Director of People & Organisational Development

Overview

Willen Hospice provides outstanding specialist palliative and end-of-life care to the people of Milton Keynes. We are a values-led organisation at every level – and we are now looking for an exceptional Director of People & OD to join our Executive team at a pivotal moment in our history.

Milton Keynes is growing fast. We are responding with ambition: a 2035 Strategic Framework is being developed right now by the Executive team, and the incoming Director of People & OD will own a significant part of that work. This is a role with genuine reach and real strategic weight.

What it feels like to work here

There are not many jobs where the work you do genuinely changes how people experience the end of their lives. At Willen Hospice, however, this is something you feel from your first week. Our staff and volunteers carry a quiet sense of purpose that shapes how they show up, how they treat each other, and how they approach even the hardest days.

As a member of the Executive team, you will feel that too. Leaders here are held to the same standards that we ask of everyone else. Purpose is not a backdrop. It is the point.

What you’ll do

• Lead our people strategy — recruitment, retention, reward, development, internal communications, wellbeing, diversity equality and inclusion and employee relations.
• Drive significant OD and transformation work as we evolve to meet the needs of a growing city.
• Own the People & OD workstream of our 2035 strategy, working alongside the Chief Executive and Executive team.
• Champion culture, values and organisational health across the whole organisation.
• Sustain and develop the extraordinary contribution of our volunteers.

We’re looking for someone who is

• Experienced at Director or HRD level — you have led a people function and are not stepping into this kind of role for the first time.
• A genuine OD and transformation capability, to complement your operational HR expertise.
• Values-led in the way you lead — visible, accountable, human.
• Confident contributing to organisational strategy at Board and Executive level.
• Able to make a genuine commitment to regular on-site presence.

We are guided by inclusion, compassion, ambition, respect and excellence. We are looking for a Director who leads by these values every day – and will help others do the same.

Application and contact

For an informal conversation about the role, please speak to Kate Broadhurst, Chief Executive via Margaret Dovies, Executive Office Manager.

To apply, please forward your CV, and a detailed letter of application, to hradmin@willen-hospice.org.uk

• A fixed term contract may be considered for an exceptional candidate.

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