Director of People

Director of People

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) invites applications for a Director of People to join our Executive Team. The role reports directly to the Chief Executive and sits at Board level.

Closing date: 22 June 2026

As a key Executive Director, you will help shape the future workforce, culture and organisational development strategy of the Trust, serving over one million people across Cheshire and Merseyside through community physical health, mental health, learning disability and specialist services.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of the Trust’s People Plan, workforce strategy and organisational development priorities.
• Oversee workforce transformation, recruitment, retention, employee relations, leadership development, talent management, equality, diversity and inclusion, staff wellbeing and workforce planning.
• Serve as Executive Lead for the Board’s People Committee, providing expert advice and assurance on all workforce‑related matters to support effective governance and organisational performance.
• Play a system‑wide leadership role across Cheshire and Merseyside, contributing to collaborative workforce solutions and supporting delivery of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and wider system reform agenda.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Chartered Fellow or Member of the CIPD
• Master’s degree or equivalent senior‑level experience
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Experience

• Extensive senior‑level leadership experience in a large, complex organisation, preferably within the NHS or wider health and care sector.
• Proven track record of leading workforce strategy, organisational development and cultural transformation.
• Experience operating effectively at Board level.
• Extensive experience leading large People functions and delivering high‑quality HR and OD services.
• Strong understanding of NHS workforce priorities, employee relations and employment legislation.
• Partner‑working across organisations and systems, including system‑wide collaboration.
• Evidence of successful development, implementation and delivery of People strategies and operational plans.
• Proven ability to lead and manage multiple teams to deliver excellent people services and systems.
• Expert knowledge of NHS equality, diversity and inclusion improvement programmes.
• In‑depth knowledge of the NHS Long Term People Plan and related strategies.
• Experience of dealing with sensitive and complex issues with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

Skills and Abilities

• Compassionate, inclusive and engaging leadership style.
• Excellent communication, influencing, stakeholder management, negotiation and conflict‑management skills.
• Strong strategic and operational leadership capability, with the ability to lead organisational change and continuous improvement.
• Political awareness and sound judgement.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and the ability to inspire and develop high‑performing teams.
• Personal resilience and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Commitment to own and team members’ learning and development.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure & Barring Service check will be required.

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