UHD is one of the largest organisations in the NHS, employing around 10,000 colleagues and serving a population of over 800,000 people across Dorset. We are investing over £500m across our hospital sites, alongside wider system change to support the development of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams. This is creating a very different model of care, one that is more joined up, more responsive and more sustainable.

This is a moment of real change for the organisation.

The physical transformation is well underway. The next phase is about how the organisation performs, how people lead, and how culture supports delivery at scale.

As the new Associate Director, you will play a central role in that next phase of our journey. You will work at the heart of the Trust, alongside Executive colleagues and clinical leaders, shaping how leadership, culture and capability come together to support delivery. This is not about designing frameworks or producing strategies. It is about making change real in a large, complex organisation where there are different perspectives, pressures and priorities.

You will lead the Trust’s approach to organisational development, leadership, talent and inclusion. That means improving staff experience, strengthening leadership capability and ensuring that cultural change is felt on the ground, not just described at Board level.

This is a role that requires presence and judgement. You will need to be comfortable working with senior leaders, able to challenge and support in equal measure, and able to build credibility quickly across a diverse workforce. You will also need to be clear about what matters and persistent in seeing it through.

You will lead the Trust’s approach to organisational development, leadership, talent and inclusion. That means improving staff experience, strengthening leadership capability and ensuring that cultural change is felt on the ground, not just described at Board level.

This is a role that requires presence and judgement. You will need to be comfortable working with senior leaders, able to challenge and support in equal measure, and able to build credibility quickly across a diverse workforce. You will also need to be clear about what matters and persistent in seeing it through.

We are actively interested in candidates from a wide range of sector and industry settings. What matters is your ability to operate in complexity, to influence at senior level and to deliver change that is both visible and sustained.

Application Deadline: 14th June 2026

Shortlisting: w/c 15th June 2026

Selection: w/c 29th June 2026

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

If you are motivated by the opportunity to shape how a large organisation develops, and to make a tangible difference to the experience of staff and the care delivered to patients, this is a role that offers that platform.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Frank McKenna or Beth Stickney, +44 7703 821 996, beth.stickney @alumniglobal.com at Alumni Global.

HOW TO APPLY

Please do not apply through the trac recruitment system.
Please note that applications must not be submitted via the TRAC recruitment system. To apply through Alumni Global, please use the following link, which includes full application guidance and key information: www.alumniglobal.com/job/uhdorset-adodcl