Job summary
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) is seeking an outstanding and values driven Director of Culture, Leadership and Learning to lead some of our most important people agendas at a pivotal time for the organisation.
Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across People Experience and Engagement, Learning and Development, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). Working as a senior member of the Workforce leadership team, you will shape and deliver ambitious organisational development and education programmes that enable our workforce to thrive and support the Trust's strategic priorities.
This is a highly influential role requiring a credible, inclusive leader with significant experience of organisational development, leadership learning and workforce EDI in a large, complex organisation. Working collaboratively with colleagues across the Trust and engaging with regional and national partners you will deliver measurable improvements in staff experience, leadership capability and culture.
CUH is one of the largest and best known Trusts in the country, combining excellence in care, learning and research. Our values -- Together, Safe, Kind, Excellent -- are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can fulfil their potential.
Main duties of the job
Lead the Trust's Organisational Development agenda including Experience and Engagement and workforce Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:
Provide expert leadership of the Trust's OD agenda and ambitions, leading internal and external partners to best meet organisational needs.
Lead on employee engagement; promoting and encouraging excellence in staff experience with demonstrable improvement including through national staff survey and quarterly surveys.
Lead the workforce Equality Diversity and Inclusion agenda, including the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and the Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES), working collaboratively with staff and other networks.
Commission and manage external capacity and capability including in organisation development, design and people experience design.
Previous experience working at senior level in a complex environment is essential; previous NHS experience is desirable.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employmentThis vacancy will close at midnight on the 28th April 2026.
Interviews are due to be held on the 8th May 2026.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employmentThis vacancy will close at midnight on the 28th April 2026.
Interviews are due to be held on the 8th May 2026.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or with equivalent professional qualifications.
- Evidence of continuing professional development in designing and delivering impactful education, learning and development interventions which improve organisational performance.
Desirable
- A postgraduate management qualification.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working as a senior workforce education, learning and development specialist in a in a large complex organisation.
- Experience of commissioning and managing external providers to deliver high quality programmes of work.
- Experience of learning and development strategy development and successful implementation of workforce priorities and work plans.
- Experience of designing and delivering workforce EDI strategy.
- Proven ability to communicate highly complex / sensitive information to a wide range of audiences within the organisation and externally.
- Experience of developing multi-professional education programmes.
- Experience of working at a senior leadership level or a sustained period of engaging with board colleagues
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS or other public sector organisation.
- Experience of working with key stakeholders, external to business.
Knowledge
Essential
- Up to date knowledge and application of leadership and management development thinking and practice.
- Understanding of national policy and direction in public services / the NHS.
- Knowledge about setting strategic direction and translating that into deliverable, measurable outcomes.
Skills
Essential
- Capable of critical and creative thinking with effective problem solving and decision-making skills.
- Ability to represent the Trust at national, regional and local forum.
- Communicates with authority both internally and externally.
- Achieves commitment and support through the use of integrity and influence.
- Project management skills.
- Commissioning, contracting and contract management skills.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Together-safe, kind, excellent.
- Actively promote and value equality, diversity and inclusion, treating others with dignity and respect.
- Compliance with all Trust policies and procedures.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or with equivalent professional qualifications.
- Evidence of continuing professional development in designing and delivering impactful education, learning and development interventions which improve organisational performance.
Desirable
- A postgraduate management qualification.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working as a senior workforce education, learning and development specialist in a in a large complex organisation.
- Experience of commissioning and managing external providers to deliver high quality programmes of work.
- Experience of learning and development strategy development and successful implementation of workforce priorities and work plans.
- Experience of designing and delivering workforce EDI strategy.
- Proven ability to communicate highly complex / sensitive information to a wide range of audiences within the organisation and externally.
- Experience of developing multi-professional education programmes.
- Experience of working at a senior leadership level or a sustained period of engaging with board colleagues
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS or other public sector organisation.
- Experience of working with key stakeholders, external to business.
Knowledge
Essential
- Up to date knowledge and application of leadership and management development thinking and practice.
- Understanding of national policy and direction in public services / the NHS.
- Knowledge about setting strategic direction and translating that into deliverable, measurable outcomes.
Skills
Essential
- Capable of critical and creative thinking with effective problem solving and decision-making skills.
- Ability to represent the Trust at national, regional and local forum.
- Communicates with authority both internally and externally.
- Achieves commitment and support through the use of integrity and influence.
- Project management skills.
- Commissioning, contracting and contract management skills.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Together-safe, kind, excellent.
- Actively promote and value equality, diversity and inclusion, treating others with dignity and respect.
- Compliance with all Trust policies and procedures.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Employer's website
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)