Head of EDI and People Promise: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

An excellent opportunity has arisen to join the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group as our Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and People Promise. This senior leadership role will lead the development and delivery of a Group-wide vision for workforce inclusion, equality and staff experience across our three hospital sites, supporting a workforce of approximately 18,000 colleagues.Reporting to the Director of Culture, Inclusion and Learning, you will provide essential strategic leadership for EDI and People Promise priorities, ensuring national NHS requirements and statutory obligations are translated into meaningful improvements for colleagues. You’ll lead the Group’s approach to workforce equality standards, staff experience, staff networks and inclusion programmes, while providing professional leadership to Site Inclusion Partners across the Group.This is a unique and really exciting opportunity for an experienced and influential EDI leader who is passionate about creating an inclusive culture, addressing inequalities and improving employee experience. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, staff networks, community partners and Board-level committees to drive measurable change and help create a workplace where every colleague can thrive. Flexible and agile working arrangements are supported, with travel across all three hospital sites required.

Main duties of the job

As Head of EDI and People Promise, you will lead the development and implementation of the Group’s workforce EDI strategy, ensuring compliance with the Equality Act, Public Sector Equality Duty and national NHS workforce equality standards. You will oversee key programmes including WRES, WDES, gender pay reporting and anti-racism initiatives, using workforce data and insights to identify priorities and drive improvement.

You will lead the Group’s People Promise agenda, coordinating staff experience initiatives, staff survey governance, listening frameworks and action planning to improve colleague engagement and wellbeing. Working collaboratively with staff networks, trade union representatives and external partners, you will ensure diverse voices influence organisational decision-making and shape future priorities.

The role also includes providing leadership and direction to Site Inclusion Partners, ensuring local delivery aligns to Group objectives while responding to the needs of individual hospital sites. You will provide assurance to senior leaders and Board committees on equality, inclusion and workforce experience outcomes, helping build organisational capability in inclusive leadership and equality practice.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Chartered Member of the CIPD, or equivalent demonstrable professional standing.

Experience

Essential

• Proven experience of delivering statutory EDI report including, gender pay gap and equality action planning with measurable outcomes.
• Significant experience of leading workforce EDI strategy and statutory equality programmes in a large, complex organisation.

Desirable

• NHS experience, including system-wide EDI governance and corporate strategy; People Promise implementation.

Skills

Essential

• Expert knowledge of the Equality Act 2010, the Public Sector Equality Duty and workforce equality standards.
• Well-developed influencing, engagement and facilitation skills across diverse audiences.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Courageous, compassionate and credible inclusion leadership consistent with the Group’s values
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion as a personal and professional priority.

Closing Date: 23 August 2026