Chief People Officer

Job overview

Letter from the Chief Executive Officer - Ged Murphy

Following the retirement of the Trusts long standing Chief People Officer, we are seeking an exceptional leader , ideally with Board level experience, who can quickly assimilate into the Chief People Officer role and join our high-performing Executive Leadership Team. You will be highly driven, goal- and action-oriented, with a talent for inspiring and motivating teams, backed by a proven track record of delivery.

You will bring significant experience in driving strategy and change within a complex environment, in collaboration with the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team. Your ability to establish strong working relationships across systems will be crucial in inspiring teams to achieve their goals. Leadership should be ethical, collegiate and professional, with a core focus on equity, diversity and inclusion.

You will be pivotal in supporting us to address the staffing challenges facing the NHS at the moment but will recognise this also provides us with an opportunity to make a real difference in how we attract, retain and develop a modern workforce to provide the best possible care to patients.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a leader who will be proud to work alongside our 3,400 dedicated staff to deliver on this agenda. If you think this candidate briefing describes you or you would like further information in relation to this role please email [email protected]

Thank you for expressing an interest in the role of Chief People Officer at East Cheshire NHS Trust. This is an exciting time to join our team in leading a workforce that is determined to deliver exceptional patient care.

We hope that you find this candidate briefing interesting and look forward to hearing from you.

Ged Murphy – Chief Executive Officer East Cheshire NHS Trust

Recruitment and selection timetable:

• Advertisement from 28th November to 15th December at 5.00pm
• Shortlisting will commence from 22nd December
• Interviews with stakeholder panel will be held on 5th January 2026

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please read the attached Applicant Pack prior to completing your application form to find out more information.

Please download a copy of the Job Description and Person Specification located under the Supporting documents heading to read more about the advertised role.

As part of making your application we encourage you to review the Trusts Careers webpage Careers :: East Cheshire NHS Trust for more information about working for East Cheshire NHS Trust.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. The Trust is a Disability Confident Leader and as such, applicants with disabilities will be offered an interview providing they meet the minimum criteria for the post (outlined in the Person Specification).

We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application. While this is not discouraged, it is essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section as these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. We kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role. Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process and being a member of East Cheshire NHS Trust.

Applicants are advised to apply early as we reserve the right to close the advert prior to the advertised closing date should we receive a large number of applications.

We look forward to receiving your application.