Deputy Head of Recruitment
Closing date is 28 April 2026
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Deputy Head of Recruitment to play a pivotal senior leadership role in shaping and delivering the Trust's recruitment, retention and digital transformation ambitions.
Reporting to the Head of Recruitment & Temporary Staffing, you will lead the attraction and recruitment of talent aligned to the Trust's values and strategic objectives. You will be instrumental in reducing agency reliance by developing robust recruitment pipelines, modernising recruitment practice, and delivering a high quality, candidate centred recruitment service.
As a member of the HR senior leadership team, you will work closely with divisional teams, clinical leaders and external partners to ensure the Trust recruits and retains the best people to deliver outstanding patient care.
You will be a confident, credible senior HR professional with significant experience in recruitment leadership within a complex organisation, ideally within the NHS or public sector. You will bring:
* Proven experience of leading strategic recruitment and workforce initiatives
* Strong stakeholder management skills, including working with senior clinicians and executives
* Expertise in modern recruitment practices, systems and workforce data
* The ability to manage complexity, challenge constructively and drive service improvement
* A collaborative, values‑led approach aligned to the Trust's commitment to patient care and inclusion
Main duties of the job
* Lead and deliver the Trust's recruitment, retention and digital transformation strategy, reducing reliance on temporary staffing and ensuring sustainable workforce pipelines aligned to organisational and clinical priorities.
* Partner with divisional leaders, HR colleagues and external stakeholders to provide expert, compliant and cost‑effective resourcing solutions that support immediate operational and long‑term strategic plans.
* Oversee recruitment systems, processes, KPIs and workforce data to drive performance, assure governance and enable continuous improvement and digital transformation.
* Manage, coach and develop high‑performing recruitment teams while ensuring an excellent candidate and joining experience that reflects the Trust's values and employer brand.
* Act as a senior subject‑matter expert, providing assurance, escalation management, audit, benchmarking and expert advice on complex and multilayered recruitment issues.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high‑performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high‑quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours that underpin our Trust's core values, and we use values‑based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible, promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when a sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering the first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job responsibilities
* Responsible for contributing to and implementing the Trust's recruitment strategy to reduce reliance on temporary staffing in line with our long‑term goals.
* Plan and deliver the Recruitment & Retention Strategy required to deliver the key organisational, business and clinical plans.
* Work in partnership with Divisional HR Business Partners, managers and clinical leaders to ensure robust, up‑to‑date and sustainable resourcing and recruitment plans that support immediate operational plans and long‑term strategic objectives.
* Deliver flexible recruitment services based upon the needs of the Trust.
* Work with recruiting managers to attract the best talent through various recruiting methods, using new and innovative ideas.
* Ensure appropriate use of recruitment systems to maximise workforce resources.
* Continually benchmark recruitment methods and service provision and explore all models of service delivery, maximising the use of technology to drive innovation, efficiency and productivity.
* Audit and challenge recruitment decisions made by recruiting managers where correct process has not been followed.
* Responsible for implementation, maintenance and monitoring of recruitment software systems.
* Liaise and build relationships with external service providers. Audit activity for the most cost‑effective solutions.
* Advise on highly complex and sensitive issues around talent attraction and recruitment for a range of audiences.
* Manage and coach the recruitment team, design processes and tools to train the teams and hiring managers in effective attraction and selection practices.
* Continuously improve and maintain an excellent recruitment and staff joining experience service in line with best practice and quality standards.
* Promote the Trust's image, reputation and values as an employer of choice in as many potential marketplaces as possible.
* Develop project plans and manage the roll‑out of recruitment campaigns and projects locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
* Act as a key contact for external bodies such as BLMK and NHS Improvement/England.
* Proactively develop recruitment pipelines and talent pools to meet future demand.
* Create supporting policies and procedures and design appropriate training and support materials.
* Further develop and consolidate the Trust's approach to selection techniques, including any assessments required for the process.
* Review with the Communications Team the Trust's existing social and web presence and develop and implement ideas to promote Bedfordshire Hospitals as an employer of choice.
* Ensure recruitment is cost‑effective, legally and ethically compliant and delivers robust, value‑for‑money outcomes while still being people‑focused and customer‑led.
* Develop, maintain and produce regular management information reports on recruitment campaign performance.
* Develop auditing tools to ensure best practice in recruitment activity.
* Agree, develop and deliver recruitment KPIs and oversee generation, validation and interpretation of recruitment data.
* Oversee the sponsorship function to ensure the Trust adheres to Home Office rules and regulations, advising recruiting managers as required.
* Analyse workforce data to support specialist/departments and develop strategies to address challenges.
* Recognise and monitor external marketplace trends, adjust overall recruiting strategy, develop attraction strategies for high‑calibre candidates, especially from skills‑shortage or hard‑to‑recruit areas.
* Work with Training and Development Team on design and delivery of recruitment and selection training, and robust selection methods such as psychometrics.
* Ensure any complaints are managed and appropriate action taken.
* Advises on complex scenarios and acts as escalation point for conflict and sensitive situations.
* Provide specialist expertise on multilayered recruitment issues and escalations up to board level.
* Assist with budget planning and management.
* Provide specialist advice to senior managers, clinical directors and leads on resourcing issues.
* Manage team performance, carry out annual appraisals and ensure statutory training is up to date.
* Embed Trust values and behaviours in all processes.
* Provide accurate, timely recruitment and retention information and monitor/report on these.
* Ensure communication methods and forums support regular feedback on recruitment processes.
* Support trust operations through effective HR relationships and communication.
* Lead and coordinate audit and benchmarking activities to drive performance.
* Develop continuous service improvement strategies and plans.
* Assist in internal and external investigations and grievances.
* Support trust tribunal cases.
* Lead trust digital transformation.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Educated to Masters level or equivalent
* CIPD qualified or equivalent level of experience
Experience
* Experience working in a complex, multi‑sited organisation.
* Significant HR/Recruitment experience in a large, complex, unionised organisation.
* Experience leading and managing an operational team and processes to tight deadlines.
* Understanding of HR practices and employment law related to recruitment best practice and immigration legislation.
* Significant experience of recruitment planning and delivery.
* Power Automate, Power BI
Knowledge
* Leadership skills with a strong focus on timely delivery of outcomes and achievements.
* Experience interpreting numerical/statistical workforce data.
* Strong IT skills including good knowledge of all MS Office packages.
* Ability to lead, develop and motivate team working.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check to identify any previous criminal convictions.
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