Deputy Chief People Officer

Deputy Chief People Officer

The closing date is 05 July 2026

We are seeking an exceptional, values-led Deputy Chief People Officer to support the delivery of our strategic workforce agenda and help shape a high-performing, inclusive organisation.

Working closely with the Chief People Officer, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the full People portfolio, ensuring high-quality, responsive People Services that enable the Trust to deliver outstanding care. You will operate at a very senior level within the organisation and work collaboratively across the Trust and wider system.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence workforce strategy at scale and make a real difference to staff experience and patient care.

• Provide leadership across HR, Organisational Development, Organisational Design, Workforce Information, Clinical and Medical Education, Resourcing, EDI, Culture and OH and Wellbeing Services
• Lead the development and delivery of the People Strategy and Workforce EDI Strategy
• Drive workforce transformation aligned to the NHS Workforce Plan and national priorities
• Lead workforce planning, organisational design, and culture development post integration to support the 'NCM 2030' programme
• Provide expert workforce advice to Executive Directors and senior leaders on complex issues
• Deputise for the Chief People Officer, including attendance at Board Committees and Executive meetings

Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM). They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation.

Our mission is to be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other.

Our vision is to be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn.

Our approach to healthcare is founded on our four core values:

• Kind – we are caring, supporting and respectful to everyone
• Open – we are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
• Fair – we listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
• One team – we work well together and with our communities

We employ almost 6,500 people from more than 80 nationalities and are fully committed to being an equal, diverse and inclusive employer. Our culture and values ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and that no job applicant or employee is disadvantaged at any stage of their journey.

We are also proud to be an Armed Forces Friendly organisation and welcome applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists and families.

Working at NCM means becoming part of a dedicated team of clinical and support staff who are passionate about keeping people well and supporting wellbeing. If you share our values and are motivated by making a difference for our patients, we'd be delighted to receive your application.

There is a full detailed Job Description and Person Specification attached to the vacancy information.

• Evidence of formal management development
• Experience of working in senior people professional roles in NHS organisations, or extensive equivalent experience in an equally diverse and complex organisation
• Experience of strategic HR, OD and workforce management and delivery at a senior level in a large, complex, service-focused organisation, including staff management, change management, performance management, and service improvement
• Experience of consultation, negotiation and influencing different stakeholders
• Excellent demonstrable knowledge and skills across the breadth of the workforce portfolio
• Experience of substantial management responsibility, built on extensive knowledge and understanding of financial, management and clinical issues associated with a large NHS Trust

• Educated to master's degree level or equivalent experience in either
• Relevant postgraduate professional qualification or equivalent experience in more than one discipline across the workforce function e.g. Strategic HR Management / Organisational Development
• Chartered Fellow of the CIPD (desirable) or equivalent experience
• Pro…