St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Group Chief People Officer
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Group Chief People Officer
St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh)
Salary: Very Senior Manager (VSM)
This is a defining moment for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh), and we are seeking an exceptional Group Chief People Officer to help shape the next chapter of our organisation.
Our Group brings together more than 18,000 colleagues delivering care across St George’s and Epsom and St Helier. As we strengthen our Group model and look towards merger and the development of a more integrated organisation, our success will depend not only on the quality of our strategy, but on the strength of our culture, the capability of our leaders and the experience of our people.
gesh is entering a critical phase of its development. Against one of the most challenging operating environments the NHS has faced, we have developed an ambitious five-year plan (2026/27–2030/31) which will fundamentally reshape how care is delivered, how our services are organised and how we achieve long-term financial and operational sustainability.
People, culture and leadership will be fundamental to delivering that ambition.
The Role
Reporting to the Group Chief Executive, Matthew Shaw, and operating as a key member of the Executive Team, the Group Chief People Officer will provide strategic leadership for people, culture, organisational development, and workforce transformation across gesh.
This is much more than a traditional People leadership role.
You will be a trusted adviser to the Chief Executive, Board and Executive Team and one of the principal architects of our future organisation. You will help us create a single organisational identity, strengthen leadership at every level, and develop the workforce and culture required to support transformation on a significant scale.
You will lead the development and delivery of a progressive People and Culture Strategy, ensuring our workforce plans are aligned to the Group’s ambitions for quality, productivity, operational performance, and financial sustainability.
At the same time, you will ensure that our People function provides excellent day-to-day services. We want modern, efficient, digitally enabled and data-driven People services that support our managers and colleagues, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, and enable our clinical and operational teams to focus on delivering outstanding care.
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The Challenge & Opportunity
Our ambition is for gesh to become one of the most engaged and inclusive NHS organisations in London, creating an environment where every colleague feels valued, supported, included and able to thrive.
As Group Chief People Officer, you will be central to this journey.
Key priorities will include:
- Leading the people, culture and organisational development aspects of our journey towards merger and a more integrated organisational model
- Helping create a single organisational identity, with shared values, behaviours and leadership expectations
- Strengthening leadership capability, talent, and succession planning across the Group
- Improving staff experience, engagement, wellbeing, and inclusion
- Supporting workforce transformation and productivity as services and models of care change
- Developing innovative workforce models aligned to neighbourhood and community-based care
- Modernising People Services through digital technology, automation, data, and workforce analytics
- Ensuring workforce strategy supports the Group’s financial sustainability and transformation ambitions
- Building strong relationships with trade unions, staff networks, system partners, universities and the wider NHS
You will also play an important system leadership role across South West London and Surrey, developing workforce solutions that extend beyond traditional organisational boundaries and strengthening our partnerships in education, research and innovation.
About You
We are seeking an outstanding senior People leader with extensive experience operating at Board or as an experienced Deputy CPO within a large and complex organisation.
You will bring a strong record of accomplishment in leading significant organisational transformation, cultural change, and workforce modernisation. You will understand how people's strategy can directly support better quality, stronger operational performance, improved productivity, and financial sustainability.
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Experience of merger, integration, organisational redesign, or significant operating model change will be particularly relevant.
NHS or healthcare experience would be valuable, although we are equally interested in candidates who can bring relevant experience from other large, complex, and highly regulated environments.
You will be a visible, authentic, and compassionate leader who shares our belief that great people and great cultures create great outcomes.
You will combine strategic ambition with the ability to deliver. You will be comfortable challenging constructively, navigating complexity and building consensus across organisational boundaries, while creating an environment characterised by trust, inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement.
This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of one of the largest and most complex NHS Groups in the country and to leave a legacy for our colleagues, patients, and communities.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences. We recognise that candidates may not meet every criterion; if you believe you can bring the leadership, expertise, and values needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.
All appointments are subject to the NHS Fit and Proper Persons requirements.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV and a supporting covering letter outlining your motivation for applying, how your experience meets the requirements of the role and what you would bring to gesh.
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
- Adrian Watts at MLC Partners | 07816 290865 | adrian@mlcpartners.co.uk
- Pete Marshall at MLC Partners | 07930 153672 | pete@mlcpartners.co.uk
Candidate pack: GCPO candidate pack gesh
Applications should be sent to: GESH@mlcpartners.co.uk
Closing date for applications: Monday 5th October 2026
Stakeholder & Panel interviews: Week commencing 2nd November 2026
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