Job summary

As we look to the future, we are excited to be making progress in our plans to build a new health and care campus for West Suffolk, co-producing these plans with staff, stakeholders and partners. Our new Chief People Officer (CPO) will play a pivotal leadership role in this development as we design and deliver a new healthcare facility for our population.

If you are inspired to join us, we would love to hear from you. For an informal discussion with Ewen Cameron, Chief Executive, please contact Emma Whight on 01284 713301.

Main duties of the job

The CPO will be the executive lead for the resourcing, leadership, support and development of staff and volunteers at WSFT, and the ongoing cultural development of the organisation that enables people to perform at their best

Together with other executive members of the Board of Directors, the CPO will demonstrate inspirational and compassionate leadership to the entire workforce, ensuring that staff, and volunteers are supported and motivated to provide the safest and best patient care, and are at the heart of quality improvement and organisational development

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 400+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyone's voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Details

Date posted

01 September 2026

Pay scheme

Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary

Depending on experience VSM Salary

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

179-8235541-P

Job locations

West Suffolk Hospital

Bury St Edmunds

IP33 2QZ

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

The CPO will: Develop a strategic workforce vision and framework for WSFT so that our clinical divisions and corporate directorates are supported to formulate long-term workforce and education plans. Lead, inspire and develop the workforce directorate, in order to deliver efficient, effective, values-driven and future focused HR, learning and organisational development services. Effectively discharge the executive lead roles pertaining to business partnering, employee relations, resourcing, medical staffing, workforce information, learning and development, organisational development, health and wellbeing, equality diversity and inclusion, volunteering, and knowledge and library services ensuring alignment to Trust strategy and organisational needs. Ensure appropriate governance, policies and procedures are in place, fully accessible, adopted and updated, to enable compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements related to people management. Lead the development of an inclusive working environment for all staff from all backgrounds, heritage and protected characteristics, taking positive action to continually develop the culture of WSFT as an inclusive workplace. Provide comprehensive advice and support to the Board of Directors on all matters pertaining to employment, staff development, inclusivity, wellbeing and staff experience, as well as incident management for complex issues. Lead the growth of the MyWiSH charity to support the Trusts income generation ambitions, building strong partnerships through the work of the team. Direct the overall approach to communications, supporting the communications team to engage effectively across and beyond the organisation.

As part of the Fit and Proper Person Framework, all Board appointees will undergo the FPP test, including a DBS check, as part of the recruitment process and annually thereafter.

Job description Job responsibilities The CPO will: Develop a strategic workforce vision and framework for WSFT so that our clinical divisions and corporate directorates are supported to formulate long-term workforce and education plans. Lead, inspire and develop the workforce directorate, in order to deliver efficient, effective, values-driven and future focused HR, learning and organisational development services. Effectively discharge the executive lead roles pertaining to business partnering, employee relations, resourcing, medical staffing, workforce information, learning and development, organisational development, health and wellbeing, equality diversity and inclusion, volunteering, and knowledge and library services ensuring alignment to Trust strategy and organisational needs. Ensure appropriate governance, policies and procedures are in place, fully accessible, adopted and updated, to enable compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements related to people management. Lead the development of an inclusive working environment for all staff from all backgrounds, heritage and protected characteristics, taking positive action to continually develop the culture of WSFT as an inclusive workplace. Provide comprehensive advice and support to the Board of Directors on all matters pertaining to employment, staff development, inclusivity, wellbeing and staff experience, as well as incident management for complex issues. Lead the growth of the MyWiSH charity to support the Trusts income generation ambitions, building strong partnerships through the work of the team. Direct the overall approach to communications, supporting the communications team to engage effectively across and beyond the organisation. As part of the Fit and Proper Person Framework, all Board appointees will undergo the FPP test, including a DBS check, as part of the recruitment process and annually thereafter.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters Degree level education in a relevant subject or equivalence experience
• Chartered Fellow CIPD or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Further professional management qualification

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of current strategic issues in the NHS
• Appreciation of leading-edge people management and development practices
• Up to date with current UK employment law framework
• Evidence of building, leading, motivating and inspiring successful and effective senior teams within a complex organisation, to achieve service development and transformation
• Significant experience of people leadership at or near Board level
• Strong persuasive and influencing skills with the ability to present ideas and proposals effectively at Board level

Desirable

• Experience at Executive Director/senior leadership level in an acute hospital and/or community services setting
• Experience of leading workforce transformation across complex healthcare systems

Strategic Management

Essential

• Ability to think and act strategically and to articulate a clear sense of direction and vision to a wide audience
• Ability to engage and involve colleagues across disciplines (clinical and non-clinical) in the development of strategic issues and associated decision-making
• Able to engage and involve senior staff across disciplines in the development of strategic issues

Innovation and Sustainability

Essential

• Leadership approach that promotes change and transformation, including impact of digital enablers
• Understands the different perspectives of stakeholders in order to build effective relationships and improve services

Person Specification Qualifications Essential Masters Degree level education in a relevant subject or equivalence experience Chartered Fellow CIPD or equivalent experience Desirable Further professional management qualification Experience Essential Knowledge and understanding of current strategic issues in the NHS Appreciation of leading-edge people management and development practices Up to date with current UK employment law framework Evidence of building, leading, motivating and inspiring successful and effective senior teams within a complex organisation, to achieve service development and transformation Significant experience of people leadership at or near Board level Strong persuasive and influencing skills with the ability to present ideas and proposals effectively at Board level Desirable Experience at Executive Director/senior leadership level in an acute hospital and/or community services setting Experience of leading workforce transformation across complex healthcare systems Strategic Management Essential Ability to think and act strategically and to articulate a clear sense of direction and vision to a wide audience Ability to engage and involve colleagues across disciplines (clinical and non-clinical) in the development of strategic issues and associated decision-making Able to engage and involve senior staff across disciplines in the development of strategic issues Innovation and Sustainability Essential Leadership approach that promotes change and transformation, including impact of digital enablers Understands the different perspectives of stakeholders in order to build effective relationships and improve services

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Suffolk Hospital

Bury St Edmunds

IP33 2QZ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Suffolk Hospital

Bury St Edmunds

IP33 2QZ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)