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- Tasks: Lead the People and OD Department to enhance employee experience and drive organizational effectiveness.
- Company: Join the RCN, a trade union supporting over half a million nursing professionals.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, up to 32 days annual leave, and an award-winning health program.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on nursing standards while fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Qualifications: Must have a Level 7 HR qualification and experience in HR practices and trade unions.
- Other info: Hybrid working model allows for 60% remote work; equity and diversity are top priorities.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
There is more to the RCN than you might think. We’re a trade union with a membership of over half a million nurses, midwives, nursing support workers and students. We support their practice, represent them, lobby on their behalf, and develop them. We exist to make a positive difference – to the working lives of our members and ultimately to standards in patient care. Our employees are drawn from many walks of life – we are nurses, marketers and communicators, administrators, IT professionals, policy and finance experts, lawyers… together we are so much more.
We couldn’t do what we do without our people. We’re accredited with Investors in People Silver Standard. Our people are our greatest asset, and we want people who can contribute to our purpose in line with our values.
As a function, the RCN’s People and OD (POD) Department’s purpose is to enable the RCN to succeed through its people. We seek to create the best possible experience of work and working life for our people, support and empower our people through people-centred policies, practices and provisions and recruit, develop and engage our people to thrive in their roles.
By striving to be an exemplary employer, our work contributes to the RCN’s credibility as a trade union, and as the voice of the nursing profession.
As our Head of POD , you’ll lead the delivery of our purpose by working strategically and proactively across the organisation to ensure the overall service delivery of the department aligns with the RCN’s strategic plan and organisational priorities to drive organisational effectiveness, foster good employee relations and engagement, and maintain constructive working relationships with trade unions and staff.
As well as contributing to the development and monitoring of our People Strategy, you will ensure that activities represent the very best in HR practice fit for the RCN and are delivered to the highest standards, with the organisation and its people’s needs at the forefront. Working closely with senior leadership and executive team members you’ll also ensure the POD department understand and meet their needs and that they understand the work of the POD Department.
You will manage the overall service delivery of the reward, operations, learning and organisational development and people services (encompassing equity, diversity and inclusion, people analytics, reward, HR systems, people resourcing and people policy) and people business partnering functions ensuring initiatives, projects, policies and activities are consistent, up to date, relevant and in line with statutory requirements, maximising opportunities for growth and minimising organisational risk when needed.
The ability to foster strong professional relationships and encourage close collaboration between departments is at the heart of this leadership role.
As an Affiliate member of CIPD or other relevant professional body with a Level 7 HR qualification or equivalent qualification and/or experience you’ll also need contemporary knowledge of all areas of HR practice including EDI, employee relations, learning and reward.
You will need experience of working effectively in a trade unionised environment with responsibility for organisation-wide human resources activity as well as experience of making a positive contribution to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion agendas.
To succeed at the Royal College of Nursing all you need to do is think bigger, better and brighter. And with an attitude like that, anything’s possible.
What we offer you
We expect you to look after your customers. And we expect you to be rewarded for it. We offer an impressive range of benefits, a broad range of learning development opportunities and an award-winning health and wellbeing programme. We offer annual leave up to 32 days plus bank holidays and three additional days for the Christmas break plus generous maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental leave packages.
We offer a competitive pay structure with annual pay progression until you reach the top of the salary scale. We normally offer new employees the first point of the salary range, although you may be able to negotiate a higher starting salary depending on your skills, experience and current salary.
We are a diverse organisation and understand everyone has different needs and many of our employees enjoy flexible working enabling them to deliver results whilst having a good work life balance. Our hybrid working model allows for up to 60% of your working time to be carried out from home. At least 40% of your working time will be spent working in person.
Our selection process
Please click the ‘apply now’ button to submit a CV and answer the supporting questions online demonstrating how you meet the criteria for this role. You may not be shortlisted if you don’t. Please ensure your CV is in a simple format with minimal tables and sections. Any identifying information in your application will automatically be anonymised for shortlisting purposes.
We want your experience applying for a job with us to be the best it can be. We may hold our interviews and assessments in person or by video call. If you foresee any problems, please let us know.
Equal opportunities for everyone
Equity, diversity and inclusion are a priority for us and we aim to foster an inclusive environment so our people can bring their authentic selves to work. This is integral to our mission to enable you to support our members and ensure their voice is heard by all UK governments to get the best outcomes for them and their patients.
As a proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities.
Contact details
For more information or for an informal discussion about the role please contact Geraldine Zake, Executive Assistant to Chief People Officer at who will arrange a time.
For more information about the recruitment and selection process please contact
- Opening date: 18 December 2024
- Closing date: 11.59pm on 19 January 2025
- Assessment centre: 04 February 2025 in person at RCN UK HQ
- Interviews: 10 February 2025 in person at RCN UK HQ
- Interview date:
- Contracted hours: 35
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Head of People and Organisational Development employer: Royal College of Nursing
Contact Detail:
Royal College of Nursing Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of People and Organisational Development
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the RCN's mission and values. Understanding how we support our members and contribute to the nursing profession will help you align your experience and vision with our goals during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in fostering employee relations and engagement. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully implemented people-centered policies and practices in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your knowledge of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. Share insights on how you've advanced EDI agendas in past positions, as this is a key focus for us at the RCN.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your approach to collaboration across departments. We value strong professional relationships, so be ready to share how you've fostered teamwork and communication in your previous roles.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of People and Organisational Development
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored specifically for the Head of People and Organisational Development role. Highlight your experience in HR practices, equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as your ability to foster strong professional relationships.
Answer Supporting Questions Thoughtfully: When answering the supporting questions online, provide clear examples from your past experiences that demonstrate how you meet the criteria outlined in the job description. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
Keep It Simple: Ensure your CV is in a simple format with minimal tables and sections, as requested. This will help avoid any issues during the anonymisation process for shortlisting.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Emphasize your leadership experience and strategic thinking abilities in your application. Discuss how you have successfully led teams or initiatives in previous roles, particularly in a trade unionised environment.
How to prepare for a job interview at Royal College of Nursing
✨Understand the RCN's Mission
Before your interview, make sure you have a solid grasp of the Royal College of Nursing's mission and values. Familiarize yourself with their commitment to supporting nurses and improving patient care, as this will help you align your answers with their goals.
✨Showcase Your HR Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your contemporary knowledge of HR practices, especially in areas like equity, diversity, and inclusion. Highlight specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your ability to implement effective HR strategies in a trade unionized environment.
✨Emphasize Collaboration Skills
This role requires fostering strong professional relationships across departments. Prepare examples that showcase your ability to collaborate effectively with senior leadership and other teams, ensuring that you can meet their needs while advancing the organization's objectives.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities in HR contexts. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you successfully navigated them, particularly in relation to employee relations and organizational development.
