Executive Director of People & Culture

Go back Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Executive Director of People & Culture

The closing date is 19 October 2026

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation TrustExecutive Director of People and CultureLocation: West Park Hospital, DarlingtonSalary: Attractive VSM

As Executive Director of People and Culture, you will be a voting Executive Director, Trust Board member and the Trust's most senior people professional. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will lead the strategic people, workforce and organisational development agenda, ensuring our people strategy, culture and workforce plans enable delivery of our organisational ambitions. Working closely with Board colleagues, operational leaders and system partners, you will provide expert advice, assurance and constructive challenge on workforce performance, organisational development, leadership, inclusion, colleague experience and workforce sustainability. This is an opportunity to shape the future culture and capability of a large and complex NHS organisation at a pivotal stage in its development.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking an experienced and credible people leader with significant experience operating at, or close to, Board level within a large and complex organisation. You will bring a broad track record of leading HR, workforce and organisational development services, alongside a strong understanding of NHS governance, regulation and the financial context in which NHS organisations operate. You will have experience of driving workforce transformation, organisational change and cultural improvement, with the ability to influence and build trust at the most senior levels. Above all, you will be a compassionate, inclusive and values-driven leader who is passionate about creating an outstanding place to work and supporting colleagues to deliver exceptional care for our communities.

About us

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health, learning disability and autism services to more than 2 million people across County Durham, Tees Valley, North Yorkshire and York. Our dedicated staff operate from more than 90 sites, working in partnership with patients, carers, communities and system partners to deliver high-quality care.

Whilst we have made significant progress in improving our services, we remain rated 'Requires Improvement' by the CQC. With a new Chair and Chief Executive, a refreshed Board, and a renewed focus on transparency, learning and improvement, we are committed to building a stronger, safer and more compassionate organisation. Guided by Our Journey to Change and our values of Respect, Compassion and Responsibility, we are determined to create an environment where colleagues can thrive and provide the very best care for those who rely on our services.

Job responsibilities

We want our Board to be as inclusive and diverse as possible, and we are keen to attract candidates who can bring diverse perspectives. We warmly welcome expressions of interest from the widest possible range of backgrounds, particularly those who are under-represented at board level in the NHS.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Master's degree level education or equivalent knowledge, training and experience.
• Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD)
• Evidence of significant continuing professional development

Experience

• Extensive senior people, workforce or organisational development leadership and management experience within a large, complex organisation
• Significant experience operating at or close to Board, Executive Director or equivalent senior leadership and management level
• Track record of designing and delivering effective people strategies, workforce transformation, organisational redesign and organisation-wide cultural change with measurable impact on organisational performance, colleague experience and outcomes
• Experience of providing clear, evidence-based advice and assurance to Boards and Board committees on workforce performance, risks, controls and improvement
• Experience of using workforce analytics, benchmarking and qualitative insight to influence strategic decisions, anticipate risk and drive improvement
• Experience of leading and managing high-performing multidisciplinary People and Culture functions, including HR and organisational development
• Experience of effective partnership working with trade unions, system, professional bodies, regulators and other stakeholders
• Experience of leading equality, colleague experience, engagement, wellbeing, leadership and management development and talent initiatives
• Experience of managing significant budgets, resources, risk, complexity and competing priorities

Knowledge

• Comprehensive knowledge of contemporary people, workforce, organisational development, employment relations and equality practice in a large, complex organisation
• Strong understanding of current national NHS workforce policy and the regulatory, governance and financial context within which NHS provider organisations operate
• Extensive knowledge of strategic workforce planning, organisational design, cultural transformation, workforce productivity and improvement methodologies
• Strong understanding of employment legislation, trade union partnership working, equality duties, workforce assurance and people governance
• Understanding of system working and how the people agenda contributes to organisational, place-based and system plans

Skills

• Highly developed executive leadership and management, communication, negotiation and influencing skills
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive and contentious information clearly and credibly
• Strong analytical ability, with the capacity to interpret complex workforce, financial, quality and performance information
• Ability to provide authoritative professional advice, constructive challenge and evidence-based assurance at Board level
• Ability to translate strategy into clear plans, accountabilities and measurable outcomes
• Ability to lead and manage through change with compassion, credibility, resilience and pace
• Ability to build strong relationships with clinical, operational, corporate, professional and system leaders
• Ability to make sound executive decisions under pressure and balance competing organisational priorities
• Strong written and verbal presentation skills, including Board-level reporting

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

£100,000 to £200,000 a yearpro rata, per annum

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