Job Summary
University Hospitals Birmingham is one of the largest and most complex NHS Trusts in the country, with over 26,000 colleagues across four hospital sites. In recent years, we have made real progress in strengthening culture and engagement, with colleagues increasingly describing UHB as a place where they feel listened to, valued and connected. As we look ahead, we are clear that the next phase of our journey, our Year of Empowerment, requires visible, values-driven leadership that enables our people to lead, act and resolve with confidence at every level. This Associate Director of People role is central to that ambition. Supporting Group Clinical Support and corporate Services, representing circa 8,500 colleagues, the post holder will play a critical role in translating People Strategy into consistent, lived practice across these essential services. Reporting to the Chief People Officer and working closely with senior operational and clinical leaders, the role carries significant leadership accountability. It operates as a trusted partner on workforce, culture and organisational performance, ensuring alignment to Trust priorities while maintaining a strong focus on delivery, colleague experience and measurable organisational impact.
Responsibilities
This is a visible, delivery-focused leadership role requiring a strong understanding of operational pressures and the ability to respond with pace, clarity and sound judgement. The Associate Director will ensure people strategy is effectively implemented, embedding consistent approaches to workforce planning, leadership and organisational development that support both immediate service needs and long-term sustainability.
Employee relations is a core element, with a clear expectation to move beyond reactive practice. The role leads approaches that prioritise early intervention, strengthen management capability and support timely, constructive resolution, contributing to a psychologically safe and inclusive working environment.
The post holder will lead with the Trust’s behavioural framework in every aspect of delivery, ensuring that being Kind, Connected and Bold is reflected in leadership practice, decision-making and outcomes. They will also build leadership capability across services through coaching and support, enabling managers to confidently lead teams and address challenges early. Working within a devolved model, the role balances local ownership with Trust-wide consistency, contributing to continuous improvement across the People function.
About Us
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For staff with a disability, including physical disability, long-term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.
Qualifications
- CIPD qualified.
- Educated to post-graduate degree or equivalent level of experience.
- Evidence of continuous personal and professional development.
- Desirable to have a mediation qualification.
Experience
- Experience in a senior HR and OD position.
- Proven track record of achievement in a complex, people-facing organisation.
- Significant employee relations experience including undertaking highly complex and contentious investigations.
- Experience in leading diverse services and programmes across different functions, and leading and facilitating stakeholders through major change.
- Experience building workforce plans and new workforce models that are underpinned by robust quantitative workforce analysis.
- Proven ability to evaluate and optimise business cases and to construct effective business models for service delivery.
- Strong track record in promoting and delivering organisational change.
- A thorough understanding of modern HR and OD theory and practice.
- Excellent working knowledge of current employment law, including experience in employment tribunals.
- Strong grasp for diversity & inclusion issues, including legislative requirements.
- Proven track record in whistleblowing practice and responding to concerns raised within the legislative and speaking-up frameworks.
- Experience of managing industrial relations in a multi-union environment.
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. 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.
Contact
Helen Cant
helen.cant@uhb.nhs.uk
Compensation and Benefits
- Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
- Band: 8c
- Salary: £79,504.00 to £91,609.00 Yearly
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-Time, Flexible Working
- Reference number: 304-ADP2026
- Job locations: Trustwide – Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2TH
Attachments
JD- Associate Director of People June 26- tracked.pdf – 443KB
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