Associate Director of HR Operations

We are seeking an exceptional Interim Associate Director of HR Operations to join a large, complex NHS organisation during a significant period of transformation.This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced HR professional who can provide strategic and operational leadership across a workforce of approximately 12,000 employees. Reporting directly to the Deputy Chief People Officer, you will lead critical People Services functions including Employee Relations, Resourcing, Medical Staffing, Temporary Workforce, Occupational Health, Wellbeing, and Psychological Support Services.
You will play a pivotal role in shaping workforce strategy, improving employee experience, supporting organisational change, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, responsive and efficient HR services.
Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across HR Operations and Wellbeing services.
• Lead the delivery of workforce priorities, ensuring performance against key people and organisational objectives.
• Provide expert advice on highly complex employee relations matters, employment law, and workforce risk.
• Lead and manage Employment Tribunal cases, including strategy, preparation, legal liaison and risk assessment.
• Oversee medical staffing, recruitment, talent acquisition and temporary workforce functions.
• Support complex organisational change programmes including restructures, TUPE transfers and consultation processes.
• Lead the development, implementation and review of HR policies, procedures and employment practices.
• Build strong relationships with Trade Unions, Staff Side representatives and senior clinical and operational leaders.
• Oversee Occupational Health, Wellbeing and Psychological Support services, ensuring they deliver measurable benefits for staff health and engagement.
• Drive continuous improvement, service transformation and workforce innovation through data, technology and best practice.
• Provide leadership on governance, workforce reporting, compliance and audit requirements.
• Deputise for the Deputy Chief People Officer when required.

Essential ExperienceWe are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate significant NHS experience across the following areas:

• Employment Tribunals and complex case management.
• Complex Employee Relations, including senior-level and medical workforce cases.
• Medical Staffing and workforce governance.
• Temporary Staffing and workforce optimisation.
• Recruitment, Resourcing and Talent Acquisition.
• Organisational Change, TUPE and workforce transformation programmes.
• Partnership working with Trade Unions and Staff Side representatives.
• Leadership of large HR operational teams within a complex NHS environment.

Essential Skills & Qualifications

• Extensive senior HR leadership experience gained within the NHS.
• Detailed knowledge of employment legislation and NHS Terms & Conditions.
• Proven experience influencing and advising Executive Directors, Senior Leaders and Clinical Leaders.
• Strong financial and budget management capability.
• Experience leading high-performing HR teams through change and transformation.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation and communication skills.
• CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent senior HR experience) desirable.

Why Apply?This assignment offers an opportunity to join a forward-thinking NHS organisation undertaking a major transformation programme and creating a modern, sustainable workforce for the future. You will have the opportunity to influence strategic workforce decisions, lead critical operational services, and make a tangible impact on employee experience and organisational performance.
Duration: 9 MonthsStart: ASAPHours: 37.5 per week (Monday to Friday)Based on site, a minimum of 3 days per week in Dorset

If you are an immediately available senior NHS HR leader with expertise in employment tribunals, employee relations, medical staffing, temporary workforce management and recruitment, we'd be delighted to hear from you.

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

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