# Director of People > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/director-of-people/58f5b9c8-775f-40c2-9991-08fca3977af4 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/director-of-people/58f5b9c8-775f-40c2-9991-08fca3977af4.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Chester - **Region:** North West - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Manager and corporate - **Salary:** Dependant on experience - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time - 37 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-06-22T10:00:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-05-29T13:31:41.429Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Cheshire/Chester/Cheshire_Wirral_Partnership_NHS_FoundationTrust/Director_People/Director_People-v8041686 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8041686?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.cwp.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) is seeking an exceptional Director of People to join our Executive Team at a pivotal time for both the organisation and the wider NHS. This is a high-profile Board-level leadership role, reporting directly to the Chief Executive and playing a central part in shaping the future workforce, culture and organisational development strategy of the Trust. As a key Executive Director, you will help lead an organisation serving over one million people across Cheshire and Merseyside through community physical health, mental health, learning disability and specialist services. Using your strategic workforce expertise and compassionate leadership style, you will lead the delivery of an ambitious People agenda focused on workforce transformation, staff wellbeing, inclusion, leadership development and organisational culture. You will work collaboratively across the Trust and wider health and care system to ensure CWP continues to attract, retain and develop a skilled, engaged and motivated workforce capable of delivering excellent patient care. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced and values-driven People leader looking to make a meaningful impact within a progressive and ambitious NHS organisation. ### Main duties of the job You will provide visible and credible leadership across the full People portfolio, ensuring the Trust has high quality, modern and responsive People services that support operational delivery and long-term organisational sustainability. Working closely with Executive colleagues, Board members, staff networks and trade union partners, you will lead the development and implementation of the Trust’s People Plan, workforce strategy and organisational development priorities. You will oversee workforce transformation, recruitment and retention, employee relations, leadership development, talent management, equality, diversity and inclusion, staff wellbeing and workforce planning. As Executive Lead for the Board’s People Committee, you will provide expert advice and assurance on all workforce-related matters, supporting effective governance and organisational performance. You will also play a key system leadership role across Cheshire and Merseyside, contributing to collaborative workforce solutions and supporting delivery of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and wider system reform agenda. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities The Director of People is a key member of the Trust Board and Executive leadership team and will contribute fully to the overall strategic direction of the organisation. The role includes responsibility for: - Strategic leadership of the People Services Directorate - Delivery of the Trust’s People Plan and workforce strategy - Workforce transformation and organisational development - Staff health and wellbeing - Recruitment, retention and workforce planning - Leadership development, talent management and succession planning - Equality, diversity and inclusion - Employee relations and partnership working - Workforce governance, assurance and risk management - System leadership across Cheshire and Merseyside The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across the Trust and wider Integrated Care System to support service transformation, workforce sustainability and improved patient outcomes. To find out more about the key responsibilities and specific skills and experience required, please refer to the Job Description and Candidate Information Pack. Person specification Qualifications Essential criteria - Chartered Fellow or Member of the CIPD - Educated to Master’s degree level or equivalent senior leadership experience - Evidence of continuing professional development Experience Essential criteria - Extensive senior leadership experience within a large and complex organisation, ideally within the NHS or wider health and care sector - Proven track record of leading workforce strategy, organisational development and cultural transformation - Significant experience of operating effectively at Board level - Experience of leading large People functions and delivering high quality HR and OD services - Strong understanding of NHS workforce priorities, employee relations and employment legislation - Experience of partnership working across organisations and systems Skills and abilities Essential criteria - Compassionate, inclusive and engaging leadership style - Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills - Strong strategic and operational leadership capability - Ability to lead organisational change and continuous improvement - Political awareness and sound judgement - Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion - Ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams ## Job Details Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) is seeking an exceptional Director of People to join our Executive Team at a pivotal time for both the organisation and the wider NHS. This is a high-profile Board-level leadership role, reporting directly to the Chief Executive and playing a central part in shaping the future workforce, culture and organisational development strategy of the Trust. As a key Executive Director, you will help lead an organisation serving over one million people across Cheshire and Merseyside through community physical health, mental health, learning disability and specialist services. Using your strategic workforce expertise and compassionate leadership style, you will lead the delivery of an ambitious People agenda focused on workforce transformation, staff wellbeing, inclusion, leadership development and organisational culture. You will work collaboratively across the Trust and wider health and care system to ensure CWP continues to attract, retain and develop a skilled, engaged and motivated workforce capable of delivering excellent patient care. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced and values-driven People leader looking to make a meaningful impact within a progressive and ambitious NHS organisation. ## Job Description You will provide visible and credible leadership across the full People portfolio, ensuring the Trust has high quality, modern and responsive People services that support operational delivery and long-term organisational sustainability. Working closely with Executive colleagues, Board members, staff networks and trade union partners, you will lead the development and implementation of the Trust’s People Plan, workforce strategy and organisational development priorities. You will oversee workforce transformation, recruitment and retention, employee relations, leadership development, talent management, equality, diversity and inclusion, staff wellbeing and workforce planning. As Executive Lead for the Board’s People Committee, you will provide expert advice and assurance on all workforce-related matters, supporting effective governance and organisational performance. You will also play a key system leadership role across Cheshire and Merseyside, contributing to collaborative workforce solutions and supporting delivery of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and wider system reform agenda. ## Responsibilities The Director of People is a key member of the Trust Board and Executive leadership team and will contribute fully to the overall strategic direction of the organisation. The role includes responsibility for: - Strategic leadership of the People Services Directorate - Delivery of the Trust’s People Plan and workforce strategy - Workforce transformation and organisational development - Staff health and wellbeing - Recruitment, retention and workforce planning - Leadership development, talent management and succession planning - Equality, diversity and inclusion - Employee relations and partnership working - Workforce governance, assurance and risk management - System leadership across Cheshire and Merseyside The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across the Trust and wider Integrated Care System to support service transformation, workforce sustainability and improved patient outcomes. To find out more about the key responsibilities and specific skills and experience required, please refer to the Job Description and Candidate Information Pack. Person specification Qualifications Essential criteria - Chartered Fellow or Member of the CIPD - Educated to Master’s degree level or equivalent senior leadership experience - Evidence of continuing professional development Experience Essential criteria - Extensive senior leadership experience within a large and complex organisation, ideally within the NHS or wider health and care sector - Proven track record of leading workforce strategy, organisational development and cultural transformation - Significant experience of operating effectively at Board level - Experience of leading large People functions and delivering high quality HR and OD services - Strong understanding of NHS workforce priorities, employee relations and employment legislation - Experience of partnership working across organisations and systems Skills and abilities Essential criteria - Compassionate, inclusive and engaging leadership style - Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills - Strong strategic and operational leadership capability - Ability to lead organisational change and continuous improvement - Political awareness and sound judgement - Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion - Ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams ## Person Specification ### Experience **Essential** - Extensive experience of working at a very senior level in a large complex organisation likely to be the NHS or other health or social care environment - Experience of leading major organizational change and development programs including management of the OD function to provide excellent support to clinical and support services - Evidence of successful development, implementation and delivery of People strategies and operational plans - Proven experience of leading and managing multiple teams to deliver excellent people services and systems - Expert understanding and leadership of the NHS equality diversity and inclusion improvement program - Detailed knowledge and understanding of the NHS Long Term People Plan and related strategies - Detailed understanding of employee relations and relevant legislation - Evidence of building successful People services using continuous improvement methodology - Experience of successful partnership working and collaboration at local and regional level - Operating at Board level within a large complex organization - Experience of dealing with sensitive and complex issues with a range of internal and external stakeholders ### Education and Qualifications **Essential** - Chartered Fellow or Member of the CIPD - Educated to Master’s degree or equivalent senior level experience - Evidence of continuous professional development ### Skills, Knowledge and Attributes **Essential** - Compassionate, inclusive and engaging style of leadership with the ability to engage and inspire people at all levels - Ability to build effective relationships - In depth understanding of employee relations and employment law - Knowledge and understanding of the wider NHS and social care infrastructure and government policy - Excellent judgement, political awareness, influencing, negotiation and conflict management skills - Ability to work as a member of multiple teams and on own initiative - Good understanding of all aspects of operational human resource management and organisational development and successful change management - Detailed knowledge and understanding of Equality, Inclusion and Diversity issues and a commitment to improving access to employment opportunities - Credible leader with the ability to engage and inspire people at all levels - Ability to understand and translate complex NHS policy, HR and financial information - Personal resilience and the ability to meet deadlines - Commitment to own and team members learning and development - Excellent verbal and written communication skills ## Documents - [risk form (pdf, 632.5kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10330244) - [candidate pack (pdf, 798.3kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10334825) - [privacy notice (pdf, 177.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=1515) - [recruitment of ex-offenders policy (pdf, 167.7kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=618) - [job description and person specification (pdf, 792.5kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10330243) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.