As an HR Business Partner at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT), you will play a pivotal senior role supporting Divisions to deliver high‑quality patient care through an effective, engaged and well‑planned workforce. Working as a trusted adviser to Divisional leaders, you will shape and deliver strategic and operational HR solutions that align workforce capability, capacity and culture to the Trust’s priorities.
Main responsibilities
* Providing strategic HR leadership and advice to a Clinical Division, ensuring people strategies are aligned with Divisional and Trust‑wide objectives and support the delivery of safe, effective patient care.
* Leading the development and implementation of divisional workforce plans, including workforce modelling, skill mix reviews, succession planning and establishment control, working closely with finance and workforce colleagues.
* Supporting and leading complex organisational change and transformation programmes, including service redesign, restructuring, TUPE transfers and right‑sizing initiatives, ensuring appropriate consultation, risk management and staff engagement throughout.
* Acting as the senior lead for employee relations within the Division, managing and advising on highly complex and sensitive cases including disciplinary, grievance, sickness absence, capability and Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS) cases, ensuring consistency, fairness and legal compliance.
* Ensuring the Division complies with employment law, national NHS terms and conditions (Agenda for Change), Trust policies and relevant regulatory frameworks.
* Contributing to the development, review and implementation of HR policies and procedures, ensuring they reflect current legislation, national guidance and best practice and meet audit and governance standards.
* Working collaboratively across HR specialisms – including Workforce, Recruitment, Organisational Development, Education, Wellbeing and Employee Relations – to deliver a coordinated, efficient and responsive HR service aligned to Divisional needs.
* Building and maintaining effective partnership working with trade unions and staff‑side representatives, supporting consultation, negotiation, communication and employee engagement.
* Providing professional leadership within the HR function, contributing to Trust‑wide HR projects and priorities, supporting the development of HR colleagues and deputising for the Head of HR Business Partnering when required.
Skills, knowledge and experience required
* Extensive senior‑level HR experience, ideally within a large, complex and unionised organisation, with a strong understanding of healthcare provision and the NHS operating environment.
* Highly developed knowledge of employment law, national NHS terms and conditions, and best‑practice HR and employee relations approaches, with the ability to apply this knowledge to complex and sensitive situations.
* Proven ability to operate strategically, seeing the wider organisational picture while translating strategic objectives into practical, deliverable workforce and operational plans.
* Significant experience of leading and advising on complex employee relations and medical staffing cases, managing risk and maintaining fairness, integrity and professionalism.
* Strong leadership, influencing and negotiation skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and influence senior leaders, clinicians and stakeholders at all levels.
* Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data, assess risk, and develop pragmatic, evidence‑based solutions.
* Outstanding communication and relationship‑management skills, enabling the post holder to build trust, manage conflict, communicate highly sensitive information and foster effective partnerships.
* A strong commitment to staff wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion, demonstrating emotional intelligence, resilience and a values‑based approach to people management.
* Evidence of continuous professional development and professional HR registration (e.g. CIPD), reflecting a commitment to maintaining expertise and developing best practice.
Benefits
* Staff development opportunities.
* Enrolment in the NHS pension scheme and auto‑enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service.
* Access to onsite nurseries, staff restaurants and accommodation.
* Free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme.
* Onsite parking available from £50 a year.
This advert closes on Wednesday 20 May 2026.
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