Head of HR Services, Systems and Automation

'94% of staff within this team, who participated in the 2025/26 NHS Staff Survey, reported a strong team culture and positive working relationships, reflecting a supportive, collaborative environment where colleagues feel respected, valued and able to work together effectively.'''NHS Staff Survey 2025/26''

They will demonstrate strong governance and assurance capability (including information governance, risk management, data integrity and workforce reporting), and the confidence to lead sensitive and sometimes contentious matters with compassion, clarity and professionalism. Above all, the postholder will role model our values of We Care, We Communicate, We Collaborate and We Contribute, treating colleagues with dignity and respect, listening and explaining clearly, working in partnership across teams and systems, and maintaining a strong focus on improving the day to day experience for staff and managers.

The post holder will effectively manage the delivery of the HR Systems, HR Services and Workforce Information teams, and is responsible for ensuring the service provision of the HR Service and Systems Desks - our first-line HR support for all our staff. Management and leadership of our payroll liaison and temporary staffing teams is a key part of this role as well as supporting the Workforce Information Lead and HRBPs to develop a robust Workforce Plan for the Trust.

We are looking for a values led leader with significant senior experience in an NHS HR/People services environment, with a strong track record of leading HR systems, HR transactional services and workforce information at scale. The successful candidate will bring credible expertise in ESR, e rostering and workforce systems optimisation/integration, alongside the ability to deliver complex transformation programmes that improve quality, productivity and user experience through digitalisation, automation and continuous improvement.

This is a senior leadership role at the heart of how we support our MKUH workforce. The postholder will lead HR Systems and HR Services (including our first line HR Service and Systems Desks), driving transformation with a strong focus on digitalisation, automation and improving access to high quality first line support for staff and managers. The role will also provide leadership for payroll liaison, temporary staffing and Workforce Information functions, ensuring services are efficient, responsive and centred around the needs of our people., Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.

Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.

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