HR Manager (CoS Available) At County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Employer: County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Job Title: HR Manager
Location: United Kingdom
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 per year
Job Type: Full-time
Closing Date: 26 January 2026

Job Summary

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a forward-thinking, experienced, and highly motivated HR Manager. The successful candidate will have a passion for helping others, excellent communication skills, and the ability to provide strategic and operational HR input.

The role involves leading the HR Team, providing professional and responsive advice to Care Groups, Corporate Departments, and the Trust’s Subsidiary Organisation, and influencing workforce development at a senior level.

Main Duties

As an integral member of the Workforce Directorate, the HR Manager will:

• Contribute to the delivery of services and the Trust’s People Matter Strategy.

• Collaborate with Trust leaders to support workforce planning, modernisation, transformation, engagement, and performance.

• Embed good HR practice and raise people management capability across the organisation.

• Provide professional senior HR advice to Trust leaders, including resolving complex workforce issues, implementing workforce changes, and improving KPIs.

• Develop initiatives to improve workforce experience, service performance, and support high-quality patient care.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Workforce Support

• Provide expert guidance on disciplinary, grievance, harassment, capability, appeals, TUPE transfers, redundancies, and health & wellbeing matters.

• Act as the primary interface with Care Groups, Corporate Services, and Subsidiary Organisations.

• Manage employee relations caseloads and escalate where necessary.

• Monitor workforce statistics, analyse trends, and recommend improvements.

• Provide evidence and preparation for Employment Tribunals.

HR Strategy & Projects

• Contribute to Workforce & OD Directorate and organisational plans.

• Lead HR projects, including change management initiatives.

• Develop and deliver specialist training sessions as required.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of HR legislation and best practices.

Leadership & Team Management

• Line manage HR staff, oversee recruitment, appraisals, and absence management.

• Allocate work and authorise travel expenses.

• Promote staff engagement and a positive work culture.

Workforce Data & Reporting

• Analyse workforce data and trends to inform decisions.

• Produce reports for Senior Management Teams and across the Trust.

• Monitor KPIs, themes, and lessons learned to drive continuous improvement.

Compliance & Policy

• Ensure legal compliance with employment legislation, Equality & Diversity, and Trust policies.

• Provide guidance on terms and conditions, Agenda for Change, and MHPS processes.

About County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

The Trust operates across two acute sites – Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham – and provides care through community hospitals, a planned care centre, and over 80 community-based settings including patient homes.

The Trust welcomes applications from disabled and BAME candidates, as these groups are currently under-represented.

Person Specification

Special Skills & Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of HR management, employment law, and best practices.

• Expertise in complex employment matters including TUPE, Equality & Diversity, and MHPS.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

• Ability to organise and prioritise a varied workload and work under pressure.

• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.

Experience

• Substantial HR experience at management level.

• Line management experience leading HR teams.

• Experience advising on complex employee relations cases.

• Partnership working with trade union representatives.

• NHS or public sector experience is desirable.

Qualifications

• Masters-level degree or equivalent professional HR qualification.

• Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management/CIPD.

• Continuous professional development in HR or employment law.

• Desirable: Mediation, Coaching, and Agenda for Change Job Evaluation Training.

Special Requirements

• Ability to travel across all Trust sites.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from candidates requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered. For more details, visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

How to Apply

If this opportunity interests you, visit the Trust’s official website for full details and to submit your application — click here to apply.