Job summary
- Main area
- People Services and Organisational Development
- Grade
- Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 050-EDPS-0825
- Employer
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- A North Wales base to be agreed
- Town
- St Asaph
- Salary
- Competitive
- Closing
- 01/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Executive Director of People Services and Organisational Development
Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM
If you relish a challenge, have a passion to help others or simply fancy a fresh start, then Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) North Wales, has all the right ingredients. The largest health organisation in Wales, providing a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and elective hospital services for a population of around 700,000, across North Wales . Join our team and get the support you need, in line with our Organisational Values and ‘Proud to Lead’ competence framework.
Enjoy being part of working with engaged leadership at all levels, and be assured we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and are proud to welcome applicants under the “Disability Confident Employer” scheme. We also offer a number of family-friendly benefits, including work-life balance policies.
Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
The salary scale above has been agreed as part of the NHS Agenda for Change pay award for 2025/2026 and will be implemented in August 2025 with arrears backdated to 1st April 2025 where applicable.
Job overview
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Executive Director to lead our People Services and Organisational Development (POD) team at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board; the largest NHS Health Board in Wales and the largest employer in North Wales, with a turnover of £2.1bn.
You will share collective responsibility with all other Executive Directors for all aspects of the Health Board’s performance. This includes strategic direction, leadership, corporate policy-making and the development and delivery of the Board’s objectives.
Committed to delivering outstanding healthcare, we are on a journey of continuous improvement and innovation. As the Executive Director of POD, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our workforce of 21,000 staff and driving positive cultural change across the organisation.
We are driving our ambition to become an outstanding, patient-led Health Board where dedicated staff provide high quality care, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.
Acting as ambassador of the Health Board nationally, you will contribute to broader health and organisational agenda of NHS Wales and the Welsh Government.
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities include;
Strategic Leadership: Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive People Strategy aligned with the health board's goals and objectives, ensuring it serves the needs of clinical and non-clinical divisions across the organisation and works in partnership with staff and staff representatives.
Organisational Development: Drive initiatives to enhance organisational effectiveness, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and promote employee engagement. Develop leadership capacity and capability at every level within the organisation to support enhanced performance and deliver an engaged, motivated, flexible workforce.
Talent Management: Develop innovative recruitment strategies to attract top talent, ensuring the health board has the right people in key positions. Establish robust succession planning processes to identify and develop future leaders from within the organisation.
Employee Wellbeing: Champion employee wellbeing initiatives, ensuring a supportive and healthy work environment for all staff.
Collaboration and Partnerships: Collaborate with key stakeholders, including unions, staff representatives, and external partners, to build consensus and support for organisational improvements. Engage with the local community to build trust and demonstrate the health board's commitment to positive change.
Working for our organisation
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) is the largest health organisation in Wales, providing a comprehensive range of primary, community, mental health, and acute hospital services for a population of around 700,000 people across North Wales. Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities through high-quality, compassionate care.
We are an integrated health system which strives to excellent compassionate care delivered in partnership with the public and other statutory and third sector organisations. We have a strong relationship with both Universities in North Wales and work in collaboration on supporting the medical school, pharmacy school, nursing and other clinical courses as well as operating in a research-rich learning culture.
North Wales is a fantastic place to live, learn and work. The coastal areas are more densely populated, gradually becoming more rural towards the west and inland. The Welsh language is an important part of our culture.
North Wales is best known for its vast areas of natural beauty, notably the Eryri National Park, home to the highest mountain in Wales, as well as spectacular lakes, perfect for those who love to get outdoors. Boasting 250 miles of coastline, there are plenty of beautiful beaches to enjoy all year round. Much of the Wales Coast Path can be cycled as well as walked, as it shares a route with the National Cycle Network.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Candidates are encouraged to refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information.
If you are ready to make a significant impact on the future of our workforce in North Wales and possess the skills and experience required for this role, we invite you to apply.
Informal conversations are also encouraged. Please contact our recruitment partners at GatenbySanderson Will McAlpine, Niamh Blair or Emma Pickup on [email protected] or 07554 050236.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. (FCIPD)
- Educated to master degree level relevant to the field of expertise or equivalent senior level of work experience
- Evidence of continual professional development and recent management and leadership development.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience working at Director Level in a people-centred organisation. Previous experience working within the NHS at a senior level is desirable but not essential.
- Experience across all major functional areas of HR, including employee relations, organisational development, workforce planning, reward, learning and development.
- Evidence of working across organisations to lead, introduce and manage significant change and transformation programmes.
- Experience in strategic planning and development, and able to evidence success in actively participating in delivering service improvement and organisational efficiencies.
- Experience in delivering cultural change programmes and values underpinned by Strategic Values and behavioural frameworks.
- Proven experience of working or contributing at Board level.
- Understanding, or an awareness, of the political context for Health and Social Care within Wales would be beneficial but is not essential.
Skills and Attributes
Essential criteria
- The ability to inspire, innovate, and motivate to lead and manage change.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an ability to work effectively and co-operatively with colleagues, key stakeholders and partners at all levels.
- The ability to think and operate strategically, with strong analytical, critical reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
- The ability to make sense of conflicting priorities and arrive at effective and speedy decisions.
- Empathetic, self-aware, discreet and personable with all levels of employees, trade unions and other key stakeholders.
- Able to role model the highest standards of personal and professional integrity and represent the values of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
- Resilient, confident and able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Committed to developing a culture of openness, diversity and inclusion.
- Welsh language skills are desirable, incidental Welsh will be expected
Employer certification / accreditation badges
.png "Stonewall Top 100 Employers")
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Welsh language skills are desirable
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Will McAlpine
- Job title
- GatenbySanderson
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07554 050236
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