Assistant Director People & CultureNHS

Job summary

The Assistant Director of People provides strategic and operational leadership across NHS Greater Manchester's People portfolio, ensuring high-quality, compliant and inclusive workforce services. Reporting to the Director - People Engagement and Communications the role oversees HR, organisational development, leadership and culture, equality and inclusion, health and safety, learning, recruitment, and workforce systems, ensuring they operate cohesively and to the highest standards.

As a senior deputy and trusted advisor, the postholder translates workforce ambition into delivery, shapes the annual people plan, supports and collaborates with system-wide programmes, and supports transformation. They champion compassionate, equitable workplaces, effective governance, and strong staff-side partnerships, while building networks and driving evidence-based workforce practice that improves outcomes and enables sustainable change.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will:

Provide visible leadership and effective management to their team and the wider portfolio, ensuring clear direction, motivation, and support that enableshigh performance, professional development, and delivery of organisational priorities across NHS GM Integrated Care.

Build and maintain strong partnerships across NHS organisations, GMCA, local authorities, and wider stakeholdersand maximise opportunities for collaborative working.

Champion modernisation across all areas of the portfolio, embedding innovation, streamlined processes, and new ways of working. Lead initiatives that simplify systems, reduce duplication, and improve efficiency, ensuring services remain fit for purpose and responsive to the evolving needs of NHS GM.

Drive digital enablement in how we work, ensuring technology is harnessed to improve collaboration, data-driven decision making, and service delivery. Promote the adoption of digital tools and platforms across teams and the wider system, supporting staff to develop digital skills and embedding a culture of digital confidence and innovation.

• Provide leadership to ensure the team works closely with Place Partnerships, fostering strong collaboration, shared priorities, and integrated approaches that support local delivery and system-wide outcomes across Greater Manchester.
• Actively enable collaboration through service planning, programme delivery, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership.

Job description

The post holder will:

• Provide visible leadership and effective management to their team and the wider portfolio, ensuring clear direction, motivation, and support that enables high performance, professional development, and delivery of organisational priorities across NHS GM Integrated Care.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships across NHS organisations, GMCA, local authorities, and wider stakeholders and maximise opportunities for collaborative working.
• Champion modernisation across all areas of the portfolio, embedding innovation, streamlined processes, and new ways of working. Lead initiatives that simplify systems, reduce duplication, and improve efficiency, ensuring services remain fit for purpose and responsive to the evolving needs of NHS GM.
• Drive digital enablement in how we work, ensuring technology is harnessed to improve collaboration, datadriven decision making, and service delivery. Promote the adoption of digital tools and platforms across teams and the wider system, supporting staff to develop digital skills and embedding a culture of digital confidence and innovation.
• Provide leadership to ensure the team works closely with Place Partnerships, fostering strong collaboration, shared priorities, and integrated approaches that support local delivery and systemwide outcomes across Greater Manchester.
• Matrix working is key to delivering our organisation's and system priorities. The post holder will actively enable collaboration through service planning, programme delivery, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership. This includes considering the wider impact of decisions, driving improvement, and supporting inclusive ways of working where different perspectives are valued.

About us

NHS Greater Manchester is a values-driven organisation committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the population while supporting its staff to thrive. It offers a supportive and inclusive working environment, with flexible and hybrid working arrangements that help colleagues balance their professional responsibilities with personal commitments. As an organisation focused on collaboration, innovation and making a positive difference to local communities, NHS GM provides opportunities to develop, contribute to meaningful change and build a rewarding career in public service.