Overview
Go back East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Deputy Chief People Officer
The closing date is 09 November 2025
We are seeking an exceptional Deputy Chief People Officer (Deputy CPO) to join our senior leadership team within the People Directorate. You will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the Trust's People Strategy, supporting the Chief People Officer in leading a high-performing, innovative, and inclusive People function that underpins everything we do at ESNEFT.
You will be an accomplished and inspirational people leader with significant senior HR or workforce leadership experience in a complex organisation, ideally within the NHS or wider public sector. You will have a proven track record of driving cultural and organisational change at scale. You should have expertise in workforce strategy, talent management, organisational development, and staff engagement.
You will have strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across systems and professional boundaries. A clear commitment to the NHS People Promise and to creating a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment where staff can thrive.
For the right candidate we would consider a 8D developmental role
Main duties of the job
You will provide strategic and operational leadership across the People Directorate, ensuring the effective delivery of high-quality HR, OD, and workforce services. You will lead the development and implementation of the Trust's People Strategy, ensuring it supports our vision of providing the best possible care and experience for patients and staff alike.
You will champion a compassionate, inclusive, and values-led culture where colleagues feel engaged, empowered, and supported to achieve their potential.
By overseeing the delivery of high-quality transactional HR services you will drive improvements in workforce planning, recruitment, retention and talent development to ensure we have the right people in the right roles.
About us
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Job responsibilities
For full details on the duties and responsibilities please see the attached Deputy Chief People Officer information pack
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Educated to a Masters degree or equivalent post-graduate qualification or equivalent level of experience
* MCIPD
* FCIPD
Experience
* Demonstrable track record of senior HR leadership and management covering a range of people functions
* Experience of operating at or near Board level, either as a Deputy or Associate/Assistant Director.
* Experience of working in partnership with recognised unions and professional groups, including leading complex discussions and negotiations
* Experience of working in the NHS and / or other public sector organisation at a senior level.
Knowledge
* A proven track record of leading, designing and delivering complex and/or large-scale organisational change, working with diverse stakeholder groups
* Good knowledge of NHS contracts (AfC and Medical & Dental)
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.
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
£91,342 to £125,637 a year pro rata, per annum
#J-18808-Ljbffr