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NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB
About
NHS Surrey Heartlands and NHS Sussex merged on 01 April 2026 to form a new ICB, NHS Surrey and Sussex. The ICB is a strategic commissioning organisation which covers the Surrey and Susex geographical footprint.
In line with the Equality Act 2010, Surrey and Sussex ICB is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and prospective employees. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion and belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Full Time - Deputy Head of People - B8B
Accepting applications until: 17-Jul-2026 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 17-Jul-2026 23:59
Key details
Location
- Gwefan
- Surrey & Sussex
- Tref
- Sussex
- Cod post
- BN7 2FZ
- Major / Minor Region
- Surrey
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Oriau
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Salary
- Cyflog
- £66,582 - £77,368 Per Annum
- Cyfnod cyflog
- Yearly
- Gradd
- (NHS AfC: Band 8b)
Specialty
- Prif leoliad
- Administration
Trosolwg o'r swydd
This is an exciting opportunity to join our newly established People team at NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB, and shape the future of our People services.
Interview dates and details to be confirmed but will be in person.
Shape the future of our workforce.
We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Deputy Head of People to join our senior People team at NHS Surrey and Sussex. This is an opportunity to play a key leadership role within our newly formed Integrated Care Board (ICB), helping to shape and deliver a high-performing, inclusive, and compassionate organisation.
As our organisation continues through a period of significant transformation, you will work closely with senior leaders to deliver our People transition in a way that prioritises staff wellbeing, psychological safety, and engagement. You will be instrumental in developing and implementing People strategies that support our workforce, strengthen organisational culture, and enable the successful delivery of the ICB's strategic objectives.
Advert
Reporting to the Deputy Director of People, you will provide strategic leadership across the Human Resources function, ensuring the delivery of a professional, responsive, and high-quality People service.
Acting as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, you will shape and deliver our People strategies, lead organisational change initiatives, coach senior managers, champion inclusive leadership, and help create an environment where colleagues can thrive.
You will be a credible and influential HR professional with significant experience operating at a senior level within a complex organisation. You will be confident working strategically while remaining approachable and pragmatic in your leadership style.
You will demonstrate:
§ Extensive experience in senior Human Resources or People leadership.
§ Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
§ Experience leading organisational change and transformation programmes.
§ Excellent coaching, influencing, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
§ The ability to manage complex employee relations issues with professionalism, compassion, and sound judgement.
§ A commitment to creating inclusive workplaces where colleagues feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.
Gweithio i'n sefydliad
Why join NHS Surrey and Sussex?
NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB work in partnership with local health and care organisations, staff, patients, carers, families and the public, to support three million people across Surrey and Sussex to live healthier lives.
Together, we have an ambitious vision for improving health and care services across Surrey and Sussex. We are working to:
§ Improve health and care outcomes for everyone, with a focus on preventing ill health and proactive care.
§ Tackle inequalities to reduce unfair gaps in access, experience, and outcomes.
§ Get better value from our services by enhancing productivity and value for money.
§ Support local communities to grow and thrive through social and economic development.
This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact at a time of significant organisational change. You will join a collaborative senior leadership team committed to delivering outstanding People services and creating a culture where everyone can thrive.
If you are a strategic People leader with a passion for developing organisations, supporting colleagues, and driving positive change, we would welcome your application.
Swydd-ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl
For full details please see job description attached
As Deputy Head of People, you will:
§ Develop and implement People strategies and workforce plans that support the ICB's strategic objectives.
§ Lead the development and implementation of People initiatives.
§ Provide expert advice to senior leaders on complex HR matters, including employee relations, organisational change, and employment law.
§ Lead and support change management programmes, ensuring effective communication, engagement, and staff wellbeing throughout organisational change.
§ Foster a culture of continuous learning, inclusion, innovation, and high performance.
Person specification
Knowledge, Training and Experience
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Educated to master’s level or equivalent level of experience in Human Resources Management or similar subject area
- Extensive and demonstrable specialist knowledge of human resources management, employee relations, employment legislation, workforce equality, diversity and inclusion, and associated areas
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Understanding of the background to and aims of current health and care policies, priorities and strategy in ICBs and how this links to workforce and HR considerations
- CIPD accreditation, or working towards accreditation. Obtained or working towards Level 7 CIPD (Senior People Profession)
- Experience working in the NHS or another complex public sector organisation
Analytical
Meini prawf hanfodol
- High level analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources and present in a clear concise manner
- Ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess options and draw appropriate conclusions
- High level critical thinking skills
- Ability to develop, maintain and monitor information systems to support innovation initiatives
- Demonstrates sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary from more senior management when appropriate
Communication & Relationship Skills
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
- Persuade board and senior managers of the respective merits of different options, innovation and new market opportunities.
- Negotiate on difficult and very complex and detailed issues.
Management Skills
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Plans and organises a broad range of complex activities, formulating and adjusting plans to reflect changing circumstances.
- Inputs to strategic plans across NHS and within the specific teams.
- Works with Stakeholders to develop performance improvement plans and to develop plans for innovation and opening up the market.
- Good use of available information sources to enable efficient and effective planning
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight and often changing deadlines
- Skills for direct line management and job management.
- Skills for delivering results through managing through others and using a range of levers in the absence of direct line management responsibility.
- Skills for managing relationships with a range of different stakeholders.
Planning Skills
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Plans and organises a broad range of complex activities, formulating and adjusting plans to reflect changing circumstances.
- Inputs to strategic plans across NHS and within the specific teams.
- Works with Stakeholders to develop performance improvement plans and to develop plans for innovation and opening up the market
- Good use of available information sources to enable efficient and effective planning
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight and often changing deadlines
Physical Skills
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills
Equality and Diversity
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of equality of opportunity and diversity taking into account and being aware of how individual actions contribute to and make a difference to the equality agenda.
- Ensures staff for whom the post holder has line management responsibility
- Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of equality of opportunity and diversity
Autonomy
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Manages team within the constraints of NHS strategic plan.
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues.
Financial and Physical Resources
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes
Other
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Team working skills
- An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust
- Used to working in a busy environment
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change
- Commitment to continuing professional development
- Ability to demonstrate the NHS and ICS values and behaviours in all aspects of work and interactions with colleagues, stakeholders, patients and service users
Further details / informal visits contact
- Enw
- Hazel Foss
- Teitl y swydd
- Interim Deputy Director of People
- Cyfeiriad ebost
- [email protected]
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