Director of People & Culture​/Deputy Chief Executive

Deputy Chief Executive/ Director of People and Culture NHS Shetland, Lerwick

• Location:
  
  Lerwick
• Sector:
  Health
• Client: NHS Shetland
• Job Type: Permanent
• Salary/Remuneration Band 9 – £127,521–£133,044
• Reference: GSe
  133403
• Closing Date: 9am Wednesday 22nd July 2026

Location:
Board Headquarters, Lerwick, Shetland

Distant Island Allowance of £2,578 per annum

Relocation Assistance up to £8,000 available

This is a rare and high‑impact opportunity to join NHS Shetland as Director of People and Culture and Deputy Chief Executive. As a key member of the Executive Management Team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you will provide strategic leadership to ensure our workforce is skilled, motivated and supported to deliver high-quality, person‑centred care for the Shetland community.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping organisational culture, delivering workforce transformation, and ensuring strong staff governance and partnership working across the Board. As Deputy Chief Executive you will support the organisation in navigating strategic changes such as Public Sector Reform whilst also maintaining operational tempo and focus to achieve our strategic objectives.

NHS Shetland serves a population of approximately 23,000 people across a unique island setting, delivering integrated primary and secondary care services. We are committed to delivering sustainable, high-quality services despite the challenges and opportunities of a remote and rural environment.

We are currently progressing an ambitious transformation programme focused on redesigning services, workforce models and digital capability to secure long‑term sustainability.

We seek an experienced, values‑driven leader with a strong track record of delivering strategic workforce and cultural change. This is a demanding and rewarding role requiring resilience, political acumen and a strong focus on people.

You will operate across local, regional and national projects, balancing competing priorities while maintaining a compassionate and inclusive leadership style.

Joining us offers you the opportunity to shape workforce strategy, making a visible impact across the whole organisation and local community. We are a forward‑thinking Board committed to compassionate leadership and inclusive culture.

In promoting equal opportunities, we welcome applications from all sections of the community.