Are you an ambitious senior HR leader ready for your next challenge? As Divisional Head of Workforce, you will lead the people agenda for a major clinical division, partnering with senior leaders to shape workforce strategy and transformation. A broad, fast-paced role offering excellent development towards future Senior HR Leadership positions.
This is a unique opportunity to join Oxford University Hospitals as a Divisional Head of Workforce, leading the people agenda for one of our major clinical divisions and helping deliver exceptional patient care through our people.
Value Based Interview date: Tuesday 01 or Wednesday 02 September 2026
Panel Interview date: Friday 04 September 2026
Reporting to the Director of Workforce, you will work closely with divisional operational and clinical leaders as their trusted strategic workforce adviser. You will lead the development and delivery of the Divisional People Plan and Workforce Plan, using workforce data and insight to identify priorities and implement solutions that improve performance, engagement, retention and productivity.
This is a highly visible, fast-paced and demanding role, offering exposure to the full breadth of HR and workforce leadership. From workforce planning, organisational development and transformation to employee relations, wellbeing and leadership development, no two days are the same.
What makes this role particularly attractive is the opportunity to operate strategically within one of the largest and most complex NHS Trusts while maintaining broad HR experience across the entire people agenda. Working closely with specialist colleagues across the Workforce Directorate, you will gain valuable exposure across multiple disciplines, making this an exceptional development opportunity.
Ideal for an experienced Senior HR Business Partner, Deputy Head of Workforce or Associate Director, this role provides excellent preparation for becoming a future Director of Workforce, Deputy Chief People Officer or Chief People Officer.
Hybrid working is supported, with an expectation of at least two days per week on site at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. For more information on OUH please view OUH At a Glance by OUHospitals - Issuu
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.
We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel .
- Ensure alignment and compatibility with Trust-wide people strategy and workforce plans.
- Provide a highly visible, competent and coaching leadership style which is consistent with the Trust values, building and maintaining effective working relationships with managers, staff and external organisations
- As a senior member of the Workforce Directorate, to contribute to the development of the HR function and to HR policies, strategies and business plans which enable Trust corporate aims and objectives to be achieved.
- To support and challenge managers in the application of HR policies and practices, providing advice and guidance on complex HR issues in order to minimise risk
- Act as an advocate for change, identifying and helping to deliver productivity and efficiency improvements through working practices.
- Actively lead and support the implementation of OD and workforce improvement initiatives.
- Coach managers in the process of implementing change and supporting those involved in and affected by it.
- Regularly review and assess established working practices and staff management practices to ensure they continue to support efficient operational delivery.
- Work with clinical leaders, managers and staff representatives to develop and prioritise a culture of effective employee relations and partnership working across all areas of the division.
- Coach line managers and other key individuals in the effective management and motivation of ‘self’ and others.
- Lead the workforce components of the division’s cost improvement plans to ensure effective delivery to agreed timescales.
- Analyse divisional workforce data to identify priorities and plan future actions through regular review of workforce metrics.
Other duties as per the job description
