Chief People Officer

Job overview

Applications for this role are invited via our chosen agency, Hunter Healthcare.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UH Sussex) is seeking an exceptional Chief People Officer to help lead the next stage of development for one of the largest and most complex acute provider organisations in the NHS.

Serving more than 1.8 million people and employing almost 20,000 colleagues across Sussex, UHSussex is a young organisation, created in 2021 through the merger of two hospital trusts. The Trust has made real progress as One UHSussex, with a clear strategy, committed colleagues and strong clinical expertise. But there is still significant work to do to build a single, coherent organisation where colleagues experience consistent leadership, reliable people support and a culture rooted in compassion, inclusion and respect.

This is a demanding and important executive role. Like many large NHS organisations, UHSussex is operating in a challenging environment shaped by rising demand, workforce pressures, financial constraint and ageing infrastructure. The Trust is clear that the next Chief People Officer must bring both strategic vision and practical grip: strengthening the core HR foundations, improving employee relations processes, building confidence in the People Directorate, and developing a workforce strategy that supports service transformation, productivity, inclusion, staff wellbeing and long-term sustainability.

Main duties of the job

As a voting member of the Trust Board and Executive Team, you will provide the professional HR voice at Board level and lead the People Directorate through its next phase of development. You will need to work closely and constructively with executive, clinical, divisional, staff-side and system partners, aligning workforce priorities with operational delivery, clinical strategy, financial sustainability and cultural change.

We are looking for a senior people leader with substantial experience in a large, complex and unionised environment. You will bring strong technical HR credibility across employee relations, employment law, organisational change, workforce planning, HR policy, workforce systems, recruitment and retention, and board-level workforce assurance. You will be comfortable using data to improve consistency, productivity and decision-making, and you will have the resilience and judgement to balance compassion and fairness with pace, accountability and professional challenge.

This is not a maintenance role. It is an opportunity for a visible, credible and values-led Chief People Officer to help strengthen the organisation’s people foundations, support almost 20,000 colleagues, and make a lasting contribution to excellent care for patients and communities across Sussex.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Stakeholder Events; 23rd June 2026 and 25th June 2026/ Panel Interviews; 3rd July 2026

How to apply;

All applications must be received by 2 June 2026. All applications must quote the reference UHSX_CPO and include: A full curriculum vitae; A covering letter (no more than two pages) indicating how you meet the selection criteria and articulating why you are interested in the role; Contact details for referees covering the last six years (who will not be contacted without your permission); A contact email address and telephone no.; A completed Diversity Monitoring Form and Fit and Proper Person Monitoring Form.

Please send all documentation by email to our applications inbox at Hunter Healthcare on: [email protected]

Please refer to attached JD and Person Specification for full role and responsibility.