OUR VALUES IN ACTION

• Care and Compassion • Quality and Teamwork • Dignity and Respect • Openness, honesty and responsibility

Are you a Human Resources or Organisational Development Professional with leadership experience in a complex organisation? If so, and you are ready to move to a director position in a forward looking health board, then we want to hear from you.

In line with health systems across Scotland and the UK, NHS Borders is facing the need to adapt to meet the future needs of the Borders population within challenges associated with demographics, growing expectations, developing technologies and restricted resources. The Board and Executive Team is therefore facing a significant responsibility to provide the right leadership for the organisation through a significant service and workforce transformation process, which will also address the Board’s current financial deficit.

NHS Borders is a fully integrated territorial board serving a population of 116,900 (2022 Census). We have a workforce of approximately 4000 staff delivering healthcare services There are 114 GPs across the region (Public Health Scotland, 2022). Made up of 24 GP practices, Community health services, a 320 bedded District General Hospital, Inpatient and Community MH & LD Services, 5 Community Hospitals, Community Dental services and links with independent contractors (GPs, opticians, pharmacists and dentists). This is therefore a time of significant change and opportunity as we work through major service and workforce transformation.

We are looking for an inspiring individual with a broad range of strategic and professional skills, with vision, drive and passion, and who is a strategic thinker with the ability to earn the confidence and respect necessary to bring about real change within the Board as well as influencing and shaping workforce strategy at regional and national level.

As Director of People & Culture you will plan and take forward a workforce strategy which integrates with and supports the Board’s service and financial planning. You will share responsibility for shaping and delivering the values, strategic objectives and corporate management of NHS Borders and contribute to joint working at regional and national levels within NHS Scotland. You will need Fellow CIPD membership or equivalent, together with proven leadership, communication and analytical skills.

The Scottish Borders covers a large and scenically beautiful area of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. Predominately rural, it is historically a unique part of the country, the home of the Border Reivers, where annually each town maintains its links with the past during the season of Common Ridings. The Scottish Borders has tremendous facilities for sport and leisure. It’s a great place to live and work.

Current NHS Scotland Employees - Written approval must be sought from your line manager prior to applying for this secondment. You will be required to bring this if shortlisted for interview.

Short-listed applicants will be contacted by email. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam folder.

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: .

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 . 

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 .

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