Director of HR & People

KIMS Hospital Group | Maidstone, Kent (with occasional travel)

Senior Leadership Team | Strategic & Operational Leadership

Lead our people strategy. Shape our culture. Help drive our future.

KIMS Hospital Group is entering an exciting period of growth and transformation, and we are looking for an exceptional Director of HR & People to lead our people agenda across the Group.

Working across the KIMS, Lyca Health and OES brands, you will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, providing strategic leadership across HR, people, culture, talent, reward, learning and development, employee relations and organisational change.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a modern, progressive people function and ensure our HR strategy directly supports our business ambitions and commitment to outstanding patient care.

The opportunity

As our senior HR leader, you will:

• Develop and deliver a forward-thinking Group HR & People strategy aligned to business growth and organisational priorities.
• Act as a trusted adviser to the Hospital Director, Senior Leadership Team and Board, providing expert guidance on complex people matters.
• Champion and embed our culture, values and behaviours, developing confident and capable leaders across the organisation.
• Lead people strategy through organisational change, restructures, acquisitions and TUPE, ensuring risks are effectively managed.
• Maintain robust people governance and compliance, including right to work, DBS, professional registration, qualifications and workforce checks.
• Oversee our PeopleXD HR system and ensure our people data, systems and processes support effective decision-making.
• Lead and develop the HR & People team, creating a high-performing, collaborative and forward-thinking function.

About you

You will be an experienced and credible HR leader with the ability to operate confidently at both strategic and operational level.

You will bring:

• CIPD Level 7 or or willingness to commence during first 24 months in post (minimum required: Level 5).
• Significant HR leadership experience, preferably with at least two years within healthcare.
• Proven experience of working successfully with senior leadership teams and Boards.
• Strong experience of organisational change, HR transformation and complex employee relations.
• Extensive knowledge of employment law, including TUPE, restructuring, reward and benefits and employing overseas nationals.
• A proven ability to develop culture, leadership capability, performance and succession.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to connect people strategy with business performance.
• Excellent communication, influencing, negotiation and coaching skills.

Experience within a complex, multi-site healthcare organisation would be highly advantageous.

The person

We are looking for an authentic, inspiring and commercially astute leader who can quickly establish credibility and build trusted relationships at every level.

You will be collaborative, creative, resilient and solutions-focused, with the confidence to challenge when needed and the empathy to support people through change.

Most importantly, you will share our belief that exceptional patient care starts with exceptional people.

Why KIMS Hospital Group?

This is a pivotal opportunity to join a growing healthcare organisation and make a genuine impact.

You won't simply be leading an HR function — you will shape the people strategy, culture and leadership capability that will support KIMS Hospital Group through its next phase of growth.

If you are ready to make your mark, we would love to hear from you. For a confidential conversation please call Juliet on 01622 538114.

Posted 21st October 2026