Vacancy – Chief People Officer

Are you a visionary HR leader ready to make an impact at one of the country’s largest and most ambitious NHS Trusts?

We are seeking an exceptional Chief People Officer (CPO) to join our Executive Team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This is a pivotal role where you will lead and shape the Trust’s Workforce and Organisational Development (OD) strategy as we aspire to be the best place to work while delivering outstanding patient care.

This is not just another HR job – it’s a system-shaping, culture-defining and future-building opportunity. As CPO you will provide visible, credible and inspirational leadership, driving excellence across the full range of people services – from strategic workforce planning, recruitment and retention, to learning, development and cultural transformation.

You will influence and engage staff at all levels, embedding our values, promoting inclusion and belonging and ensure that the Trust is a great place for colleagues to grow and thrive. You will foster a culture that is patient-centred, empowering, fair, accountable, collaborative and committed to continuous improvement.

You’ll also play a key role in shaping workforce strategies, advising the Chief Executive, Trust Board and senior leaders on complex workforce and OD, and confidently represent the Trust across system-wide workforce initiatives, partnerships and NHS programmes.

You will be an accomplished leader with a strategic mindset and a proven track record in workforce strategy, organisational development, staff engagement and cultural transformation. You will have extensive experience leading complex HR and OD functions, within the NHS or a comparable large-scale complex organisation, with demonstrable success in delivering tangible improvements in staff engagement and organisational effectiveness.

The successful person will bring

• A current CIPD-qualification and membership, with executive/board-level HR and OD experience in a complex organisation.
• A strategic mindset with a proven track record in workforce strategy, organisational development, change management and staff engagement.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills.
• A passion for inclusion, belonging and staff wellbeing.
• Resilient and highly motivated with the ability to inspire across disciplines.
• Experience as a system leader, contributing to workforce strategy across multi-sector partnerships.

We’re committed to recruiting exceptional people to deliver outstanding services across Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and helping every colleague reach their full potential. We’re looking for a compassionate, inclusive, and collaborative leader who shares our values and can build strong partnerships. We warmly invite applications from people from a variety of backgrounds and sectors and are especially keen to hear from individuals from a minority ethnic background. We’re dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and has a true sense of belonging, as we work together to deliver the best in healthcare to the people of Leeds and beyond.

For an informal discussion about the role and organisation please contact: