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:
Closing date for applications: Monday December 15th 2025
#J-18808-Ljbffr