Chief People Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is the main provider of hospital services for the people of Reading, Newbury, Henley, Wokingham and the surrounding villages of Berkshire West and South Oxfordshire.

At our heart we are a local hospital that works with NHS and social care partners to provide excellent healthcare services for those who live in our communities and beyond. We provide a full range of services serving a catchment area of just over 500,000 people. In addition, we provide specialist Cancer, Cardiology and Renal services that serve a wider population of over a million.

We employ more than 7,000 staff from 89 different nationalities, and each year we are responsible for over £600m of NHS resources. We deliver care from a network of facilities across the area including facilities in Bracknell, Henley-on-Thames, Thatcham and Windsor.

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust operates across seven sites: Royal Berkshire Hospital, University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, Townlands Memorial Hospital in Henley; West Berkshire Community Hospital in Thatcham; Bracknell Healthspace in Bracknell; Prince Charles Eye Unit and Windsor Dialysis Unit in Windsor.

Dear Applicant
Thank you for your interest in the roles of Chief Finance Officer and Chief People Officer at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust (RBFT). These are critical leadership positions at a time of opportunity and transformation for our Trust and the communities we serve across Berkshire and South Oxfordshire.
At RBFT, we are proud of our long standing reputation for delivering high quality care, underpinned by a strong values driven culture and a commitment to continuous improvement. As a Trust rated 'Good' by the CQC and recognised nationally for innovation and staff engagement, we are now looking to our future with confidence and ambition.
As Chief Finance Officer, you will provide strategic leadership across our financial, commercial, and digital portfolios. You will play a central role in shaping the financial sustainability of the Trust, enabling investment in modern infrastructure, technology, and models of care. Your insight and expertise will be vital as we progress our long term transformation agenda and the broader ambitions of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICS.
As Chief People Officer, you will lead a high performing and values led people function, building on our strong foundations in staff engagement, workforce development, and inclusive employment. Your leadership will be pivotal in supporting our talented teams to thrive, shaping an open and compassionate culture, and ensuring that we remain one of the most rewarding and supportive places to work in the NHS.
Both roles sit at the heart of our executive team and Board, offering an opportunity to shape the Trust’s strategy and make a lasting difference to patients, staff, and our wider communities. You will bring professional credibility, system thinking, and a collaborative approach, along with a deep commitment to our CARE values and to the wellbeing and development of our people.
These are outstanding leadership opportunities and offer the chance to join a high performing and ambitious organisation at an exciting time in its journey. If you are energised by the opportunity to contribute to our vision of outstanding care and a healthier future for all, then we would be delighted to hear from you.
With best wishes
Steve McManus
Chief Executive
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Please click here to view the Candidate Packs:
Chief People Officer
Chief Financial Officer
All applications must include:
• A full curriculum vitae/resume
• Quoting the relevant role reference number:
Chief People Officer - A040846
Chief Financial Officer - A040847
• A covering letter highlighting the aspects of the job description and Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust that particularly attract you to the post (Microsoft Word document)
• Contact details for three referees, these will not be contacted without your permission. (References should validate a minimum period of six years employment)
• A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (which you will be redirected to once you have submitted your application) *
Monitoring
One of Alumni Global’s and Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust’s objectives is to ensure that its workforce is reflective of the local community and therefore we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. So that we can successfully achieve these aims, while it is not mandatory we would encourage every applicant to complete the “Equal Opportunities Monitoring form” so that we can measure the effectiveness of our efforts. The Recruiting Manager does not have access to the Monitoring Information Sections of the application form at any stage of the process and the information provided will be kept entirely confidential.
For a confidential discussion on this role please contact:
Thomas Patterson, Managing Director or David Heaton, Senior Researcher on +44 7842 003 200
Candidate adjustment
If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made as part of the recruitment process please can you advise us so that we can ensure this is accommodated.
CPO Key Milestones:
Closing date: 8th August 2025 - TBC
Stakeholder session: TBC
Final Interviews: w/c 8th September 2025 - TBC
CFO Key Milestones:
Closing date: 14th August 2025 - TBC
Stakeholder session: TBC
Final Interviews: w/c 22nd September 2025 - TBC
Please ensure you have made a note of the final interview date(s). We recommend that you bookmark this microsite, as any potential updates regarding the role will be posted online.