Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Associate Director of People Services

The closing date is 01 March 2026

Job summary

HPFT is an outstanding, award-winning Trust and our People Team is similarly outstanding! Last year, we were shortlisted as finalists for the HPMA People Team of the Year Award in recognition of the many successes we've achieved together and the work we have done to develop a great team of professional experts who live HPFT's values and support each other to thrive.

As Associate Director of People Services, you will be part of the People and OD senior leadership team, leading a fabulous group of dedicated, friendly professionals who are all aligned to our Trust's vision of delivering great care and achieving great outcomes for service users and carers. Our goal of supporting service users to live their lives to their full potential also translates into our people practices and our vision of compassionate, caring, inclusive teams where everyone is supported to thrive. As Associate Director of People Services, you will be pivotal in helping us achieve this, as your portfolio will include leading recruitment services, training and education services, temporary staffing services and medical workforce services.

We are looking for an experienced, skilled People Services leader whose expertise is matched by a values driven approach and commitment to supporting their team to thrive. If this sounds like you, we'd be delighted to hear from you and welcome informal discussions about this great opportunity.

Interview Date: 5th and 6th March 2026

Main duties of the job

Provide specialist expertise and advice to the Trust on strategy, policy, employment contracts, planning and the most complex and sensitive matters relating to recruitment, resourcing, temporary staffing, medical staff employment matters, education and training, and employment contract/terms and conditions advice.
Responsibility for the People Services budget and its effective management.
Ensure that the effectiveness of People Services are measured and to recommend to the Trust's senior leadership team developments to ensure needs are being met to achieve the Trust's strategic priorities and deliver great care and achieve great outcomes for service users and carers.
Build key relationships with senior staff, business partners, line managers, external suppliers and colleagues in order to gather feedback to inform the development and implementation of an effective long term Trust wide resourcing strategy, develop best practice and take responsibility for delivering a pipeline of highly-motivated talent (both internally and externally)
Oversee the management of contracts with training providers, and workforce systems such as ESR and Trac

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Date posted

13 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£79,163 to £90,880 a year per annum (5% fringe HCAS included)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

367-CORP-10023

Job locations

The Colonnades

Beaconsfield Road

Hatfield

AL10 8YE

Job description

Job responsibilities

.For more information about this role, please see attached job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

.For more information about this role, please see attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

CIPD membership/equivalent
Masters level qualification in relevant field or equivalent or relevant degree plus professional HR qualification
Evidence of continuing professional development in relevant field

Experience

Essential

Experience of complex project management
Senior level experience in people services in a complex environment
Experience of influencing and implementing people strategy
Experience of great team leadership and management
Demonstrable experience and capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

In depth knowledge of recruitment, resourcing, selection, onboarding, induction, education, training and employment contract legislation, legislation relating to recruitment and equalities and data protection legislation.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to tailor communications to the audience and influence others tactfully and strategically.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

CIPD membership/equivalent
Masters level qualification in relevant field or equivalent or relevant degree plus professional HR qualification
Evidence of continuing professional development in relevant field

Experience

Essential

Experience of complex project management
Senior level experience in people services in a complex environment
Experience of influencing and implementing people strategy
Experience of great team leadership and management
Demonstrable experience and capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

In depth knowledge of recruitment, resourcing, selection, onboarding, induction, education, training and employment contract legislation, legislation relating to recruitment and equalities and data protection legislation.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to tailor communications to the audience and influence others tactfully and strategically.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Colonnades

Beaconsfield Road

Hatfield

AL10 8YE

Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Colonnades

Beaconsfield Road

Hatfield

AL10 8YE

Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)