Interim Deputy Chief People Officer opportunity. The Interim Deputy Chief People Officer will play a pivotal role in driving forward the Trusts People Strategy in line with the NHS People Plan and in supporting our impending merger. Due to potential strategic changes for the organisation, only a secondment opportunity or fixed term contract may be considered; any contract will be limited to 31 March 2026. This role is full time and will require the majority of the working week to be spent onsite, however flexible working requests will be considered.
Main duties
The Deputy Chief People Officer will manage and is responsible for leading the HR Business Partnering service, Operational People Team services of the Directorate which includes the electronic staff record (ESR) and other workforce systems, Payroll, temporary staffing, people business intelligence, information and reporting, e-rostering and job planning, shared services and outsourcing, and a People advisory and administrative service. The Deputy Chief People Officer will strategically lead the transactional and operational services within the People Directorate and working with the CPO, Head of Organisation Development, Culture and Engagement and Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion will take a lead role in service transformation and culture change. The Deputy Chief People Officer will Deputise for the CPO where appropriate.
About Us
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We are particularly keen to attract candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to better meet the needs of the service users and students that we serve.
Details
Date posted: 02 September 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8c
Salary: £85,431 to £97,148 a year Per annum (pro rata) inclusive of HCAS
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 6 months
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 260-TP-980
Job location: Tavistock Centre, 120 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BA
Job Description
Please see the attached Job Description and Person specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.
Person Specification
Essential
Comparable previous experience to Masters qualification in a relevant Human Resources Management, Organisational and Workforce Development or Education and Training role
Relevant professional qualification in the field of Human Resources Management, Organisational and Workforce Development
MCIPD qualified
Experience
Previous experience leading significant people programmes of transformational / complex change
Management of complex employee relations cases
Experience in health and/or education sectors gaining HR/workforce/education development/medical staffing experience
Service / quality improvement experience
Skills
Ability to develop and deliver strategy at and operational delivery at an organisational and Departmental level
Political/ strategic influencing and persuasion skills
Highly developed communication and negotiation skills (written, verbal, direct formal and informal presentation, persuasion, influencing)
Leadership, management & people development capability
Ability to manage challenge, confrontation, conflict and resistance, reconciling conflicting views
Well-developed analytical and judgement skills, able to interpret comparative options and work with high levels of uncertainty
Financial/ budgetary management skills
Knowledge
Ability to work across organisational/ professional boundaries
Knowledge and experience of working positively with professional representative bodies (including Royal Colleges), unions, registration and regulatory organisations often on complex and contentious topics
Application of Employment law in a workplace setting
Demonstrates strong commitment to action to achieve equality and diversity and inclusion in the workforce
Personal Attributes
Demonstrable personal motivation & drive
Credible and authoritative in a senior forum
Visionary / Creative
Collaborative in approach
Strong desire to improve mental health services for patients and clients
Commitment to, and understanding of staff and team development
Self-belief and personal resilience, able to manage staff problems and issues
Able to manage high levels of uncertainty, situations requiring intense concentration with frequent interruptions
Inquisitive, enjoys addressing seemingly intractable problems
Other
Ability to travel
Keyboard / IM&T skills
Disclosure and Governance
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. 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.
UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
Employer details
Employer name: Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Tavistock Centre, 120 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BA
Employer's website: https://tavistockandportman.nhs.uk/