HR Associate Director

Associate Director – People Services

Location: Peterborough (hybrid 1 day a week on site)

Job Type: Temporary

Duration of booking: Expected to last 3 months with possible extension

Proposed start date: ASAP

Pay Rates: Up to £43 per hour PAYE inclusive of holiday pay

Hours / Working Days: 37.5 hours per week / Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Sector: Healthcare

Based: Office / Hospital

Job Purpose

• To lead and manage People Services functions within the wider Workforce & Organisational Development (OD) division, holding teams accountable for delivering agreed KPIs and objectives.

• To deputise for the Deputy Chief People Officer, providing strategic focus and professional leadership to ensure the delivery of organisational objectives through a customer-focused service.

• To diagnose and resolve complex problems using advanced analytical and judgemental skills.

• To ensure all services comply with statutory and regulatory requirements, meeting both nationally mandated and locally agreed standards.

• To lead professional recruitment and business partnering services, fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders and adding value through OD methodologies.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Leadership and Strategy: Drive organisation-wide workforce planning, connecting it with broader business planning. Develop and present business cases to secure funding for People Services projects and initiatives.

• Employee Relations: Act as a point of escalation for complex and sensitive employee relations cases, providing expert support to senior staff and executive directors. Ensure effective case management that adheres to timescales, fairness, and employment law.

• Communication: Present highly contentious or sensitive information to large groups of staff and at board level. Negotiate and influence system partners to achieve strategic objectives.

• Operational Management: Oversee the workforce systems programme plan to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget. Manage resource levels across concurrent workstreams to meet fluctuating demands.

• Financial Accountability: Accountable for People Services budget setting and monitoring, ensuring value for money and avoiding overspends. Oversee large-budget services, including temporary and medical staffing.

• People Management: Line manage several teams, including HR Business Partners, Medical Workforce, Employee Services, and Recruitment. Lead, motivate, and develop staff while managing performance and welfare.

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Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Essential: Master’s level education or equivalent level of experience working at a senior level in HR services.

• Essential: Professional membership of a relevant body (e.g., CIPD, BCS).

• Essential: Programme Management (e.g., MSP) or Project Management (e.g., Prince2) qualification, or equivalent experience.

• Essential: Post-graduate management qualification or equivalent senior management experience.

• Essential: Evidence of continuing professional development.

Experience

• Essential: Extensive experience in managing HR systems, services, and technology for business use.

• Essential: Significant experience in leading and motivating others, with a track record of staff management at a senior level.

• Essential: Proven experience in planning and delivering complex programmes of projects within a change management environment, preferably in a complex setting like the NHS.

• Essential: Experience in risk management, outsourced contract management, and developing business cases.

• Essential: Experience in building and managing relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Knowledge and Skills

• Essential: In-depth knowledge of payroll, e-rostering, workforce planning, temporary staffing, and HR processes.

• Essential: Expert knowledge of HR systems (particularly ESR) and NHS terms and conditions.

• Essential: Understanding of Information Governance, Data Protection, and employment law.

• Essential: Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate and implement business processes and systems.

• Essential: Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to negotiate and influence at a senior level