Job overview
The Deputy Director of Culture, Leadership and Organisational Development (OD) is a pivotal member of the People Directorate and plays a key role in developing and supporting the delivery of the Trust's People ambition, enabling the Trust to recruit, retain and develop the best workforce to deliver its goals and objectives.
The post-holder will play a vital role in developing and implementing Organisational Development (OD) and leadership strategies, alongside cultural change initiatives. OD interventions will support and enable continuous cultural transformation, build leadership capability and support successful and sustainable large-scale complex change, internally and system-wide where appropriate.
The role holder will proactively work closely and in partnership with Chief Officers, leaders and managers across the organisation, designing and delivering fit for purpose and evidence led interventions, which will have a significant impact on individual and organisational performance and to the patient and staff experience.
The post‑holder will provide strategic leadership for staff engagement and experience across the organisation, acting as the responsible lead for all matters that influence employee satisfaction, belonging and retention. They will ensure that insights from staff voice, EDI, health & wellbeing, culture initiatives and leadership practice are translated into meaningful improvements that strengthen our ability to attract, retain and develop our people.
Main duties of the job
This role leads the development and delivery of the Trust’s culture change and organisational development (OD) strategy, ensuring alignment with strategic aims, values and financial constraints. Working with senior leaders, national bodies and partners, the post‑holder drives an integrated approach to leadership, service improvement, innovation and continuous quality improvement (CQI), embedding evidence‑based practice and measurable outcomes across the organisation.
The role is central to shaping a compassionate, high‑performing and patient‑centred culture. It involves designing and delivering OD programmes, supporting transformation, and enabling leaders and teams to adopt sustainable improvement practices. Close collaboration with divisions, People Directorate colleagues and improvement partners ensures cultural and behavioural change is effectively embedded.
A key responsibility is leading staff engagement, including the national staff survey, translating complex data into actionable insights and driving improvements in experience, wellbeing, retention and inclusion. The post‑holder champions initiatives that strengthen belonging and address workforce challenges in a sensitive organisational context.
The role also oversees leadership development, appraisal systems and capability building, ensuring leaders are equipped to deliver change. It includes responsibility for health and wellbeing services and EDI strategy.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the full job description and person specification attached.
Please note that there will be an opportunity for informal calls with the Chief People Officer for shortlisted candidates on Thursday 06 August 2026
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Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of designing and delivering large-scale change programmes (with a number of interdependent components) with measurable outcomes
- Successful experience of supporting and changing organisational culture linked to continuous improvement
- Significant experience of managing an OD and/or Learning and Development function and service
- Designing and delivering programmes of training across staff groups
- Leadership and management experience
- Experience of developing and implementing strategic and business plans
- Experience of effectively managing projects/initiatives
- Experience of performance managing and improving services
- Experience of developing advanced communication and engagement strategies
- Experience of providing advice and development at/near Board level
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Masters level or equivalent
- Learning and Development and/or Organisational Development qualification
- Evidence of further education in relation to L&D and/or OD
- MCIPD
- Coaching or mentoring qualification
- NLP qualification
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Deputy Director of Culture, Leadership & Organisational Development with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Worthing, South East, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is £94,356 - £108,814 pa. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 28 Jul 2026.
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