Deputy Director of People

Go back Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHSFT

The closing date is 03 July 2026

Shape the future of our People services. Strengthen the experience of our colleagues. Improve lives across our communities - nurture the power in our communities.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join RDaSH as our Deputy Director of People
—a pivotal leadership role where you will help shape a modern, compassionate, high‑performing People function that delivers on our organisational strategy and our 28 Promises to colleagues and patients.

As a key member of the Trust's senior leadership team, you will provide strategic direction across the People Directorate, ensuring our services enable outstanding care, an engaged workforce, and a culture where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to thrive. You will lead high‑performing teams, drive innovation, and champion approaches that strengthen recruitment, retention, wellbeing, leadership development, and organisational culture.

You will act as a trusted adviser to leaders at every level and will deputise for the Director of People, playing a central role in shaping the future of our organisation as we continue to evolve to meet the needs of our communities.

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) employ around 4000 talented colleagues who are very much appreciated, valued, and respected.

We have a wide portfolio which includes mental health, physical health, learning disability and drug and alcohol services.

We are dedicated to the development of our people and hold a learning half day every month for our colleagues.

• Master's Degree in Human Resource Management or relevant area or equivalent level of experience.
• Full membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (chartered or chartered fellow) or equivalent level experience.
• Evidence of postgraduate study showing the acquisition of specialist knowledge in the area of people and OD.

• Significant experience at a senior level within a role of a similar nature of working in a complex organisation.
• Proven track record of leading multi‑disciplinary People & OD teams and senior managers.
• Consultation, negotiation and influencing different stakeholders, including staff and staff representatives.
• Demonstrable experience of having led large programmes of transformational change.
• Experience of partnership working, including system partners, trades unions and professional associations.
• Budgetary management and CIP delivery.
• Experience in managing workforce issues arising from significant structural re‑organisation or service change including TUPE.
• Experience of advising on complex employee relation cases, including Employment Tribunal responses.
• Experience in building personal and professional credibility with the Board, management, and stakeholders.
• Understand and respond to the challenges facing the workforce currently and in the future with knowledge of activities to support workforce planning in line with strategic business planning.
• Significant experience and understanding of UK employment legislation.
• Track record of delivering stretching objectives on time.

• Knowledge of NHS HR systems, processes, and terms and conditions.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to engage with stakeholders at all levels to influence, persuade and resolve difficult situations.
• Ability to set out a clear strategic direction, inspire others and assume command, together with an ability to translate strategic objectives into deliverable operational plans.
• High level planning, prioritising and organisational skills, experience of managing multiple projects, ensuring effective and efficient use of available resources.
• Strategic and business planning—able to think and plan strategically, tactically and creatively and gain agreement to relevant plans and to implement plans through service delivery.
• Ability to effectively provide and receive highly complex information which may require analysis and interpretation and develop solutions if required.
• Ability to receive, process, summarise, interpret, and communicate…