Workforce manager - carmarthenshire

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Hywel Dda University Health Board as an Operational Workforce Manager.

The Operational Workforce Manager will deliver a comprehensive, professional, and customer-focused workforce service to operational and clinical teams across the Health Board. This is a key role in supporting the effective delivery of workforce objectives, ensuring services are compliant, efficient and sustainable in line with organisational priorities.

The post holder will act as a trusted advisor to managers, providing expert guidance on a wide range of workforce matters including absence management, performance management, employee relations, and organisational change. You will support managers to proactively address workforce challenges, improve staff experience, and drive high-quality patient care through effective people management.

The role requires a strong focus on building effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders. You will ensure that advice and support is consistent, evidence based, and reflects current employment legislation, best practice, and organisational policies.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, excellent communication skills, and the ability to influence and support change in a complex and fast-paced environment.

Main duties of the job

You will be proactive, solution-focused, and committed to delivering a high-quality workforce service that supports both staff and organisational outcomes.

The post holder will:

• Provide expert advice on complex employee relations matters, exercising sound judgement to support fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes.
• Provide professional leadership to Workforce Advisors, supporting their ongoing development and promoting high standards of practice across the team.
• Monitor the progress of workforce initiatives and projects, identifying risks or issues and escalating these appropriately to ensure timely resolution.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, fostering a culture of open and constructive engagement.
• Communicate complex and sensitive workforce matters clearly and confidently to a wide range of audiences, including managers, staff, and external partners.
• Support managers through organisational change processes, including consultation, engagement, and where required, leading on TUPE transfers

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 99 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services

Job responsibilities

Applications will be shortlisted based on Qualifications and Knowledge, Experience and Other. Skills and Attributes will be assessed at interview stage.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 06.07.2026

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent experience- acquired through degree / professional HR qualification plus additional training or equivalent experience
• Membership of Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
• Evidence of any other professional qualifications
• Knowledge of workforce issues and the basic terms and conditions which govern workforce.
• Chartered Fellow of CIPD
• Post graduate qualification in relevant discipline, or other relevant discipline

Experience

• Significant experience of HR and/or organisational development /modernisation issues in a large, complex organisation.
• Evidence of strategic workforce change and implementation within a complex environment.
• Demonstrate successful outcomes of consultation and negotiation experiences.
• Proven track record of innovation, change management, implementing best practice and/or modernisation of services and ways of working.
• Evidence of analytical reasoning
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Previous experience in a senior Workforce role.
• Knowledge of working within an NHS organisation.
• Track record of inspiring and managing a team.
• Mediation Training.
• Evidence of Strategic thinking and contextual understanding of NHS Workforce issues.

Other

• Flexible approach to needs of the service
• Welsh Speaker (Level 1) is desirable but not essential for this post.

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.