Go back Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Deputy Chief People Officer/Assoc Director of Organisation Development
The closing date is 04 May 2026
An exciting new role at the heart of Culture, Compassion and Change at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is entering a significant and exciting period of transformation - one where culture, compassion and people experience are at the heart of how we deliver our mental health and learning disability services.
We are proud of the care we provide and the difference our colleagues make every day. Now, as we strengthen our culture and ways of working, we are creating a new role, Deputy Chief People Officer / Associate Director of Organisational Development, Inclusion and Learning & Development to help shape the next chapter of our Trust\'s journey.
This is a unique opportunity to join us at a time of real momentum and possibility - contributing to a programme of change that is focused on:
Building a positive, compassionate, inclusive and values-led workplace culture
Supporting our people to thrive, develop and feel proud of the work they do
Embedding compassionate leadership and continuous improvement
Main duties of the job
The Deputy Chief People Officer / Associate Director of Organisational Development deputises for the Chief People Officer across the full range of people, workforce and organisational development responsibilities, representing the function at Board level and in external and system-wide forums. As a senior member of the People Senior Leadership Team, the post holder provides strategic leadership to the Organisational Development, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Learning and Development portfolios, ensuring delivery of the Trust\'s People Strategy and associated workforce programmes.
The role leads the design and delivery of organisation-wide organisational development, leadership, talent and succession strategies, supporting culture change, staff engagement and inclusion. Acting as a senior advisor to the Executive Team, the post holder influences organisational design, workforce planning and capability development to ensure the Trust has the capacity, capability and values-led culture required to deliver its strategic objectives and high-quality services.
About us
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate services to the communities we serve, supported by a values-led, inclusive and people-centred culture.We place strong emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusion, recognising that our strength lies in the diversity of our workforce and the contribution of every individual.
Our staff are expected to uphold the Trust\'s CARE values, demonstrate professional integrity and contribute to a supportive environment where challenge, learning and continuous improvement are encouraged. We are committed to excellent governance, staff development and wellbeing, and to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace where colleagues are supported to deliver their best for patients, service users and communities.
Job responsibilities
Job Description
The Deputy Chief People Officer / Associate Director of Organisational Development is a senior strategic role within the Trust, providing leadership across organisational development, workforce capability, leadership, talent, inclusion and culture. The post holder supports and deputises for the Chief People Officer, representing the Trust at Board level and in external and systemwide settings, and contributing to strategic decision making on people and workforce matters.
As a member of the People Senior Leadership Team, the role plays a central part in shaping, delivering and assuring the Trusts People Strategy and associated delivery plans. The post holder works closely with executive colleagues and system partners to ensure that organisational design, workforce planning and leadership development enable the delivery of high quality, sustainable services. The role also provides professional leadership across key People Directorate functions, ensuring strong governance, effective performance management and high quality service delivery to divisions.
Main Responsibilities
* Shape and lead the Trusts organisational development approach, ensuring OD, culture and change activity is aligned to strategic priorities and supports delivery of the Trusts objectives.
* Lead and oversee major change and transformation programmes, providing expert leadership and acting as a catalyst for organisational improvement.
* Drive the development of leadership capability across the organisation through leadership, management and team development frameworks, coaching and succession planning.
* Provide strategic oversight of talent management, workforce capability and future skills development, supporting new roles and new ways of working.
* Lead the Trusts statutory and mandatory training provision and training needs analysis, ensuring learning activity is effective, efficient and value adding.
* Champion staff engagement and inclusion, embedding equality, diversity and inclusion across organisational development and workforce practices and promoting coproduction.
* Oversee staff feedback and culture insight, including the Trusts Staff Survey and culture dashboards, using data to support continuous improvement.
* Provide expert advice on complex organisational, cultural and workforce issues, and lead the development and implementation of OD and people related policies.
* Prepare high quality reports and briefings for senior leaders, Trust committees and the Board.
* Manage delegated budgets within the portfolio, including learning, OD and apprenticeship funding, and support transformation and cost improvement activity.
* Lead, manage and develop the Organisational Development, EDI and Training and Development teams, providing visible, inclusive and compassionate leadership aligned to the Trusts CARE values.
* Act as deputy to the Chief People Officer as required and represent the Trust internally and externally.
For more information and an informal chat with Kerry Smith, Chief People Officer, please contact: Anna Tyas, EA.
Interviews are due to take place: 21st May 2026 (subject change).
Person Specification
Educated to Master\'s level or equivalent professional experience
* Master\'s degree or equivalent experience
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of organisational development principles and practice
Applicants must demonstrate compassionate, inclusive leadership aligned to CARE values.
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
* Fellow level
Formal Coaching Qualification
* Experience of leading equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives, statutory and mandatory training delivery, and managing significant budgets within a governance framework would be advantageous.
Senior leadership experience gained within healthcare or a similarly large, complex organisation
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.
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
#J-18808-Ljbffr