Head of Organisational Development Full Time NEW

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for the detailed job description of the role.

This post is only open to internal applicants

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join us as our Head of Organisational Development (OD). Working with the Director of Education, Training and Workforce, you will play a key role in continuing the work to deliver elements of our People Strategy, which aims to make our Trust a great place to thrive, excel and belong.

We are looking for an experienced OD professional who can continue to lead and embed our Leadership Framework and programmes, our team development approaches, enhance and extend our support to staff engagement, provide operational leadership of our Inclusion and Belonging Strategy, and day-to-day leadership of our OD team.

With a flair for creativity and innovation, you will be confident in communicating, partnering and engaging staff at all levels of the organisation.

We are committed to creating an organisation where everyone can feel that they belong and can bring their best selves to work. This is a great opportunity to provide OD leadership and support the strategic direction of the UHS leadership team, operational managers and front-line teams.

We are a dynamic and fast-paced environment, which is always evolving, always improving and encourages innovation. We are committed to your career development and offer a supportive, flexible and collaborative working environment.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England’s largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

What You’ll Do

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• You will lead and deliver a range of leadership development programmes and support for UHS, ensuring that this provision directly meets the needs of the business.
• Work as an OD specialist across the organisation – and beyond- to lead and develop the effective delivery of leadership, management & personal development opportunities for all staff.
• Lead on the implementation of systematic processes to identify, develop and retain talent within the organisation.

What we’re looking for

• Extensive knowledge of OD acquired by formal qualifications or equivalent experience or training – gained at a senior level across large-scale organisations.
• An understanding of current thinking on leadership and organisation development, combined with direct experience of development, design and delivery of organisational-wide cultural transformation programmes.
• Experience of influencing and advising leaders at various levels, together with managing teams and working with external providers.
• Able to demonstrate behaviours that meet our Trust Values of: Patients First, Always Improving, Working Together

Person specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Masters in relevant subject or equivalent experience
• Organisational Development qualification or relevant current experience to master’s Level or equivalent Postgraduate qualification in change management or equivalent experience of managing change within a complex environment.
• PGCE or equivalent qualification or experience
• Evidence of recent CPD relevant to leadership, learning and OD development programmes
• Experience of influencing leaders at levels of an organisation and dealing with complex problems.
• Significant experience in design and delivery of programmes
• Experience of procuring and managing external providers
• Experience of managing a team
• Extensive experience in managing a diverse set of programmes/interventions and projects
• Experience in budget management
• An understanding of current thinking on leadership and organisational development
• An understanding of the theory of adult learning with vast experience in experiential learning
• An understanding and appreciation of organisation development practices and interventions
• Experience of successful strategic leadership of OD including leadership, and talent across a large-scale organisation.
• Ability to horizon scan and proactively future plan
• Ability to listen intently and hold spaces with individuals and groups

Desirable criteria

• CIPD at Chartered Fellow or Member
• Accreditation in use of psychometric tools, or BPS Level A or B training.