Interim Executive Director of People and Organisational Development

NHS; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 118,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health organization in Wales is seeking an Interim Executive Director for People and OD. This 6-month role demands a senior leader to drive workforce development and manage organizational change, reporting directly to the CEO. Ideal candidates will have a Masters in Organizational Development and proven experience at Board level. This position offers flexibility and potential for part-time arrangements in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Educated to Masters Level in Organisational Development or equivalent post graduate qualification.
• Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD).
• Evidence of recent Management and Leadership Development.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for workforce development and organisational management.
• Provide strategic advice to the Board.
• Hold statutory accountability for workforce matters.

Job description

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for a 6-month post as interim Executive Director for People and OD, to work with the CEO and Trust Board.

We are seeking an exceptional leader who can work across a wide ranging portfolio and support the organisation through a period of opportunity and change across its services.

Velindre University NHS Trust was established in 1994 and is one of 12 statutory health organisations in Wales. We employ circa 7,500 staff and have an annual turnover of £1.1 Billion. The Trust's core purpose is to provide specialist blood and cancer health services to the people of Wales. We also deliver a number of other services on behalf of the NHS in Wales (as host) including NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, Health Technology Wales and Advanced Therapies Wales.

This is a values based organisation with an emphasis on supporting and developing its workforce in a current climate of cultural change and service transformation.

As an Executive Director of People and OD you will be a senior workforce leader with considerable change and cultural leadership experience.

For this six month Interim position we will consider people on a secondment or fixed term contract basis. Full time or part time arrangements would be considered with some elements of remote working possible.

Main duties of the job

The Executive Director of People and OD will be responsible for workforce development, design and management, as well as for organisational development of the Trust. They are responsible for professional leadership and practice in relation to the Board's responsibilities as an employer for all staff.

As an Executive member of the Board, the Executive Director of People and OD will hold corporate responsibility jointly with other Board members for the strategic direction, corporate policy making and the development and delivery of Trust objectives.

The Executive Director will provide strategic OD and workforce advice to the Board and will also hold statutory accountability for all workforce matters as pertains to the hosted organisations of the Trust.

This post is fixed term/secondment for 6 months to meet the needs of the service. If you are interested in applying for the secondment position, you must obtain permission from your current line manager prior to applying for this post.

About us

Here at Velindre University NHS Trust we are extremely proud of the specialist services we provide across the whole of Wales in ourcutting-edge Velindre Cancer Centre and ouraward-winning Welsh Blood Service, as well as the expertise of our corporate functions that bring the two divisions together. We are also fortunate to host the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Health Technology Wales and have developed strong partnership working with these expert services.

Formed in 1999, the Trust has a dedicated workforce that continuously strives to apply the key principles of value based healthcare through a wide array of roles. We play a vital role in the communities we support and have ambitious plans for the future to continue to improve the services we deliver. We strive to maintain our core values in everything we do by being; accountable, bold, caring and dynamic, and ensuring the best possible care for our patients and donors.

If you want to work for an organisation that prides itself on making a real difference and offers exciting career opportunities then Velindre University NHS Trust is the place for you.

Visit our website to find out more https://velindre.nhs.wales/

Details Date posted

01 August 2025

Pay scheme

Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary

£118,930 to £123,872 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

120-AC815-0725-A

Job locations

Velindre Trust Headquarters, Unit 2 Charnwood Court

Nantgarw Park

Cardiff

CF15 7QZ

Job description Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Job description Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Educated to Masters Level in Organisational Development or equivalent post graduate qualification or equivalent senior level experience in a complex organisation.
• Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD
• Evidence of recent Management and Leadership Development.
• Evidence of Continual Professional Development

Experience and Knowledge Essential

• Proven experience in a senior People & OD role.
• Proven experience of working and contributing at Board level.
• Significant management and professional experience
• Evidence of working across a range of organisations to achieve significant and sustainable change.
• Experience of strategic planning and development.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge and experience of workforce planning
• Evidence of actively participating in and delivering service improvements and efficiencies.
• Experience of building personal and professional credibility with Board, and diverse management and staff groups.
• Understanding of the challenges facing the workforce in the 21st Century.
• Understands HR and Employment law and how to mitigate risk.

Abilities and Personal Qualities Essential

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively and co-operatively with colleagues and other partners
• Excellent leadership and influencing skills.
• Capacity to think strategically and analyse and solve complex problems
• Inspirational leader who demonstrates the ability to lead and manage change
• Committed to the continuous development of staff and self.
• Commitment to developing culture of openness and partnership.
• Commitment to improving quality of patient and donor care and services.
• Evidence of self awareness
• Creative thinker

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Educated to Masters Level in Organisational Development or equivalent post graduate qualification or equivalent senior level experience in a complex organisation.
• Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD
• Evidence of recent Management and Leadership Development.
• Evidence of Continual Professional Development

Experience and Knowledge Essential

• Proven experience in a senior People & OD role.
• Proven experience of working and contributing at Board level.
• Significant management and professional experience
• Evidence of working across a range of organisations to achieve significant and sustainable change.
• Experience of strategic planning and development.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge and experience of workforce planning
• Evidence of actively participating in and delivering service improvements and efficiencies.
• Experience of building personal and professional credibility with Board, and diverse management and staff groups.
• Understanding of the challenges facing the workforce in the 21st Century.
• Understands HR and Employment law and how to mitigate risk.

Abilities and Personal Qualities Essential

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively and co-operatively with colleagues and other partners
• Excellent leadership and influencing skills.
• Capacity to think strategically and analyse and solve complex problems
• Inspirational leader who demonstrates the ability to lead and manage change
• Committed to the continuous development of staff and self.
• Commitment to developing culture of openness and partnership.
• Commitment to improving quality of patient and donor care and services.
• Evidence of self awareness
• Creative thinker

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).

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).

Employer details Employer name

Velindre University NHS Trust

Address

Velindre Trust Headquarters, Unit 2 Charnwood Court

Nantgarw Park

Cardiff

CF15 7QZ

Employer's website

https://velindre.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Velindre University NHS Trust

Address

Velindre Trust Headquarters, Unit 2 Charnwood Court

Nantgarw Park

Cardiff

CF15 7QZ

Employer's website

https://velindre.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)