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Location: NHS Borders (flexible / hybrid working available in line with service needs)
NHS Borders are seeking an experienced and proactive Head of Organisational Development to provide strategic leadership and professional expertise across organisational development, learning and staff wellbeing.
The postholder will lead the delivery of a comprehensive organisational development service, supporting leaders, managers and teams to deliver service improvement, organisational change and the Staff Governance agenda. This role plays a key part in enabling NHS Borders to achieve its corporate objectives and to develop organisational capability across health and social care partnerships.
The role will lead key workstreams including strategic leadership development, staff experience and will have responsibility for the local delivery of the iMatter staff experience programme.
The postholder will support the Staff Governance and Wellbeing agendas, working closely with Executive and Non-Executive colleagues. They will represent NHS Borders locally, regionally and nationally.
Applicants must hold a master’s degree in Organisational Development; HR; Business, or a health-related subject, along with Chartered CIPD membership. They will have significant senior-level experience in Organisational Development, learning or workforce leadership, with a strong track record of leading complex organisational development, change and improvement programmes.
The postholder will be a qualified coach, with experience of coaching individuals and teams, and will be able to operate effectively in complex and politically sensitive environments. Strong leadership, influencing, negotiation and communication skills are essential, together with experience of managing teams, budgets and competing priorities. Previous NHS experience is desirable, as is experience of using psychometric tools to support organisational and leadership development.
For informal enquiries about this post, please contact Avril Keen, Director of People & Culture - Avril.keen3@nhs.scot
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As from 1st April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week reduced from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.
Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.
To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.
As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here.
For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found here.
It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form.
**PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early***
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
