Job Description
Head of People Operations
Job Summary
As the Head of People Operations at NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), you will play a vital leadership role in shaping how we support, protect and enable our people. Reporting to the Assistant Director – HR Operations, you will lead a national People Operations service that delivers expert, consistent and compassionate people advice across the organisation. You will set strategic direction, manage complex and high-risk employee relations casework, and ensure our policies and practices are fair, inclusive and legally robust. Working closely with the Chief People Officer, Executive Team, trade unions and key partners, you will use insight, data and collaboration to continuously improve services, strengthen governance and enhance employee experience. This is a high-impact role where your expertise will help NHSBT deliver for colleagues, donors and patients across the UK.
Main duties of the job
• Lead and continuously develop a high-performing, customer-focused People Operations service across NHSBT.
• Provide senior oversight and direction on complex and high-risk employee relations and casework, protecting NHSBT’s people and reputation.
• Act as the senior professional lead and operational escalation point for people operations matters, advising executive and senior leaders.
• Build strong, constructive relationships with trade unions, staff networks and key stakeholders, promoting a restorative and inclusive approach.
• Set, monitor and report on KPIs and SLAs, using insight and data to drive service improvement and inform executive decision-making.
• Act as senior subject matter expert for operational HR policy, ensuring consistent interpretation, application and review.
• Embed equality, diversity and inclusion principles into all people operations practices and decisions.
• Provide assurance on governance, audit and legal compliance in partnership with Legal Services and centres of expertise.
• Line manage and develop multiple teams, ensuring clear priorities, capability building and strong engagement.
• Manage budgets across People Operations functions within a controlled financial environment.
About You
Experience and Knowledge
• Significant senior-level experience leading employee relations and HR operations in a complex, unionised environment.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop geographically dispersed teams to deliver high-quality services.
• Expert knowledge of UK employment law and its practical application to complex casework and policy.
• Strong influencing, negotiation and communication skills, with credibility at executive and board level.
• Demonstrated experience using data, insight and reporting to inform decisions, manage risk and drive improvement.
Qualifications and Training
• MSc in Human Resource Management or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Significant post‑qualification experience in a senior HR leadership role.
• Evidence of ongoing commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Willingness and ability to travel and work flexibly to meet the requirements of the role.
About Us
It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.
Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do.
By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.
You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
What we offer:
- Hybrid working arrangements – because NHSBT works nationally, we’re able to offer hybrid working options that give you more flexibility to balance work with life.
- Flexible working options – we promote flexible working where the role allows. We’re happy to discuss what flexibility might look like for you.
- Generous annual leave - 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
- Inclusive pension scheme - the NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns). Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/information-about-nhs-pensions
- Supportive learning culture - we’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
- Health and wellbeing support – we offer confidential services including occupational health, employee assistance programme, and wellbeing resources. Our support is available to all colleagues and we endeavour to provide tailored workplace adjustments where possible.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applications from disabled candidates. We will talk with you to explore any adjustments that may help you during the recruitment process.
You can find more information about accessibility, our culture, and how we support applicants on the NHSBT Careers website:
To learn more, please see the job description and person specification. These can be accessed via the link below, or by clicking ‘Apply’ if you are viewing this advert on another site.
Next steps
This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Thursday 28th May 2026
The assessment process for this role will include: a single interview including a presentation or a longlist video assessment.
Interviews are anticipated to be held on w/c 15th June 2026 – subject to confirmation.
