About this role
Job summary
Director of People
Aintree University HospitalUniversity Hospitals of Liverpool Group
Are you an exceptional people leader with the vision, credibility and ambition to shape the future workforce of a major teaching hospital?Do you thrive in complex environments, lead with purpose, and inspire cultural transformation at scale? If so, we would love to hear from you.
At Aintree University Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, we are committed to delivering outstanding care for our patients and communities. We are now seeking a dynamic and strategic Director of People to join our Hospital Leadership Team, playing a critical role in shaping our people agenda and supporting the delivery of high-quality, compassionate and sustainable healthcare.
This is a pivotal senior leadership role at the heart of the organisation. You will provide visible, credible and inclusive leadership across the full people portfolio, ensuring our workforce strategy supports our operational priorities, cultural ambitions and long-term transformation goals.
Main duties of the job
As Director of People, you will work as a key member of the Hospital Leadership Team, partnering closely with executive and senior colleagues across the Group. You will lead the development and delivery of a progressive hospital people strategy aligned to the NHS People Plan, the People Promise, and the wider ambitions of the University Hospitals of Liverpool Group.
You will be responsible for leading high-quality people services and driving workforce priorities that enable the hospital to attract, retain, develop and support exceptional staff. You will help foster a culture where colleagues feel valued, included, empowered and able to thrive.
About us
NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHL Group) was formed on 1 November 2024, born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our communities.
We are one of the largest employers in region, with over 18,900 colleagues who are dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services that extend to more than two million people in the North West.
We operate from five hospital sites:Aintree University Hospitalis the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside, and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.Broadgreen Hospitalis home to several elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospitalprovide specialist services incardiothoracic surgery,cardiology and respiratory medicine, both in the hospital and out in the community.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single en-suite bedrooms and mainly focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
Job description Job responsibilities
You will:
Provide strategic leadership across the people agenda within Aintree University Hospital. Lead and inspire a high-performing People team with a broad and complex portfolio. Drive workforce initiatives to improve recruitment, retention, staff wellbeing, engagement, performance and productivity. Shape leadership and organisational development, including talent management and succession planning. Champion equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring these principles are embedded in culture, policy and practice. Support the development of a strong, compassionate and inclusive leadership culture across the hospital. Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Group to align local delivery with wider organisational priorities. Build strong partnerships internally and externally, contributing to system-wide people and workforce agendas. Provide expert, visible and credible leadership through ongoing transformation and change.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Masters Degree or equivalent postgraduate level experience and ability Member of Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
Fellow of the CIPD Additional specialist qualifications, e.g. Coaching or psychometric testing Management qualification/evidence of study in strategic business planning, project management, information or related discipline
Experience Essential
Extensive experience of working at a very senior level across a broad range of HR functions Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering People and OD Strategic Plan Experience of budgetary and resource management Experience of managing multiple HR teams to deliver excellent results Experience of change management Experience of developing integrated workforce plans as part of wider business planning activities Evidence of managing complex employee relations issues (including Maintaining High Professional Standards and tribunal cases) Motivating and developing multiple teams Detailed knowledge and understanding of the Interim NHS People Plan and NHS Long Term Plan HR/Operational experience within a large complex organisation
Desirable
Managing an equality / inclusion function
Knowledge Essential
In depth knowledge of current HR and workforce legislation and best practice Understanding of workforce planning tools and techniques Understanding of the benefits and challenges of working within a Group model Understanding of the national, regional and local context in which NHS HR services are provided Expert knowledge of HR issues and employment law including their impact Knowledge of emerging system responsibilities/ structures for the Health and Social Care workforce
Desirable
Knowledge and understanding of the concepts and practices of integrated service planning Knowledge of the NHS financial regime
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 Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Aintree University Hospital
Liverpool
L9 7AL
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)