Jo Osburn-Hughes

Jo took on the role as Director Human Resources in May 2024 and, through the organisational design work, became the first Director People for Defence Equipment and Support in July 2024. This move took her back to her HR professional roots.  As part of Defence Reform Transformation since April Jo has stepped into the role of Interim People Director for the National Armaments Director Group.  This is an exciting role to develop the People Operating Model for the NAD Group in support of 27,000 people and draws on her HR expertise as an accredited Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Jo is working alongside HR Directors across the Defence Enterprise to deliver an improvement to the experience of the people working within the Defence sector and shaping the design of the Defence Reform Operating model developing people strategies and approaches which enable delivery of defence outcomes including embedding the cultural changes required to enable people to grow and thrive whilst delivering in support of our critically important mission.

Prior to this Jo was Land Domain's Chief Operating Officer where she delivered a breadth of responsibilities including business operations and change, performance management, programme governance, resourcing and planning in support of nearly 4,000 members of the Land Domain and overseeing the diverse portfolio of around 250 order book items delivered through 3 Operating Centres:- Helicopters, Weapons and Land Equipment.  During which time Jo completed the Major Projects Leaders Academy.  

Gaining promotion to the SCS in 2017 Jo led the Maritime Combat Systems Team and was responsible delivering combat system in-service support and acquisition projects including a number of Government Major Projects & Programmes.  Jo led the design, development and delivery of innovative technology solutions and new combat systems architectures for future capability support solutions across the Surface Fleet, Submarines and Strat Command customers. 

Previously Jo has worked in a number of project and programme teams where she deployed lean thinking, supply chain transformation and supplier base optimisation in order to deliver improvements to delivery of defence support and equipment. During that time, she successfully completed an MSc in Engineering Business Management. 

Jo has also worked in a variety of transformational roles which have included leadership of the Naval Bases Transformation Programme, Systems Thinking in support of Maritime Ships, and led delivery of in-service support for the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers. She has also led projects across TLB boundaries, MoD Head Office and Front-Line Commends leading the design, development, and introduction of a Departmental approach to programme management and the development of Capability Delivery Programme Boards.

Passionate about diversity, inclusion and empowerment Jo is proud to be the DE&S Diversity and Inclusion Co-Champion.