Head of Human Resources (HR) Partnering and Digitalisation

In this senior role you will lead the HR Partnering and Digitalisation portfolio within the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, delivering high-quality, values-led HR services. You will translate strategy into People plans, drive workforce transformation and change programmes, and ensure robust governance and risk management. You’ll partner with system leaders and staff-side colleagues to improve wellbeing, service delivery, and employee relations. This is a pivotal opportunity to shape workforce strategy at scale and support sustainable transformation.

• Provide senior leadership to the HR Partnering and Digital Services portfolio across advisory, employee relations and digital service development
• Drive inclusive health and wellbeing plans and employee support schemes in collaboration with the Head of Workforce Design and OD
• Translate organisational strategy into strategic and operational People plans and adjust for priorities and risk
• Offer authoritative advice on complex workforce, OD and employment matters, including wellbeing considerations and high-risk scenarios
• Chair internal People governance meetings, ensuring clear decisions and follow-through
• Establish and monitor performance reporting with KPIs, dashboards, deep dives and exception reporting
• Identify and manage risks and issues, ensuring mitigation and escalation
• Assure quality and consistency of advice, case management, and documentation across advisory/ER
• Set expectations for case progression and decision-making thresholds, addressing underperformance
• Utilise data to identify risks, inefficiencies and drive improvements across the portfolio
• Lead contribution to organisational change programmes with strong staff engagement and risk management
• Oversee consultation, equality considerations and workforce risk management in change initiatives
• Support wellbeing strategies to improve attendance and keep staff well at work
• Collaborate with health and wellbeing champions and partners to share best practice
• Drive continuous improvement of operating processes and customer experience
• Ensure employment law compliance and alignment with NHS terms and organisational policies
• Oversee policy development and governance for high-risk decisions and programmes
• Ensure data protection and information governance for workforce data
• Govern employment controls including checks,fixed-term arrangements and rights to work
• Lead resource planning and budget management for the People service
• Identify productivity and value opportunities contributing to financial sustainability
• Line manage senior staff and promote accountability, inclusion and compassionate leadership
• Support workforce planning, talent development and succession planning

• MCIPD qualification and membership (or equivalent senior HR qualification)
• Extensive senior HR/OD leadership experience
• Experience leading complex organisational change and workforce transformation
• Expert knowledge of employment law and employee relations within NHS contexts
• Proven ability to develop and implement HR policies and governance at organisational level
• Experience managing budgets and resource planning
• Current UK professional registration with NHS context knowledge
• Project/programme management experience (desirable)
• Disposition as a credible, resilient and proactive leader

• strong integrity and discretion
• calm under pressure
• outcomes-driven and accountable
• employment law expertise
• employee relations practice
• NHS terms and conditions knowledge