About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an exceptional and experienced Workforce & OD leader to join our Executive Committee as Director for Workforce & Organisational Development.
This is an influential senior leadership role with the opportunity to shape the future of our workforce, organisational culture and people services, ensuring our people priorities directly support the delivery of high-quality patient care and the Trust's strategic ambitions.
Reporting to the Executive Director who holds Board-level responsibility for the people portfolio, you will be our most senior professional Workforce & OD leader, providing expert advice, constructive challenge and strategic leadership across a broad and complex portfolio.
We are looking for an inclusive, credible and values-led leader who combines deep professional expertise with strong strategic and organisational leadership. You will bring the judgement, confidence and ambition to influence at Executive level while building trusted relationships with colleagues, trade unions and partners across organisational and system boundaries.
Interviews will take place in two rounds - round one (Monday 23rd November 2026) / round two (Tuesday 24th November 2026)
Main duties of the job
You will lead the Trust's Workforce & OD Directorate and Workforce Strategy, providing strategic leadership across workforce planning, employee and industrial relations, organisational development, culture and climate, inclusion, staff experience, leadership development and workforce governance.
As a member of the Executive Committee, you will make a significant contribution beyond your professional portfolio, ensuring workforce opportunities and risks are fully considered within strategic, clinical, quality, operational, financial and transformation decisions.
You will provide authoritative professional advice on complex workforce and employment matters, lead constructive partnership working with recognised trade unions and provide senior Workforce & OD leadership to major transformation and strategic partnership programmes.
You will also lead the continued development of our people services, identifying opportunities through digital transformation, new operating models and collaboration with partner organisations to improve capability, resilience, efficiency and staff experience
About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.
One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.
We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.
Job description Job responsibilities
The post-holder will lead the Workforce & Organisational Development (W&OD) Directorate, ensuring it is fit for purpose and provides an excellent, proactive, efficient service to stakeholders. As a member of the Trust Executive Committee, the post-holder will also make a significant contribution to the overall strategic leadership, performance and development of the Trust.
The post-holder will lead the Workforce Strategy for the Trust and ensure that workforce and organisational development priorities enable and support the delivery of the Clinical Strategy, Patient Safety & Quality Strategy and the associated enabling strategies.
As the most senior professional lead for the workforce and organisational development agenda, the post-holder report to and work closely with the Executive Director who holds Board-level accountability for the people portfolio. The post-holder will provide authoritative professional advice to the Executive Director, Executive Committee and, where required, the Board of Directors and its committees.
The post-holder will provide strategic leadership for the Trusts organisational culture and climate, working with the Executive Director and Executive Committee to create the conditions in which people can thrive and deliver high-quality patient care. This will include using workforce intelligence, staff experience and employee voice to understand organisational climate, identify areas requiring intervention and lead sustained improvement in leadership behaviours, inclusion, engagement, wellbeing and organisational effectiveness
The post-holder will have significant delegated authority for the leadership and delivery of the Workforce & OD portfolio, identifying and escalating material workforce risks and supporting the Executive Director in the discharge of their Board-level responsibilities and provision of assurance to the Board.
Please refer to the job description / person specification for full details.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Substantial experience of leading a complex Workforce & OD function / service. A comprehensive understanding of the NHS landscape, including Integrated Care Boards & Systems, and the role that the People agenda plays in building capacity, capability and culture to ensure high quality patient care. Significant experience of operating and leading at a director or deputy level in a complex organisation including experience of operating as part of, or regularly working with, a senior executive leadership team. Significant experience of providing authoritative professional advice to Executive Directors and senior decision-making or governance forums on complex and sensitive workforce matters. Experience of making a significant corporate contribution beyond the boundaries of the individual's professional portfolio Demonstrable experience of identifying, managing and escalating significant organisational workforce risks and supporting effective executive assurance arrangements Expert and up-to-date knowledge of employment legislation, NHS Terms and Conditions of Service, employee relations, contemporary HR practice and organisational development methodologies, with significant experience of interpreting and applying these within a complex NHS environment Substantial experience of leading and advising on complex, sensitive and high-risk employee relations matters, with the professional credibility to provide authoritative advice to Executive Directors and senior leaders on employment legislation, NHS Terms and Conditions, organisational change and complex workforce cases. A successful track record of leading and facilitating major change and transformation programmes, including cultural change. Significant experience of employee and industrial relations, including effective partnership working, consultation and negotiation with recognised trade unions and staff-side representatives Significant experience of diagnosing and influencing organisational culture and climate within a large and complex organisation, using workforce intelligence, staff experience and organisational insight to deliver measurable and sustained cultural improvement. Experience of providing workforce and OD leadership within strategic partnerships, alliances or system arrangements, including working successfully across organisational boundaries and managing the people and cultural dimensions of complex organisational change.
Desirable
Experience of working in, or with, organisations outside the NHS, bringing broader perspectives and learning to workforce and organisational development practice.
Personal Attributes Essential
Resilience required to operate in a challenging organisation and a complex external environment. A leader who leads by example and empowers others, even in high pressure environments. Highly motivated to deliver high standards that contribute to the improvement in the quality of services. Personal and professional demeanour and credibility that always generates trust and confidence in others. Motivated to make a difference in whatever way they can. Demonstrable experience of role-modelling Trust values Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental. Commitment to leading and driving the creation of an inclusive culture. The highest degree of honesty, probity and integrity
Skills and Attributes Essential
Demonstrable and highly developed strategic leadership capability, with the credibility and personal authority to operate effectively as a member of the Trust Executive Committee. Highly developed oral, written and presentation skills, with the ability to develop, communicate and gain ownership for a clear vision. Highly developed influencing, negotiation and interpersonal skills, able to influence and appropriately challenge through personal and professional credibility rather than managerial authority Ability to think and act strategically, developing practical, innovative and creative solutions to the management of strategic issues and complex problems. Highly developed organisational development capability, with the ability to diagnose organisational culture and climate, identify underlying organisational issues and develop evidence-based interventions that create sustainable behavioural and cultural change. Evidence of supporting, guiding and coaching senior and executive staff to role-model values. The ability to shape and influence across organisational boundaries. Ability to provide independent, authoritative professional advice and appropriately challenge Executive Directors and other senior leaders while maintaining constructive and effective working relationships. Ability to balance professional leadership of the workforce agenda with collective responsibility for the wider strategic priorities and performance of the Trust.
Qualifications Essential
Masters degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Evidence of continual CPD
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 South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Address Trust Headquarters
Sunderland Royal Hospital
Sunderland
SR4 7TP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)