Search for more NHS jobs in Norwich
Job overview
Are you a senior HR leader who is passionate about shaping culture, driving workforce transformation and delivering meaningful impact at scale?
As Deputy Chief People Officer, you will play a pivotal role in leading the Trust’s People & Culture agenda, acting as the strategic deputy to the Chief People Officer. You will provide visible, values-led leadership across the full HR portfolio, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, responsive and colleague-centred people services that enable outstanding care for our communities.
This is a key leadership role at the heart of the organisation, offering the opportunity to influence strategic direction, embed a compassionate and inclusive culture, and deliver tangible improvements in staff experience, recruitment, retention and organisational development. You will work in partnership with senior clinical and corporate leaders to align workforce priorities with service transformation and operational delivery.
You will champion a culture that reflects our values, Team, Accountable, Learn & Improve and Kind, while strengthening our commitment to be an equitable, anti-racist and inclusive employer.
You will be joining an organisation committed to creating a workplace where people feel valued, supported and able to thrive. This is a role where your leadership will directly influence culture, workforce sustainability and the quality of care we provide.
Main duties of the job
- Provide senior leadership across all HR and People Services functions, ensuring a high-quality, efficient and colleague-centred service
- Act as deputy to the Chief People Officer, offering expert advice and representing the function at senior level internally and externally
- Lead workforce strategy, planning and transformation, using data and insight to drive recruitment, retention and organisational outcomes
- Oversee employee relations, organisational change and professional standards, ensuring fair, consistent and inclusive practices
- Drive improvements in recruitment, onboarding and staff experience, strengthening the Trust’s position as an employer of choice
- Build strong partnerships with senior leaders, staff-side representatives and system partners to support delivery of workforce priorities
- Ensure robust governance, policy development and risk management across all People Services functions
- Promote a compassionate, inclusive and high-performing culture aligned to Trust values and workforce ambitions
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of People & Culture within a complex and ambitious organisation. As Deputy Chief People Officer, your leadership will directly influence staff experience, organisational culture and the delivery of high-quality care.
If you are a values-driven, strategic HR leader who thrives in a dynamic environment and is motivated to make a lasting impact, we would welcome your application.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience leading a high-performing HR service in a large, complex organisation
- Strong track record managing senior HR teams in a diverse workforce environment
- Demonstrable expertise in employee relations, including MHPS
- Substantial experience of partnership working and supporting organisational change initiative
Desirable
- Experience in healthcare or NHS at senior level
- Knowledge of mental health services
- Understanding of ICS structures, NHS workforce priorities and the national People Plan
Qualifications
Essential
- Master’s level qualification or equivalent senior-level experience
- Chartered CIPD membership or equivalent knowledge and experience
Desirable
- HR specific postgraduate qualifications
- Employment law qualification
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 9 Medical Secretary roles in Norwich
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Deputy Chief People Officer with Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in Norwich, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 9 Administrative and IT role. The advertised salary is £112,782 - £129,783 per annum/ pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 05 Jul 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (22 Jun 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.