Job overview
This is a key senior role for someone who is excited by doing things differently — testing new ideas, listening deeply to our people and translating insight into action. You will help shape an inclusive, compassionate and high-performing culture, ensuring our organisation continues to evolve in step with the needs of our workforce and the communities we serve.
You will lead our approach to culture, OD, leadership and change, championing evidence-based practice, using people insight to inform decisions and creating the conditions where colleagues feel heard, supported and empowered.
We are looking for a confident, collaborative leader with significant experience of leading culture / OD activity in complex organisations. You will be comfortable operating at pace, influencing senior leaders and balancing innovation with delivery in a highly visible role.
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape a modern, progressive People and Culture offer and contribute to the direction across NHS Wales and the ambulance sector.
Potential candidates are encouraged to speak to our Director of Culture Change; this can be arranged by contacting Sarah Davies ()
Main duties of the job
The primary purpose of this role is to help Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WAST) be a great place to work with fully engaged staff, supported by excellent leadership and management, strong performance management with access to the best learning and development and wellbeing initiatives in an open and inclusive culture.
The post holder will report directly to the Director of Culture Change and will work as part of the senior leadership team to deliver the Trust’s People and Culture Agenda.
They will be responsible for the performance of the Organisational Development, EDI, Change and People Insights and Speaking Up Safely functions and will be provide advice to the Board and its Committees on all matters relating to these functions.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Working for our organisation
#RemarkablePeople
Our workforce is made up of over 4,000 remarkable people who contribute to the delivery of world-class patient care across Wales, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether you work in a patient-facing role or within our range of support services, the work that you do enables us to provide high quality care, wherever and whenever we’re needed.
The Trust recognises the need for its workforce to represent the diversity of the population it serves across the whole of Wales and seeks to create an environment where diversity is celebrated and inclusivity matters. We are also keen to break down any barriers into the Trust, and would encourage applications from under-represented groups, including those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities and disability groups.
Careers within the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust are diverse and varied, with opportunities arising right across the service. Whatever your skills and background, you’re sure to find a career with us which is fulfilling, challenging, and rewarding.
In line with the Trust’s Starting Salary Procedure, all applicants will start at the bottom of the band for the position applied for, but can apply for a higher salary if they have previous experience relevant to the position.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
* The post holder will actively engage with key stakeholders to establish a fit for purpose culture which is supported by appropriate frameworks, policies and development in clear alignment with the organisation’s values, expectations and behaviour standards.
* The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of the Culture strategic ambitions and actions contained in the People and Culture Plan for WAST and develop innovative strategies to improve performance, promote health and wellbeing and ensure staff are engaged.
* The post holder is responsible in conjunction with the senior leadership team for the formulation and delivery of culture policies and strategies that deliver the best employment experience for our people and will seek opportunities to evaluate, learn and continually improve. They will also be responsible for ensuring that the strategic and operational objectives are translated into personal objectives for the necessary teams.
* The post holder will lead on the strategic development of progressive, future focused, evidenced based and inclusive strategic plans, which drive cultural transformation and improved staff wellbeing, delivered through skilled and equipped leaders to create the climate that meets the current needs and future ambitions of the organisation.
* Be responsible, as part of the senior leadership team, for the design and development of culture policies and strategies which impact on the organisation and will be responsible for ensuring that the strategic and operational People objectives are translated into personal objectives for the necessary teams.
* Ensure all People policies embrace culture and inclusion, the Trust’s values and behaviours and support wellbeing.
* As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, be expected to contribute fully to the management and development of the People and Culture function and deputise for the Director/ Deputy Director when required, which will include attendance at key senior meetings.
* Present at key meetings including the Executive team and Board on sensitive and contentious subject areas (e.g. a response to tackling bullying and harassment in WAST).
* Be accountable for effectively managing key Culture functions including Organisational Development, EDI, Change and People Insights and Speaking Up Safely.
* Be responsible for ensuring that the above functions provide timely and effective expert advice and support to line managers and staff.
* Work alongside the Deputy Director for People to provide strategic direction and leadership in the development and delivery of the People and Culture Plan to continually improve and modernise the workforce and support transformation of systems.
* Be required to liaise with Welsh Government and other Government Departments on behalf of the Director /Deputy Director as appropriate.
* Be responsible to the Director for planning and prioritising a comprehensive range of highly complex work across the Trust, as well as the day-to-day management of the core functions.
* Forge strong links with Directors, Directorate Leadership Teams, Deputy and Assistant Director peers in other corporate functions, members of the People and Culture Directorate team and TU colleagues.
* Be responsible for the development of innovative strategies promoting inclusion, leadership, change and colleague voice, promoting and ensuring staff are engaged.
* Lead service audits to evaluate the impact of services across the Trust. Oversee action plans as appropriate relating to Internal and External Audits e.g. Welsh Audit Office, Shared Services, and Internal Audits etc.
* Lead and role model the development and ongoing management of a learning and improvement culture.
* Interpret and assess developing national and local NHS development strategies and recommend courses of action to senior management and external agencies.
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.
Person specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Educated to Masters Level or equivalent knowledge, training, skills and experience in OD or similar related discipline
* CIPD qualification
Desirable criteria
* HCPC Practitioner Psychologist e.g. Clinical Psychologist or Occupational Psychologist
* Organisational and Leadership Development related qualification.
Experience
Essential criteria
* Significant experience in a leadership and management role within a complex and multidisciplinary organisation
* Experience of working effectively to support a corporate body that has a Board and formal committee structure.
* Experience of leading specialist OD team/function
* Experience of delivering transformational change (cultural and service)
Desirable criteria
* Experience of leadership coaching at a senior manager level.
Skills and Attributes
Essential criteria
* Ability to gain the confidence of Directors, senior staff and staff, taking responsibility and empowering people to act, motivating and developing people to achieve high performance, when necessary, taking difficult decisions and measures to achieve outcomes.
Desirable criteria
* Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh