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Job overview
This is a defining moment to join Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, a newly merged organisation serving communities across Bristol, Weston and South Gloucestershire.
As Director of People for the City and Weston Hospital Operating Unit, you will also be a key member of the Hospital Management Team, providing strategic workforce leadership to support operational performance, patient care and the delivery of hospital priorities. Working closely with clinical, operational and corporate leaders, you will ensure the people agenda enables the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care.
We are seeking an experienced, compassionate and inclusive senior people leader with the credibility to operate at a senior level within a complex NHS environment. You will bring a strong track record of leading cultural change, workforce transformation and organisational integration, together with a passion for improving colleague experience and organisational effectiveness.
The role is offered as a 12 month fixed-term or secondment opportunity. The Chief People and Culture Officer would be delighted to hear from you if you would like an informal conversation about this opportunity.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will hold a significant Trust-wide portfolio, leading strategic priorities across Culture, Organisational Development, Health and Wellbeing, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Staff Engagement, and Leadership and Management Development. These areas sit at the heart of the recently published NHS Staff Standards and are central to creating a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture across the Trust.
This is a unique opportunity to combine corporate responsibility for key people and culture services across the Trust and senior operational leadership within a Hospital Operating Unit with. You will help embed a shared culture, strengthen workforce resilience and create the conditions for colleagues to thrive while delivering outstanding care for our communities. This role also works very closely with the Director of People for the Southmead Hospital Operating Unit, and would be expected to deputise for the Chief People and Culture Officer.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see a full description of the role and main responsibilities in the attached job description document.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant senior management experience in an NHS Acute Trust operating at Board level with comparable scope, responsibilities, budget and resources
- Experience of leading a merger or integration, or equivalent, similar in size and significance.
- Experience of successfully developing and delivering people and OD strategies.
- Experience of increasing staff engagement and motivation to improve performance.
Desirable
- Experience working on national programmes or contributing to national policy development.
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Master’s degree in organisational development or strategic HRM or equivalent level management qualification or equivalent senior practical experience
- Evidence of management leadership/training and continuous professional development.
- Fellow of CIPD or equivalent experience
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of Employment Legislation, best HR practices and workforce planning
- Knowledge and understanding of key NHS issues, including at a national level and has ability to establish local policy drivers
- Expert knowledge in organisational design and development practises
- Commercially astute and able to develop commercial strategic options
Desirable
- Understanding of service improvement and redesign techniques
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Director of People – City and Weston with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust in Bristol, South West, England. It is listed as a Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is VSM. The contract type is 12 months (fixed-term or secondment). The application deadline is 10 Aug 2026.
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