Assistant Director of People Services

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust in a pivotal senior leadership role at the heart of our People Services function. As Assistant Director of People Services, you will help shape the experience of our people across a large, complex and ambitious organisation, leading services that make a real difference to colleagues, culture and ultimately patient care.

You will lead the People Business Partnering team and the Employee Relations team, with a real focus on fostering positive working relationships and creating a supportive environment where issues are addressed constructively and fairly.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust is a Trust with a strong sense of purpose, serving communities across Derbyshire and Staffordshire through our hospital sites and dedicated teams. We are proud of our values of compassion, openness and excellence, and of our commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive environment where people can thrive, develop and do their very best work.

For the right candidate, this role offers the chance to influence strategy, lead meaningful change and work alongside passionate colleagues who are committed to continuous improvement. It is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced and values driven leader to join a forward looking Trust and play a key role in shaping how we support, engage and empower our workforce.

Main duties of the job

Lead on the Business Partnering and Employee Relations, providing strategic direction, fostering collaboration, and ensuring high standards of professional practice across both areas.

• Contribute to Trust-wide People strategy, proactively identifying and managing people-related risks, legislative requirements, and workforce trends within strategic planning
• Engage with key stakeholders to understand workforce demands, anticipate external changes, and developing plans that support Trust objectives and mitigate people risks
• Act as the expert on organisational change, offering guidance on complex service reconfigurations, ensuring compliance with employment law, supporting managers with best practice and technical advice
• Utilise people analytics and reporting to monitor workforce trends, drive continuous improvement, provide assurance to senior leadership and the Board, whilst maintaining compliance with data protection regulations
• Build and sustain strong relationships with senior leaders, staff representatives, and external partners, negotiating and influencing outcomes on complex workforce matters and supporting clear, consistent application of our polices
• Provide governance leadership within the Directorate, contributing to Trust-wide governance frameworks, risk registers, and assurance committees to enable effective decision-making.

Closing date: 22 June 2026

Interview date: TBC

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB – this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.

UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AI‑generated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers

Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).