Chief People Officer Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL)
Attractive Executive Salary + Benefits
Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester | Hybrid with cross-site presence
A rare opportunity to shape the future of a high-performing NHS organisation.
Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) is seeking an outstanding, people-centred and strategic Chief People Officer to join our Board at a pivotal moment for the organisation, the health system and the borough we proudly serve.
Why join WWL? WWL is a major teaching Trust with a strong reputation for quality, partnership and innovation. We care for a population of over 329,000, operate from five hospital and community sites, and hold a CQC rating of Good. Our Wrightington Hospital site is internationally recognised for orthopaedic excellence.
But it’s our culture that truly defines us.
We are known for:
Low turnover and high colleague engagement
A genuine sense of belonging and purpose
A collaborative, values-driven Executive Team
Strong system partnerships across Greater Manchester
A deep commitment to education, improvement and research
Our role as an anchor institution, with 70% of colleagues living locally
We are now entering an exciting new chapter, driven by a £4.8m transformation programme with local authority and ICB partners, reshaping urgent and emergency care and accelerating our journey toward integrated, community-focused delivery.
About the role As Chief People Officer, you will be a visible and influential Board-level leader — shaping the People & Culture agenda for a 7,000-strong workforce and driving the culture, leadership and capability needed for the next decade.
You will provide strategic and operational leadership across:
People & Culture strategy
Workforce planning & modernisation
Leadership & talent development
System working and transformation
Organisational development & culture change
Colleague wellbeing and experience
Education, learning & development
Digital people services
Inclusion, belonging and fairness
Employee relations and partnership working
This is a role for an inspiring, collaborative leader who can balance strategic transformation with operational grip, building trust, capability and confidence across the organisation.
What we’re looking for You will be:
An experienced senior People/OD leader in a complex organisation (NHS or public sector desirable)
A visible, inclusive and values-led leader with strong personal credibility
Skilled at organisational development, cultural transformation and workforce redesign
Passionate about colleague experience, wellbeing and leadership development
Collaborative, politically astute and confident influencing at Board and system level
Committed to fairness, inclusion and positive organisational culture
Energised by challenge and motivated by public service
If you are driven by impact, partnership and purpose — and want to shape the future workforce of an organisation with a truly meaningful community legacy — we would be delighted to hear from you.
Apply now Applications are via CV and cover letter.
Email your application to: jp@seymourjohn.com
For an informal conversation, contact Jonathan Phillips on 07817 988490
Further information and full candidate pack: www.wwlopportunities.co.uk
Closing date for applications: Monday December 15th 2025
#J-18808-Ljbffr