People Services Strategic Lead

Overview

Are you passionate about creating a positive workplace culture and driving strategic HR initiatives?

As our People Services Strategic Lead, you'll be delivering a professional, people-focused HR service that adds value across the organisation. You'll lead the People Services Team both operationally and strategically; working closely with the Head of HR & OD to coach and develop others, foster a culture of positive employee relations, and deliver performance improvements.

What we're looking for:

• Proven experience in leading HR teams and managing complex employee relations.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
• Strategic thinker with excellent leadership and coaching skills.
• Passionate about driving change and fostering inclusive workplaces.
• Confident communicator and trusted partner to senior colleagues.

If you're ready to make a meaningful impact on organisational effectiveness and support the implementation of our People Strategy, we'd love to hear from you!

The People Services Strategic Lead is responsible for delivering a professional, people-focused, value-adding People service with a strong emphasis on fostering a positive Employee Relations culture. This includes managing complex casework and Employment Tribunals, while ensuring compliance with employment legislation and Trust policies.

The key responsibilities include:

• A proactive and future-focused approach to Employee Relations.
• Manage complex casework and Employment Tribunals.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation and Trust policies.
• Lead on organisational change, policy development, and continuous service improvement.
• Promote and embed equality, diversity, and inclusion across all areas.
• Act as a trusted advisor to managers and senior leaders, influencing strategic HR decisions.
• Align initiatives with the People Strategy and broader local and national NHS contexts.

Qualifications and experience

The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.

We have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services over 55 sites and within people s homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity and diversity, while providing a sense of belonging and trust.

Annual staff surveys and Pulse surveys provide our people with opportunities to share their experiences. In the latest staff survey, 61% of colleagues gave us their views. It was noted that:

• 72% would recommend the Trust as a place to work.
• 76% would recommend the standard of care provided in our services.
• 81% said that care of patients and service users is the Trust s priority.

We aim to maintain a Great Place to Work with top-quartile performance in staff surveys.

Date posted: 30 January 2026

Pay scheme:
Agenda for change

Band:
Band 8a

Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract:

Permanent

Working pattern:
Full-time, Part-time, Job share

Reference number:

-A

Edward Jenner Court, 1010 Pioneer Avenue, Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth, Gloucester, GL3 4AW

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address:
Edward Jenner Court, 1010 Pioneer Avenue, Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth, Gloucester, GL3 4AW