Joint Chief People Officer
The closing date is 01 April 2026
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust & Wirral Community Trust seek an exceptional Joint Chief People Officer to lead one of the most important transformations in our organisations' history.
Healthcare is changing rapidly, demand is rising, workforce models must evolve & the NHS must adapt to deliver high‑quality, compassionate care in new & innovative ways. At Wirral, we are about to embark on a significant integration program & believe that meaningful transformation starts with our people.
This role offers a rare opportunity to reimagine how a major NHS organisation supports, develops & empowers its workforce. As Chief People Officer & a key member of the Trust Board, you will lead a bold & ambitious people agenda that underpins organisational transformation, service redesign & cultural renewal.
You will not simply lead HR. You will shape the future workforce of the Trusts.
This is a pivotal executive role with responsibility for building a modern, agile & inclusive workforce capable of delivering outstanding care for our communities.
Working alongside the Chief Executive & executive colleagues, you will lead a step‑change in how we attract, develop & support our people. You will champion a culture where innovation, collaboration & continuous improvement thrive.
You will also play a critical role across the Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care System, helping to develop system‑wide workforce solutions & partnerships that support sustainable healthcare.
Main duties of the job
The Joint Chief People Officer (CPO) is a non‑voting member of the Board of Directors in Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) and Wirral Community Health and Care Trust (WCHC), sharing corporate responsibility for the strategic direction of the two Trusts and the delivery of the strategic plans and objectives. The CPO is responsible for developing and delivering the joint People Strategy across the two Trusts and ensuring that it meets the requirements of the NHS People Plan, Long Term Workforce Plan, NHS People Promise and supports objectives of the Boards.
The post holder will provide leadership and direction to the Boards on all People and organisational development matters, playing a vital role in shaping an integrated People Strategy that makes a real difference to staff and patients.
The People Directorate will provide integrated, effective, and efficient People services to support the business of the two Trusts. The CPO is the executive lead for workforce Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
As the most senior lead for the People agenda, the post-holder will role‑model the shared values of both Trusts, and drive a culture of compassion, inclusion, and civility through a range of initiatives and in all the practices of the People Directorate.
Job responsibilities
* Provide professional and strategic leadership to the People Directorate functions, aligning, streamlining, and transforming services to ensure delivery of the highest level of professional standards and making a clear and visible difference to staff employed across the two Trusts.
* Working closely with Executive colleagues, the post holder will take a dynamic approach to workforce transformation and planning. The post holder will provide innovative and effective solutions to workforce challenges, ensuring a sustainable workforce plan that enables the Trusts to provide the best and safest patient care.
* The CPO will build strong relationships with education and training partners to develop a workforce that can adapt to, and adopt new ways of working, to provide care that is more integrated, data‑driven, and digitally optimised - with a focus on the delivery of high‑quality patient care.
* The CPO will lead on workforce integration, ensuring that workforce planning, workforce transformation, Organisational Design, and cultural development are a key part of integration delivery.
Qualifications
* Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
* Board level experience in NHS healthcare organisations or large, complex organisation
* Experience of developing and delivering high quality and transformative HR and OD strategies
* Substantial experience of successfully leading organisation‑wide transformation
* Experience of successfully delivering performance improvement and efficiencies through workforce transformation
* Evidence of motivating, setting direction whilst communicating vision and leading change through others
* Evidence of continuous professional development
Knowledge and Skills
* Track record in shaping a values‑based leadership culture and leading change across a complex organisation
* Highly developed emotional intelligence, excellent and versatile communication skills
* Excellent change management skills and professional expertise
* Detailed understanding of employment legislation, best HR practices and workforce planning
* Demonstrable understanding of current and future drivers for people management and people development underpinned by an evidence‑based approach
* Strong track record in developing workforce transformation in a large multi‑disciplinary organisation to drive organisational effectiveness including workforce efficiency, planning and productivity
* Ability to develop working partnerships and alliances an ability to establish processes that provide assurance to the integrated Board and executive colleagues
* Demonstrable operational, strategic, and business focus
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.
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full‑time
Reference number
408-26-240
Job locations
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Salary
Depending on experience. Salary is dependant on experience.
#J-18808-Ljbffr