Organisational Development Manager

Job Description

Organisational Development Manager

We have a fantastic new job opportunity for an experienced, strategic and forward-thinking organisational development professional to join the People Team of a large education organisation, helping to shape and deliver the Trust’s people strategy, workforce planning, recruitment and retention, employee engagement, wellbeing, reward and organisational effectiveness.

If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you: HR Manager, People Manager, People Strategy Manager, Workforce Planning Manager, Employee Engagement Manager, Organisational Design Manager, People Development Manager, HR Business Partner

SALARY: £48,226 - £52,413 per annum + Benefits (see below)

LOCATION: Portishead, Bristol, with regular travel to sites across North Somerset, BANES and Bristol

JOB TYPE: Full Time, Permanent

WORKING HOURS: 37 Hours per Week

JOB OVERVIEW

This is an exciting opportunity for an Organisational Development Manager to lead the development and delivery of a strategic organisational development agenda across a large, Multi-Academy Trust.

As the Organisational Development Manager, you will support people initiatives that strengthen workforce planning, recruitment and retention, employee engagement, wellbeing, reward, organisational culture and continuous improvement.

Working closely with senior leaders and the wider People Team, the Organisational Development Manager will provide expert advice, lead strategic projects and use people analytics to support evidence-based decision-making and measurable improvements.

DUTIES

Your duties as the Organisational Development Manager include:

• People Strategy: Lead the implementation of the organisation’s People Strategy, ensuring workforce initiatives support organisational priorities and strategic objectives

• Organisational Development: Develop and deliver programmes that promote employee engagement, performance, culture development and organisational effectiveness

• Workforce Planning: Lead strategic workforce planning, succession planning and workforce modelling to identify risks, gaps and future workforce needs

• Recruitment and Retention: Develop recruitment, attraction and retention strategies, including initiatives for hard-to-recruit roles and talent pipelines

• Wellbeing Strategy: Lead the development, delivery and evaluation of wellbeing programmes that support attendance, engagement and retention

• Culture and Inclusion: Strengthen employee voice, inclusion, belonging and culture, ensuring staff feedback informs continuous improvement

• People Analytics: Produce workforce reports, dashboards and management information, using data to provide insight and recommendations

• Policy Development: Lead the review and development of people policies and procedures, supporting compliance, best practice and organisational priorities

• Job Evaluation: Coordinate the job evaluation framework and advise on grading, role design, staffing structures and organisational design

• Stakeholder Engagement: Build effective relationships with senior leaders, headteachers and central teams, providing specialist organisational development advice

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

ESSENTIAL

• CIPD Chartered Member with a CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent professional qualification

• Strategic organisational development experience, with strong knowledge of workforce planning, employee engagement, people analytics and change management

• Proven ability to lead complex projects, deliver measurable outcomes and support continuous improvement

• Good understanding of leadership development, talent management, succession planning, inclusion and organisational culture

• Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation and stakeholder management skills

• Strong analytical, planning and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex workforce data

• Ability to influence, challenge and support senior leaders and colleagues across a multi-site organisation

• Access to personal transport

DESIRABLE

• Understanding of education HR, safeguarding requirements and Keeping Children Safe in Education

• Postgraduate qualification in Organisational Development, Leadership or HR

• Experience within a large multi-academy trust, local authority or complex public-sector organisation

• Specialist knowledge of organisational design, workforce planning and diagnostic methodologies

• Knowledge of current research, best practice and emerging trends in educational settings

• Experience supporting cultural and behavioural change across an organisation

BENEFITS

• Excellent pension scheme
• Outstanding CPD and career development opportunities
• Apprenticeships and training pathways
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
• 24-hour confidential helpline and counselling
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Electric car scheme launching in October 2026
• Retail discounts and Blue Light Card eligibility
• Free parking across sites

The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Suitability to work with children and young people will form part of the selection process. As part of the shortlisting process an online search will be carried out. All appointments will be subject to vetting, including an enhanced DBS check.

APPLY TODAY…

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JOB REF: AWDO-P15084

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