Divisional Head of Workforce

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Divisional Head of Workforce The closing date is 18 December 2025 As a member of the Divisional Board, the Divisional Head of Workforce plays a pivotal role in leading HR provision across the Division, providing expert advice on the full spectrum of workforce matters. This senior role shapes and delivers strategic HR direction to support high-quality patient care, operational efficiency, workforce productivity, and the achievement of both Trust and Divisional objectives. Working collaboratively with Divisional Directors, Heads of Nursing, Finance leads, and other senior stakeholders, the Divisional Head of Workforce drives forward planning, transformation initiatives, staff engagement, and workforce performance. The role also champions the embedding of best HR practice and the development of management capability across the Division. In partnership with the Associate Directors of Workforce, the Divisional Head of Workforce contributes to the delivery of the Trust's strategic workforce priorities, ensuring the Division remains a high-performing, engaged, and sustainable part of the organisation. Main duties of the job Work closely with senior leaders, including Executive Directors, Divisional Boards, Clinical Directors, Heads of Nursing, Finance colleagues and staff-side representatives, to drive high-quality, evidence-based workforce planning, organisational change and employee relations. Lead the development and delivery of divisional workforce strategies, informed by complex workforce analytics, to ensure the right staffing, skills and culture are in place to support safe, effective and financially sustainable patient care. This includes shaping recruitment and retention plans, enabling skill-mix redesign, and supporting major projects, tenders and transformation programmes. Oversee Divisional Workforce performance, ensuring delivery of KPIs, benchmarking against best practice, and producing high-quality workforce reports to inform decision‑making. You will also support organisational change initiatives—including restructures and TUPE—leading consultation processes and enabling new ways of working. This is a high‑impact, high‑visibility role requiring a confident HR professional with strong influencing skills, expert knowledge of employment law and NHS workforce frameworks, and a passion for developing people and transforming services. About us Our Trust Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1,100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values – Together – Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high‑quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population. CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social‑economic background. Job responsibilities A core element of the role is to provide expert guidance on complex ER matters, coaching managers, presenting cases at senior panels and tribunals, and promoting best practice in HR policy and employment legislation. You will champion staff engagement, work closely with OD and L&D colleagues to develop leadership capability, and drive improvements in workplace culture and staff experience. This role contributes directly to financial efficiency by leading workforce elements of business cases, developing pay and reward solutions, and supporting robust vacancy and pay control processes. As a senior workforce leader, you will also manage allocated staff, contribute to Trust‑wide projects, and uphold our values through positive role‑modelling and inclusive leadership. Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities. Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full‑time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full‑time permanent contract unless you have: applied for a Graduate visa or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment The advert will close at midnight on 18 December 2025. Interviews are due to be held on 12 January 2026. Benefits to you At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on‑site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced‑cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff. On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose‑created colleague‑only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH. CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work‑life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part‑time working, job‑share, term‑time working and flexible start and finish times. Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces. Person Specification Qualifications MCIPD qualified or equivalent proven HR skills and experience Evidence of further professional / personal development Experience Significant experience of working in an HR function at a senior level in a large complex organisation Extensive experience demonstrating competence across complex employee relations matters, including performance management and direct involvement in complex disciplinary, and grievance cases Significant experience of complex, large organisational change programmes including TUPE and redundancies Experience of leading and managing a team, inspiring confidence and facilitating their development Experience of developing long ranging workforce plans, recruitment and retention and staff engagement strategies Proven track record in board member responsibility and active participation in creating and executing divisional business plans and CIP programmes Experience of working in an HR function in the NHS Experience of working in a unionised environment Experience of integrated workforce information systems Experience of contributing to regional network meetings when required Policy review and development Knowledge Specialist and expert knowledge of agenda for change terms and conditions Knowledge and understanding of key NHS and HR issues both local and national A sound working knowledge of employment legislation and case law and its application a wide range of professional groups Understanding of the role of HR in the planning and delivery of the Trust Business Plan Sound knowledge, understanding and direct experience of best practice in people management issues Appreciation of the requirements of working in a large complex organisation Skills Political awareness and sensitivity in particular when working with senior operational and clinical staff including Directors Proven problem‑solving skills Able to work in a multi‑disciplinary team Strategic awareness - able to align Workforce activities with wider Trust and Divisional objectives Planning and organisational skills - able to prioritise and work to tight timescales Ability to deliver bespoke and management training Self‑motivated with resilience and tenacity Able to evaluate situations and assimilate information quickly Excellent IT skills including ability to use the full range of MS Office applications Responsive and outcome driven Highly effective interpersonal skills including negotiation and influencing skills Able to be assertive when appropriate Able to manage pressure Able to deal with emotionally difficult and challenging situations sometimes including verbal aggression Excellent verbal and written communication - able to draft well written and reasoned cases, investigation and appeal reports Able to identify, interpret and analyse workforce reports, financial reports, complex legal decisions and case law Leadership and drive to champion improvement initiatives Proven coaching and facilitation skills Project management Additional Requirements The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent. Customer focused and able to work within the Trust Values Ability to develop strong working relationships both internally and externally Able to attend meetings or conferences outside the region and outside normal working hours as required Undertake departmental and Trust induction Undertake mandatory training on ongoing basis Maintains own continuing professional and personal development 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. Address Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust #J-18808-Ljbffr