Sue Steen
Tiverton,Devon
Summary
Successful executive leader with a background in developing and leading complex and distributed teams. A wealth of experience operating at board level in large and complex organisations at a local, national and international level. Highly skilled in influencing senior stakeholders and managing conflict resolution effectively with a focus on restorative practice. Passionate about building positive culture and compassionate leadership through performance coaching and inclusive values driven behaviours.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work history
Chief People Officer
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells , Kent
04.2023 - Current
- Executive Trust Board member with portfolio responsibility for the People and OD Division. Corporate responsibility for Freedom to Speak Up, Equality Diversity and Inclusion including sexual safety. In an organisation with c6,500 staff and an annual budget of over £600m.
- Successfully designed and consulted on a 5 year People and Culture Strategy with clear objectives and deliverables aligned to the Trust Strategic Priorities and NHS People Promise.
- Design, roll out and critical evaluation of a Leadership Development Programme framed on a coaching and values based culture. Delivered to over 400 people leaders at all levels.
- Established and delivered an OD and Wellbeing function to lead on building divisional strategies to listen, build and grow engaging workplace cultures.
- Established a strategic delivery board to drive transformation and agility in all people related services including recruitment; onboarding; workforce planning; employee relations; succession planning and talent management. Delivering on cost improvement and efficiency targets whilst driving up quality indicators.
Deputy Chief Executive People and Strategy
St John's Ambulance
Auckland, New Zealand
04.2017 - 03.2021
- Executive Board member responsible for Organisational Strategy, People & Culture and Corporate Communications functions. Delivering emergency ambulance response across the country, significant youth leadership programme and community health services.
- Developing the organisational strategy in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Priory of St John and multiple stakeholders across New Zealand.
- Developing a strong cultural branding and inclusion of the Maori legacy into a traditional culture, embracing the multi cultural history and health inequalities across all communities.
- Leading on the integration of the People and Culture Strategy, the Organisational Strategy and the Communication, Marketing and Brand Strategy to support the mission and values.
Interim Executive Director of HR & Governance
General Dental Council
London, UK
12.2016 - 04.2017
- Executive Director responsible for the development of an executive structure review and next tier leadership reorganisation.
- Supported a significant people management change through an estates rationalisation within a tight financial budget restriction.
- Supported the Chief Executive and Board Chair through the development of a refreshed governance structure.
- Developed a range of cost reduction measures to reduce pay bill and overheads.
Corporate Services Director
National Crime Agency
London, UK
01.2014 - 10.2016
- Board level Director with overall responsibility across Human Resources, Learning Talent and Engagement, Commercial & Procurement, Estates and Organisational Services (fleet, health and safety & facilities management)
- Designed and implemented a 'Leading with Purpose' leadership development programme to drive alignment to behaviour and culture change. Supporting a post merger of a number of significant law enforcement and government bodies into a new non departmental entity reporting to the Home Secretary,
- Established a strategic commercial board to identify, scope and deliver significant cost efficiencies across estates, fleet and professional services.
- Led a substantial pay and reward project to influence, inform and steer pay review body recommendations to align attraction strategy to the mission of the organisation.
- Restructured and transformed the People and Culture Division to drive people centred services designed to deliver efficient and excellence in high quality and KPI driven delivery.
Executive Director of HR and Governance
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Exeter, Devon
11.2009 - 01.2014
- Board level Director with leadership responsibility for Human Resources, clinical and non-clinical learning and development, Corporate Governance Risk and Litigation, Patient complaints and Compliance functions.
- Delivered on a significant change management and corporate governance programme as part of a business acquisition of a failing NHS ambulance provider. Including being a Trust Board member of both Trusts during pre-acquisition and managing a large TUPE transfer with no litigation.
- As a unitary board member delivered on a 5 year financial and operational delivery strategy to enable the successful achievement of foundation trust and financial independence in the NHS. The first ambulance Trust to be award FT status.
- Developed highly effective relationships with Trade Union colleagues to support partnership working and maintain effective open relationships during challenging industrial relations climate.
Head of Human Resources
Exeter City Council
Exeter, Devon
08.2005 - 11.2009
- Leadership and delivery responsibility for all Human Resources and Learning and Development Services.
- Delivered a full executive review of pay and reward, including a cross organisational equal pay review and gender pay gap analysis.
- Led on an organisational business case for electoral review including advising on the working party for unitary status to the Deputy Prime Minister's Office.
Senior HR and Operational Delivery Roles
Taunton Deane/North Somerset/Coventry
South West & Midlands, UK
08.1986 - 08.2005
- Substantial HR operational and leadership experience in Local Government working in corporate, divisional, operational roles.
- Significant experience of leading and advising complex and challenging ER cases including harassment, discrimination, fraud, criminal cases, violence etc
- Presented and compiled Employment Tribunal responses involving very senior leaders with potential reputational issues. Leading on settlement agreements, summary dismissals, appeals and all aspects of employment law advice and guidance.
- Managed complex organisational change including the closure of a significant number of services in Coventry during a financial crisis, leading on redundancy, redeployment, reshaping and designing services whilst managing continued service delivery and morale.
Education
Diploma - Personnel Management
Coventry University
Coventry Organisational Development
CIPD
LondonPositive Psychology
Langley Group Institute
New ZealandPost Graduate in Management
Nottingham Trent University
MidlandsCertificate in Executive Coaching
ILM - University West of England
UKAnti-Racism Leadership
BRAP HPMA
UKSkills
- Collaborative and inclusive
- Strategic thinking
- Communication and engagement
- Strategic HR Management
- Recruitment and Talent Acquisition
- Employee Relations
- Performance Management
- HR Policy Development
- Employee Engagement
- Legal Compliance
- Leadership and Team Management
- Training and Development
- Budget Management
Timeline
Chief People Officer
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
04.2023 - Current
Deputy Chief Executive People and Strategy
St John's Ambulance
04.2017 - 03.2021
Interim Executive Director of HR & Governance
General Dental Council
12.2016 - 04.2017
Corporate Services Director
National Crime Agency
01.2014 - 10.2016
Executive Director of HR and Governance
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust
11.2009 - 01.2014
Head of Human Resources
Exeter City Council
08.2005 - 11.2009
Senior HR and Operational Delivery Roles
Taunton Deane/North Somerset/Coventry
08.1986 - 08.2005
Diploma - Personnel Management
Coventry University
Organisational Development
CIPD
Positive Psychology
Langley Group Institute
Post Graduate in Management
Nottingham Trent University
Certificate in Executive Coaching
ILM - University West of England
Anti-Racism Leadership
BRAP HPMA