Job overview
We are seeking an experienced and credible Strategic People Business Partner to join our People and Inclusion Directorate on a 12-month fixed term contract or secondment basis. This is an exciting opportunity for a senior people professional to make an immediate impact by supporting organisational and culture change, workforce transformation and improvement across a complex NHS environment.
Working as a trusted partner to divisional, clinical, operational and corporate leaders, you will provide strategic people leadership, expert workforce advice and constructive challenge. You will help translate organisational priorities, the Trust’s People Strategy, the NHS People Plan and the NHS People Promise into practical workforce plans and people interventions that support safe, compassionate, inclusive and sustainable services.
Main duties of the job
You will lead and support the people aspects of organisational and culture change programmes. You will ensure that change is delivered in a way that is legally compliant, well governed, evidence-based, compassionate and aligned to the Trust’s values. You will also:
Provide strategic people business partnering support to designated divisions, directorates or corporate services.
Lead the development and delivery of workforce plans that support service transformation, workforce sustainability, quality improvement and financial recovery.
Support the Trust’s sickness absence recovery programme
Use workforce data, staff experience insight and operational intelligence to identify risks, trends and improvement opportunities.
Champion compassionate, inclusive and values-led people practice.
You will be a highly experienced senior HR professional with the confidence to operate at senior leadership level and the credibility to influence across a large, complex and unionised organisation. You will bring specialist knowledge of employment law, workforce planning, organisational change, equality legislation and good people practice.
You will be educated to master’s level or have equivalent senior professional experience, with Chartered CIPD membership or equivalent demonstrable professional expertise. Experience of leading or supporting organisational change, advising senior leaders, working with staff side colleagues and delivering measurable workforce improvements will be essential.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See the attached job description and person specification for more information on the main responsibilities of the role
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed communication, influencing, negotiation and coaching skills.
- Ability to analyse complex workforce information and develop evidence-based solutions.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, work autonomously and exercise sound professional judgement.
- Strong report writing, presentation and facilitation skills.
Desirable
- • Advanced data interpretation skills and experience of using workforce systems, dashboards or business intelligence tools
Experience/Quals
Essential
- Educated to master’s level or equivalent senior professional experience.
- Chartered CIPD membership or equivalent demonstrable professional expertise.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in HR, organisational development, employment law, leadership, coaching or related discipline.
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of employment law, employee relations, workforce planning, organisational change, equality legislation, and good people practice
- Understanding of the NHS People Plan, NHS People Promise and workforce challenges affecting NHS services.
- Substantial senior HR or People Business Partnering experience in a large, complex and unionised organisation.
- Experience of advising senior leaders on complex workforce issues, organisational change, employee relations, workforce planning and culture improvement.
- Experience of leading projects and delivering measurable workforce improvements
Desirable
- Experience within the NHS or wider public sector
- Knowledge of NHS/medical staffing terms and conditions, Agenda for Change job evaluation, workforce productivity approaches and integrated care system working
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Strategic People Business Partner with Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Derby, Midlands, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 p.a.. The contract type is 12 months (12 month fixed term contract). The application deadline is 20 Jul 2026.
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