Group Chief People Officer | Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
| Company: | Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | Tooting, London, SW17 0QT |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 25 Sept 2026 |
| Closing date: | 29 Oct 2026 |
Summary
This is a defining moment for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh). With over 18,000 colleagues and plans for merger and greater integration, we are seeking an exceptional Group Chief People Officer to shape our next chapter.
Our ambitious five-year plan (2026/27–2030/31) will transform how we deliver care and achieve long-term sustainability. People, culture and leadership will be central to its success.
Our main site is St George’s Hospital in Tooting, and the successful candidate will be employed by St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
About You
You will have a strong track record in transformation, cultural change and workforce modernisation, connecting People strategy to quality, performance and sustainability.
Experience of merger, integration, organisational redesign or operating model change is desirable. NHS or healthcare experience is valuable, alongside experience in other complex, regulated environments.
You will be an authentic, compassionate and visible leader who combines strategic ambition with delivery, builds consensus, challenges constructively and fosters trust, inclusion and accountability.
We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds and encourage candidates who may not meet every criterion to apply. Flexible working can be discussed.
Reporting to the Group Chief Executive, Matthew Shaw, andoperatingas a key member of the Executive Team, the Group Chief People Officer will provide strategic leadership for people, culture,organisationaldevelopment,and workforce transformation acrossgesh.
This is much more than a traditional People leadership role.
You will be a trusted adviser to the Chief Executive, Board and Executive Team and one of the principal architects of our futureorganisation. You will help us create a singleorganisationalidentity, strengthen leadership at everylevel,and develop the workforce and culturerequiredto support transformation on a significant scale.
You will lead the development and delivery of a progressive People and Culture Strategy, ensuring our workforce plans are aligned to the Group’s ambitions for quality, productivity, operationalperformance,and financial sustainability.
At the same time, you will ensure that our People function provides excellent day-to-day services. We want modern, efficient, digitally enabled and data-driven People services that support our managers and colleagues, reduce unnecessarybureaucracy,and enable our clinical and operational teams to focus on delivering outstanding care.
We care for more than half a million people across South West London and Surrey, providing acute hospital services alongside a growing range of community and integrated care services. Every day, our colleagues deliver care that's safe, compassionate and centred on the needs of the people and communities we serve.
Our organisation is built on partnership. We work closely with local authorities, primary care, community providers and mental health services because we know that improving health doesn't begin and end at the hospital door.
As part of the St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group, we're also strengthening the way we work across our hospitals, sharing expertise, developing services together and creating new opportunities to improve care for patients across South West London.
How to Apply
Pleasesubmityour CV and a supporting covering letter outlining your motivation for applying, how your experience meets the requirements of the role and what you would bring togesh.Applications should be sent to:GESH@mlcpartners.co.uk
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
Adrian Watts at MLC Partners|07816 290865|adrian@mlcpartners.co.uk
Pete Marshall at MLC Partners|07930 153672 |pete@mlcpartners.co.uk
Our ambition is forgeshto become one of the most engaged and inclusive NHSorganisationsin London, creating an environment where every colleague feels valued, supported, included and able to thrive.
As Group Chief People Officer, you will be central to this journey.
Key priorities will include:
• Leading the people,cultureandorganisationaldevelopment aspects of our journey towards merger and a more integratedorganisationalmodel
• Helping create a singleorganisationalidentity, with shared values,behavioursand leadership expectations
• Strengthening leadership capability,talent,and succession planning across the Group
• Improving staff experience, engagement,wellbeing,and inclusion
• Supporting workforce transformation and productivity as services and models of care change
• Developing innovative workforce models aligned toneighbourhoodand community-based care
• ModernisingPeople Services through digital technology, automation,data,and workforce analytics
• Ensuring workforce strategy supports the Group’s financial sustainability and transformation ambitions
• Building strong relationships with trade unions, staff networks, system partners,universitiesand the wider NHS
Please download the attached candidate pack to find out more about this opportunity.
This advert closes on Monday 12 Oct 2026
Related jobs
GESH MCA Nurse (SGUH) | St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
£47,951 - £56,863 per annum inc HCAS
st georges nhs trust
Tooting
PermanentFull timeAssistant General manager- Private Patient team
£66,274 - £73,496 pa
st georges nhs trust
London
ContractFull timeSpecialist Nurse for Palliative Care | Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
£63,665 - £70,887 pa Inclusive of HCAS
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
Carshalton
PermanentFull time