Director of Pay and Reward

NHS

  • Leeds
  • £123,374 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 5 days ago
NHS Employers has an important role to play in the delivery of the governments ambitious 10-year health plan. Central to this role is a series of responsibilities for national contracts and collective agreements with trade unions.We are seeking an exceptional leader to lead this work, and to support the wider success of the NHS Employers service.Main duties of the jobWith a clear commitment to our values you will be able to deliver :-
  • An expert and principles-based approach to employee relations, including negotiations with government and trade unions
  • Capacity to evaluate complex issues, balance competing priorities, and make informed, ethical and inclusive decisions.
  • A strategic and collective approach to the wider impact of NHS Employers and our stakeholders and members
  • Exceptional communication skills to engage staff, members, and external partners.
About usNHS Employers is the employers organisation for the NHS in England, commissioned by the DHSC on behalf of the NHS. Delivered by the NHS Confederation, NHS Employers supports NHS organisations to develop a sustainable workforce and enable them to be the best employers that they can be.DetailsDate posted29 August 2025Pay schemeOtherSalary£123,374 a yearContractPermanentWorking patternFull-time, Flexible working, Home or remote workingReference numberNHS1133266Job locationsNHS Confederation2 The CallsLeedsLS2 7JUJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesSpecific Role Responsibilities
  • Policy lead for employers in the NHS in England on all aspects of the employment relations and reward agenda within agreed programmes and commissioning mandates from the Department of Health & Social Care
  • The development and deployment of national approaches to NHS workforce pay and reward and contractual terms and conditions to support employer and policy priorities for the medical and non-medical workforce in the NHS in England.
  • Maintaining the highest standards of advice, policy, analysis, advice and support to the key negotiating fora in England for Agenda for Change (Staff Council), and HCHS medical contracts as well as the NHS Pension Scheme advisory board (SAB)
  • Support the Chief Executive in ensuring collaborative relationships and effective partnership working with NHS Trades Unions (medical and non-medical)
  • Maintaining effective relationships within the UK devolved nations on areas of shared mutual interest
Key Responsibilities of all Directors
  • Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement strategic plans and goals, aligning operations with mission and vision. Collaborate closely with the senior leadership team to set direction and monitor performance.
  • Operational Management: ensuring programs and teams function efficiently. Delegate responsibilities to assistant directors, managers and teams while providing clear guidance and expectations.
  • Leading People: Lead recruitment, training, performance management, and development of employees and senior management. Foster a fair, productive and positive culture in line with the organisations values
  • Financial Oversight: Work with SLT to lead budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation to maintain financial health. Ensure compliance with applicable policies and transparency in reporting.
  • Business Development: Provide leadership in fundraising efforts, cultivating relationships with stakeholders to secure contract income, generating margin to support independent policy work
  • Collaboration and Governance: Act as an effective liaison between the Group Executive, SLT and team members, facilitating communication and ensuring that decisions and policies are effectively implemented
  • Risk Management: Identifying potential risks to the organization and developing strategies to mitigate them ensuring the directorate and organization remains financially and operationally sound
  • Communication and Advocacy: advocate for the organization and its members, representing its interests to stakeholders, the media, and the community.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain positive relationships with members, the DHSC, external partners, regulators, media, and other stakeholders to enhance the organizations visibility and support.
  • Continuous Improvement and Evaluation: Ensure programs and teams meet and report against agreed quality standards, seeking out improvements in ways of working and delivery
Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesSpecific Role Responsibilities
  • Policy lead for employers in the NHS in England on all aspects of the employment relations and reward agenda within agreed programmes and commissioning mandates from the Department of Health & Social Care
  • The development and deployment of national approaches to NHS workforce pay and reward and contractual terms and conditions to support employer and policy priorities for the medical and non-medical workforce in the NHS in England.
  • Maintaining the highest standards of advice, policy, analysis, advice and support to the key negotiating fora in England for Agenda for Change (Staff Council), and HCHS medical contracts as well as the NHS Pension Scheme advisory board (SAB)
  • Support the Chief Executive in ensuring collaborative relationships and effective partnership working with NHS Trades Unions (medical and non-medical)
  • Maintaining effective relationships within the UK devolved nations on areas of shared mutual interest
Key Responsibilities of all Directors
  • Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement strategic plans and goals, aligning operations with mission and vision. Collaborate closely with the senior leadership team to set direction and monitor performance.
  • Operational Management: ensuring programs and teams function efficiently. Delegate responsibilities to assistant directors, managers and teams while providing clear guidance and expectations.
  • Leading People: Lead recruitment, training, performance management, and development of employees and senior management. Foster a fair, productive and positive culture in line with the organisations values
  • Financial Oversight: Work with SLT to lead budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation to maintain financial health. Ensure compliance with applicable policies and transparency in reporting.
  • Business Development: Provide leadership in fundraising efforts, cultivating relationships with stakeholders to secure contract income, generating margin to support independent policy work
  • Collaboration and Governance: Act as an effective liaison between the Group Executive, SLT and team members, facilitating communication and ensuring that decisions and policies are effectively implemented
  • Risk Management: Identifying potential risks to the organization and developing strategies to mitigate them ensuring the directorate and organization remains financially and operationally sound
  • Communication and Advocacy: advocate for the organization and its members, representing its interests to stakeholders, the media, and the community.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain positive relationships with members, the DHSC, external partners, regulators, media, and other stakeholders to enhance the organizations visibility and support.
  • Continuous Improvement and Evaluation: Ensure programs and teams meet and report against agreed quality standards, seeking out improvements in ways of working and delivery
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • Strategic Thinking and Leadership: Ability to envision the organisations future and inspire others to work toward common goals.
  • Strong Communication: For effectively engaging diverse audiences, including staff, members, stakeholders and the public.
  • Financial Acumen: Experience of managing finances, using financial reports, market intelligence and resource management to make sound financial decisions.
  • Decision-Making and Problem Solving: Capacity to evaluate complex issues, balance competing priorities, and make informed, ethical decisions.
  • Management and Delegation: Skill in overseeing teams, delegating tasks, and fostering professional development.
  • Business Development: Ability to cultivate commercial relationships and support the organizations financial sustainability.
  • Adaptability and Emotional Intelligence: Comfort with ambiguity, diplomacy in conflict resolution, and maintaining staff engagement and inclusion.
  • Strategic Thinking : ability to bring clarity and rigour to complex change, including negotiation with trade unions
  • Employee Relations : demonstrable experience in a principles based approach to employee relations, including negotiations with government and trade unions
Desirable
  • Senior level experience in HR/workforce policy and practice roles in large complex organisations and/or systems, including experience of working in the public sector.
  • Detailed understanding and experience of policy issues in the NHS in England, including those related to workforce.
  • Experience of working in a membership organisation and growing a funded service and membership offer.
  • Experience of working with the press and media.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • Strategic Thinking and Leadership: Ability to envision the organisations future and inspire others to work toward common goals.
  • Strong Communication: For effectively engaging diverse audiences, including staff, members, stakeholders and the public.
  • Financial Acumen: Experience of managing finances, using financial reports, market intelligence and resource management to make sound financial decisions.
  • Decision-Making and Problem Solving: Capacity to evaluate complex issues, balance competing priorities, and make informed, ethical decisions.
  • Management and Delegation: Skill in overseeing teams, delegating tasks, and fostering professional development.
  • Business Development: Ability to cultivate commercial relationships and support the organizations financial sustainability.
  • Adaptability and Emotional Intelligence: Comfort with ambiguity, diplomacy in conflict resolution, and maintaining staff engagement and inclusion.
  • Strategic Thinking : ability to bring clarity and rigour to complex change, including negotiation with trade unions
  • Employee Relations : demonstrable experience in a principles based approach to employee relations, including negotiations with government and trade unions
Desirable
  • Senior level experience in HR/workforce policy and practice roles in large complex organisations and/or systems, including experience of working in the public sector.
  • Detailed understanding and experience of policy issues in the NHS in England, including those related to workforce.
  • Experience of working in a membership organisation and growing a funded service and membership offer.
  • Experience of working with the press and media.

NHS