Job summary
- Main area
- Human Resources
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 383-COR-7070-26
- Employer
- Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Kingsway Hospital
- Town
- Derby
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 18/02/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 02/03/2026
Employer heading
Head of People Operations
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Want to make a real difference and have a truly rewarding career? Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.
We’ve been rated ‘good’ overall by the CQC, with some outstanding services. The CQC commented at our most recent inspection on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.
We are passionate about making equality, diversity and inclusion part of our DNA. We take pride in our “People First Culture” which creates a workplace where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, difference is celebrated, and people are comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We value the richness that comes from having colleagues that are fully representative of the local community. We welcome people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, protected characteristics, and with all backgrounds and experiences.
Job overview
Are you an inclusive, compassionate and operational HR leader who thrives on improving staff experience and strengthening organisational culture? We are looking for a Head of People Operations to join our People, Organisational Development & Inclusion Team.
This is a pivotal leadership role where you will shape how we support, develop and care for our people – ensuring our practices reflect our Trust values of Caring, Inclusive, Ambitious, Belonging and Collaborative.
As the Head of People Operations, you will lead key elements of the Trust’s People Plan, ensuring we provide a high‑quality, compassionate and well‑governed People service.
You’ll oversee People Operations functions including:
- Employee relations & complex case management
- Our restorative Just Culture Programme
- Policy development and governance
- Training and capability building for people managers
- Tribunal and legal case activity
- Risk, assurance and compliance activity
You will provide expert leadership to our People Operations team and act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders across the Trust.
Main duties of the job
You will bring a strong blend of professional expertise and lived leadership experience. This includes holding a Level 7 CIPD qualification or equivalent senior‑level experience, alongside extensive HR leadership within a large, complex and unionised organisation. You will have a proven track record of leading with compassion and inclusion, supported by expertise in managing complex employee‑relations cases. Your background will also include designing and delivering high‑quality training, and using data, metrics and insight to inform decision‑making, monitor performance and drive continual improvement.
In addition to your professional credentials, you will demonstrate a values‑led approach that aligns with our Trust values. You will be an excellent communicator with strong influencing and relationship‑building skills, able to engage effectively with colleagues at all levels. Your organisational and assurance capabilities will enable you to manage competing priorities, work autonomously when required and maintain high standards of quality and consistency. Above all, you will have a strong and visible commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring these principles underpin everything you do.
Working for our organisation
Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.
CQC rated us as 'GOOD’ overall, commenting on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.”
Benefits include:
-
Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
-
27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years’ service
-
Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
-
Generous NHS pension scheme
-
Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
-
Health service discounts and online benefits
-
Incremental pay progression
-
Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
-
Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
-
Health and wellbeing opportunities
-
Structured learning and development opportunities
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For more detailed information on the role please review the job description and person specification.
Person specification
Qualifications/experience
Essential criteria
- • HR related degree level or equivalent experience at a senior level manager
- • Evidence of relevant continuing professional development
- • Level 7 CIPD qualification or equivalent qualification / experience
Desirable criteria
- • Experience of working in a mental health organisation
- • Mediation qualification
Skills
Essential criteria
- • Ability to lead people operations teams with compassion, clarity and accountability, fostering trust, psychological safety and continuous learning.
- • Demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with the ability to embed inclusive practice across HR strategy, policy, service delivery and leadership decision making.
- • Ability to apply a customer and equity focused, compassionate approach to people operations, ensuring staff are treated fairly, consistently and with dignity.
- • Capability to use data and insight to monitor performance, identify risk, and drive continuous improvement in people services.
- • Capability to provide operational grip and assurance – ability to run reliable, compliant, high volume people services at scale
- • Communicates with clarity, empathy and professionalism, adapting style and message to ensure understanding, engagement and inclusion.
- • Ability to plan, prioritise, implement and meet targets in a complex environment, whilst producing accurate work.
- • Demonstrates strong organisational skills, enabling safe, timely and consistent delivery of services in line with Trust and NHS values.
- • Evidence of effective influencing skills at a senior level
Knowledge/experience
Essential criteria
- • Proven experience managing and developing teams in complex, multi disciplinary environments, using compassionate leadership to build trust, wellbeing and performance.
- • Leads with compassion and psychological safety, ensuring people are treated with dignity and respect, and that empathy informs decisions, priorities and communication—especially under pressure.
- • Demonstrable evidence of working autonomously and at a senior level in a generalist case management HR role, within a large, unionised organisation
- • Demonstrable evidence of providing advice and coaching support at senior manager level on a range of employee relations matters
- • Experience leading across the full range of complex employee relations cases, including through Employment Tribunal
- • Experience of contributing to and delivering on a corporate People workstream as part of the People strategy
- • Experience of designing and delivering engaging, learner centred training, using a range of methods to actively involve participants and support learning transfer into practice.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Gill Stevens
- Job title
- Deputy Director of People, OD and Inclusion
- Email address
- [email protected]
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