Job Description

We are looking for an individual who is an existing Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, or a Deputy Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development in an equivalent Organisation. This is a 6-month secondment opportunity (with possible extension), start date to be agreed (from mid-October onwards).
As an Executive Director and Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development of one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country, the post holder will be responsible for leadership and delivery of a range of innovative HR/OD business strategies to achieve our Trust goals.
You will be a key member of the Executive team, have the ability to build credibility with, inspire confidence and demonstrably influence staff at all levels from ward to Board. You will contribute to The Leeds Way; a culture which is patient centred, empowers staff, promotes personal accountability, is fair and collaborative and delivers continuous improvement via the Leeds Improvement Method.
Expected Shortlisting Date
29/09/2025
Planned Interview Date
07/10/2025
Main duties of the job
To ensure Leeds Teaching Hospitals is the best place to work.
To further embed The Leeds Way and ensure it drives organisation-wide change that supports our objectives and our five strategic goals
To provide visible, credible, and effective leadership to ensure continued progress in staff engagement, culture and values through the effective utilisation of OD techniques
To provide innovative advice and support to the Chief Executive, Trust Board and senior leaders on all matters relating to workforce and OD across the Trust.
To strengthen and further develop the Trusts approach to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, ensuring demonstrable improvements across the whole staff group
To further enhance the HR functions operational service offering to the Trust
To ensure LTHT has a high quality, affordable workforce that is organised effectively to achieve the Trust's objectives in the delivery of patient care and financial sustainability.
To deliver robust workforce planning aligned to quality and financial imperatives.
To ensure the development and delivery of the Leeds Health and Care Academy
To collaborate across Leeds Place in the development of provider partnerships to support neighbourhood health model development
About us
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest and busiest acute hospital trusts in the country, a regional and national centre for specialist treatment, a renowned biomedical research facility, and the local hospital for the Leeds community. We treat 1.5 million patients every year, including more than 200,000 emergency patients. We spend over 1.9bn of NHS money, treating illness and disease in Leeds and on specialised services for people across Yorkshire and the Humber and nationally. Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. Please note the advertisement may close earlier should a sufficient number of applications be received.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.
Details
Date posted
08 September 2025
Pay scheme
Very senior manager (VSM)
Salary
Depending on experience Spot Salary
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
6 months
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number
C9298-TEX-0083
Job locations
St. James's University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see supporting documents for full with further information on requirements of the role, the department and workflows and full person specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see supporting documents for full with further information on requirements of the role, the department and workflows and full person specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• CIPD qualified
• Educated to Masters level in relevant discipline
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Experience
Essential

• Significant director level HR and OD experience in a complex NHS or other public sector organisation
• A recognised HR leader with influence and personal credibility that extends across the health/public sector
• Track record defining and delivering Workforce strategy
• Proven experience in leading and developing an HR function aligned with business needs and corporate objectives
• A proven track record in strategic HR and with demonstrable experience of leading teams across all the functional disciplines in HR
• Experience of successfully designing and delivering tangible improvements in staff engagement
• Strong experience in organisational design and organisational development
• Strong track record in change management and improving organisational effectiveness
• Significant experience of delivering change through partnership working
• Experience of developing and implementing transformative, organisation-wide cultural change
• Evidence of working effectively as a Corporate Director
• Experience of operating as a system leader Personal Skills

Skills & behaviours
Essential

• An agent of change
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Able to lead and motivate others, strong influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to cope with complex organisational issues and able to relate to a wide spectrum of NHS professionals
• Able to assess priorities and make decisions, quick to grasp a point, able to think on feet, influence, persuade, give leadership and direction
• Confident
• Ability to cope under pressure and work to ambitious deadlines
• Self-motivated, energetic and flexible, with well-developed interpersonal skills
• Has presence, commands respect
• Personal resilience, self-awareness, determination to succeed

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• CIPD qualified
• Educated to Masters level in relevant discipline
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Experience
Essential

• Significant director level HR and OD experience in a complex NHS or other public sector organisation
• A recognised HR leader with influence and personal credibility that extends across the health/public sector
• Track record defining and delivering Workforce strategy
• Proven experience in leading and developing an HR function aligned with business needs and corporate objectives
• A proven track record in strategic HR and with demonstrable experience of leading teams across all the functional disciplines in HR
• Experience of successfully designing and delivering tangible improvements in staff engagement
• Strong experience in organisational design and organisational development
• Strong track record in change management and improving organisational effectiveness
• Significant experience of delivering change through partnership working
• Experience of developing and implementing transformative, organisation-wide cultural change
• Evidence of working effectively as a Corporate Director
• Experience of operating as a system leader Personal Skills

Skills & behaviours
Essential

• An agent of change
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Able to lead and motivate others, strong influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to cope with complex organisational issues and able to relate to a wide spectrum of NHS professionals
• Able to assess priorities and make decisions, quick to grasp a point, able to think on feet, influence, persuade, give leadership and direction
• Confident
• Ability to cope under pressure and work to ambitious deadlines
• Self-motivated, energetic and flexible, with well-developed interpersonal skills
• Has presence, commands respect
• Personal resilience, self-awareness, determination to succeed

Skills Required