Associate Director of Organisational Development, Culture and Leadership, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Transforming Care Together

We are investing over £500m in our hospitals alongside a wider Dorset system change to support the development of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams to create one of the most modern and forward-thinking healthcare environments in the UK.

This transformation goes beyond new buildings. It represents a fundamental shift in how care is delivered across our sites, creating the conditions for better flow, clearer pathways, and more effective use of capacity.

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD.

They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients and visitors, but also how we treat each other – our valued team mates and colleagues.

Our values will be embedded into every part of our organisation such as recruitment, appraisal and development.

They will help us create a welcoming, inclusive and innovative work environment for all at UHD so that we can deliver the best outcomes for people who need our care on the South Coast.

"Kindness is free. If we can be kind to each other we do anything.” Cheryl Richardson, cardiology service manager and wellbeing champion, RBH

We are approachable and friendly to everyone, so everyone – staff and patients – feel comfortable in our hospitals
We are kind and caring to everyone we meet, so everyone feels welcomed and cared for
We are compassionate and understand individual needs, so we can provide the care that is right for all

“We have the best team in this pandemic. We collaborate, help each other and support each other.” Zhu Zhibin (Morgan), surgical first assistant, RBH

We work collaboratively with other teams, partners, families and wider community, to ensure our patients receive the best care from the right people at the right time
We offer help and support to our colleagues, particularly when things are difficult, to ensure people feel supported and patient care is safe and timely
We offer positive encouragement and celebrate and share our successes, and will share these with patients and partners to assure them

“By listening to someone they feel valued – what people have to say is important. We always try to respect and take time to understand what people have to say.” Christos Christoforidis, service lead for environmental controls, Christchurch Hospital and EU Network lead

We communicate clearly and effectively so that we are understood, being mindful of our impact on others, to ensure everyone is fully informed
We actively listen to fully understand different points of view, to be able to give patients the best possible care
We are respectful and take the time to listen, and take time to fully understand everyone – staff and patients

“It’s important everyone – patients and staff – feel safe and supported to speak up and be heard. We need it to learn and make improvements.” Helen Martin, Freedom To Speak Up guardian, UHD

We are honest with each other and offer constructive feedback
We learn from our experiences and mistakes and share our learning with colleagues and partners, and with our patients
We create an environment where it is safe to speak out, and want everyone – patients and staff – to feel safe to speak out too

“From our studies, we’re changing peoples' lives, picking up problems earlier and improving outcomes.” Stephanie Grigsby, Lead researcher, Maternity, Poole Hospital

We positively contribute and make suggestions to improve our service(s), so we can improve everyone’s experience of our hospitals, whether they are patients or members of staff
We are open to trying new ways of doing things and to keep learning from others, to enable everyone to have access to excellent care
We are curious and open-minded about developing ourselves, so that we are always aiming to be the best we can be

“Inclusive to me means everyone feeling welcome, treated with respect and having their voice heard. Everyone should feel welcome here.” Marcea Green-Williams, deputy sister, Treatment and Investigation Unit

We value the diversity and difference that everyone brings by treating people with respect and dignity, as everyone who visits or works in our hospitals should be treated
We treat people fairly without favouritism or discrimination, to make sure your experiences of our hospitals as staff, and the experiences of our patients, is fair and equitable
We promote a sense of belonging and inclusivity, where we all have a voice and are able to contribute to the future of our organisation; whether staff, patient or our wider community

Dear Candidate
Thank you for your interest in the role of Associate Director of Organisational Development, Culture and Leadership at University Hospitals Dorset.
This is a significant role for the Trust and one that sits at the heart of how we continue to evolve as an organisation. We are a large and complex Trust, employing around 10,000 colleagues, and we are in the midst of a major transformation programme that will shape how services are delivered for years to come. Please do read our Trust internet pages to see the size of our investment and ambition to provide both outstanding care and an amazing employee experience.
We have a clear ambition to be a great place to work, underpinned by a compassionate and inclusive culture, benchmarking in the top quartile for all elements of the People Promise which will play a central part in our journey.
This is not a traditional organisational development role. It is a senior leadership position with real influence across the Trust, working closely with my Executive team colleagues, clinical leaders and NHS staff across all professional groups. As a key member of my senior leadership team the post holder will lead our approach to organisational development, leadership, talent and inclusion, and will be instrumental in shaping how we think about culture, engagement and capability across the organisation.
There is a strong mandate to make a difference. The role brings responsibility for leading organisation wide strategies and programmes that support cultural change, positive, powerful behavioural interventions raising capability and increasing staff engagement, aligned to our patient first improvement methodology and our mission and values. It also provides the opportunity to influence at system level, working with partners across Dorset and contributing to regional and national conversations on organisational development and leadership.
We are keen to hear from individuals both within and beyond the NHS who can bring relevant experience, fresh perspective, a drive for improvement and the credibility to influence at senior level.
What matters to us is finding someone who can combine strategic thinking with the ability to deliver. This is a role that requires credibility, judgement and the confidence to influence at senior levels, alongside the ability to build relationships and bring people with you. The Trust is diverse, with a wide range of perspectives, services and professional groups, and the ability to navigate that complexity and create alignment is critical.
You will be supported by an experienced and committed team, and you will be part of a wider People Directorate that is focused on making a tangible difference to the experience of our staff and, ultimately, to the care we provide to patients.
I hope this microsite gives you a clear sense of both the scale of the role and the influence it carries. As a large organisations, and a significant employer, University Hospitals Dorset offers a platform where the right individual can make a significant contribution.
I very much look forward to hearing from you. If you would like to have an initial opportunity to discuss the role informally, please contact Frank McKenna, Managing Director, or Beth Stickney, Principal Researcher, at Alumni Global, would be delighted to speak with you.
Yours sincerely
Melanie Whitefield
Chief People Officer
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is a three‑site acute trust with university hospital status through our partnership with Bournemouth University.
We provide highly regarded healthcare services to over 750,000 local residents plus visitors and employ around 10,000 dedicated staff. Our £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering modern, purpose‑built facilities to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve.
Our goal is to work with our local communities and partners to make Dorset the healthiest place to live in the UK, we are an active part of the Dorset Integrated Care System and have close links with Dorset County Hospital, Dorset Healthcare, primary care and local authorities.
We are proud to be part of the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is central to who we are - creating a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and able to be themselves.
Please click here to view the Role Profile & Person Specification
All applications must include:
• A full curriculum vitae/resume
• Quoting the relevant role reference number:
Associate Director of Organisational Development, Culture and Leadership - A041976
• A covering letter highlighting the aspects of the job description and University Hospitals Dorset 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 University Hospitals Dorset 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:
Frank McKenna, Global Managing Director, or Beth Stickney, Principal Researcher on +44 7703 821 996
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.
Key Milestones:
Closing date: 14th June 2026
Stakeholder session: w/c 22nd June 2026 - TBC
Final Interviews: w/c 29th June 2026 - TBC
Please ensure you have made a note of the final interview date. We recommend that you bookmark this microsite, as any potential updates regarding the role will be posted online.