Deputy Chief People Officer: Sponsorship Available

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Deputy Chief People Officer

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Help shape the future of healthcare through exceptional people leadership

At Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Every day, more than 15,000 colleagues deliver outstanding care, drive world-leading research, educate the next generation of healthcare professionals, and improve lives across Oxfordshire and beyond.

We’re looking for an exceptional Deputy Chief People Officer to help lead this agenda.

This is more than a senior HR role. It is an opportunity to influence the future of one of the UK’s most respected teaching trusts, working alongside an ambitious Executive Team to create an inclusive, high-performing culture where our people can thrive and deliver their very best for patients.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you will play a pivotal role in delivering our ambitious People Plan, leading transformation at scale and helping shape the workforce of the future. You will bring together strategic vision and operational excellence, champion inclusion and belonging, and help ensure our people services are innovative, responsive and focused on what matters most.

Main duties of the job

About the role

As Deputy Chief People Officer, you will be a key member of the People Directorate senior leadership team and a trusted partner to executive and clinical leaders across the Trust.

You will be comfortable leading through complexity, bringing clarity in times of uncertainty, and tackling difficult challenges with courage, compassion and integrity.

You will:

  • Lead major people transformation and organisational change programmes.
  • Drive continuous improvement across people services.
  • Champion inclusive leadership, staff experience and organisational culture.
  • Strengthen governance, performance and workforce outcomes.
  • Build strong partnerships across the Trust, the wider NHS and national networks.
  • Deputise for the Chief People Officer and contribute to Board-level leadership and decision making.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oEducated to a master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or relevant field; or equivalent post-graduate qualification or equivalent level of experience in HR leadership roles.

Desirable

  • oChartered Member of the CIPD or equivalent professional body

Experience

Essential

  • oExtensive experience in HR leadership, including substantial management experience in the NHS at a senior level.
  • oExtensive experience of performance management, compliance and risk management.
  • oAbility to deliver in a complex organisation within challenging timescales.
  • oAbility to think and act strategically and to articulate a clear sense of direction and vision to a wide audience

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 11 October 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.