Associate Director - People Services

Associate Director of People Services - Workforce & OD

Interim Band 8c Large NHS Organisation Flexible Site Presence Required

Daily rate: £300 - £340 Umbrella Inside IR35

Location: East of England

Are you an experienced senior Workforce and Organisational Development leader looking to shape and elevate People Services at scale? This is a high-profile opportunity to lead a broad portfolio across HR systems, employee services, medical workforce, resourcing and programme delivery within a large, complex NHS environment.

We are seeking an innovative, forward-thinking senior People professional with extensive experience operating at strategic level, driving improvement, and delivering modern, efficient and inclusive workforce services.

The Role

As Associate Director of People Services, you will provide visible leadership across a wide People Services function and work closely with senior stakeholders to deliver the organisation's People and Culture ambitions. You will oversee teams responsible for HR Business Partnering, Medical Workforce, Employee Services, Resourcing and Talent Acquisition, ensuring high-quality service delivery, strong governance and continuous improvement.

The role also includes deputising for senior People leadership and contributing to organisational strategy, culture transformation, and the delivery of large-scale change.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, develop and performance-manage multiple People Services teams
• Drive improvements across HR systems, processes, governance and service delivery
• Oversee complex programmes of work, including technology, systems and change initiatives
• Strengthen People Services' alignment with organisational strategy and national People Plans
• Build strong internal and external partnerships and influence senior stakeholders
• Lead contract management, risk management and workforce assurance activity
• Promote an inclusive, innovative and compassionate culture across the organisation

Essential Experience:

• Extensive leadership experience in HR/People Services within a complex organisation within the NHS
• Strong programme and project management expertise (Prince2, MSP or equivalent)
• Deep understanding of HR systems, payroll, e-rostering, temporary staffing, workforce planning and data governance
• A track record of delivering large change programmes and service transformation
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information clearly and impactfully
• Strong stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills at executive levelA collaborative, motivating leadership style with the ability to drive performance