHS knowledge

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

CIPD qualification or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office (Copilot)

Job description

Director of Learning and Workforce Development

Are you an experienced senior leader ready to shape the future workforce of Bristol NHS Foundation Trust? As Director of Learning and Workforce Development, you will lead a broad, high-profile portfolio at the heart of our organisation's transformation. You will help create outstanding learning and career opportunities for our people, strengthen workforce capability and support new ways of delivering care. This is an opportunity to influence strategy at executive and system level, build strong partnerships and make a lasting difference to our workforce and the patients we serve.

Main duties of the job

Reporting to the Chief People and Culture Officer, you will develop and implement BFT's future workforce and skills strategy, ensuring we have the capacity and capability needed for the decade ahead. You will lead education, apprenticeships, learning and development, career pathways, workforce transformation and education governance. Working with clinical, operational, system and education partners, you will shape roles, skills and learning pathways that respond to changing patient needs, technological advances and new models of care. You will be a credible and visible leader who can build trust, influence at executive and system level, lead large-scale change and champion inclusion.

About us

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that theSouth Westhas to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit andretaina workforce whichrepresentsthe rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your applicationin order toensurewe'remeeting our pledge.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of the role.

The Director of Learning and Workforce Development will:

Develop and deliver BFT's future workforce and skills strategy.

Lead a modern, high-impact learning and workforce development function.

Provide strategic leadership across education, apprenticeships, learning and development, career pathways, workforce transformation and education governance.

Work with clinical, operational, system and education partners to shape future roles, skills and learning pathways.

Support delivery of the NHS 10 Year Plan and BFT's Clinical Strategy by preparing the workforce for changing patient needs, technological advances and new models of care.

Build trusted relationships, influence at executive and system level and lead large-scale change.

Promote inclusion and create a culture in which people can learn, grow and thrive.

We are looking for an experienced senior leader with a strong record of delivering strategic learning and workforce development in a large, complex organisation. You will bring exceptional partnership and influencing skills, the credibility to operate at executive and system level and a strong commitment to inclusion.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge & Skills, Personal Qualities

• Educated to Master's degree level or equivalent experience (A)
• Education/CIPD qualification or equivalent experience (A)
• Evidence of continuing professional development and application in practice (A)
• Senior leadership experience in a large, complex organisation, including management of multidisciplinary education teams (A, I)
• Significant experience leading workforce development and organisational transformation programmes (A, I)
• Experience of strategic planning and delivery of innovative career pathways (A, I)
• Experience of reporting and providing assurance to Executive and Board-level committees (A, I)
• Significant experience managing large budgets and financial resources (A, I)
• Experience of leading complex change programmes and unifying teams (A, I)
• Experience of working in partnership with academics, clinicians and external stakeholders (A, I)
• Experience representing a large organisation externally and influencing senior stakeholders (A, I)
• Knowledge of education quality assurance methodologies and improvement approaches (A, I)
• High-level knowledge of education, workforce and health/social care policy (A, I)
• Understanding of workforce career structures and education agendas (A, I)
• Excellent influencing, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills (A, I)
• Ability to analyse complex financial and management information (A, I)
• Skilled in leading high-performing teams (A, I)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (A, I)
• Ability to produce Board-level reports and presentations (A, I)
• Strong organisational, planning and programme management skills (A, I)
• Knowledge and application of Microsoft Office applications, including Copilot (A)
• Strategic thinker with the ability to shape future direction (A, I)
• Inspirational and compassionate leader (A, I)
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills (A, I)
• Ability to work effectively in highly complex environments (A, I)
• Resilient and able to deliver under pressure (A, I)
• Ability to prioritise, make decisions and provide clear leadership (A, I)
• Knowledge and understanding of key NHS issues and policy drivers (A, I)
• Experience working within the NHS (A, I)
• Experience leading integration of services of similar scale and complexity (A, I)

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.

Southmead Hospital and City and Weston Operating Units

Southmead Hospital and City and Weston Operating Units