Business Partner - Leadership, Learning and Development

Wigan Council; Wigan; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Exclusive rewards and benefits

Job summary

Wigan Council in Wigan is recruiting a leader in learning and development to shape how learning happens across the organisation. Working with Leadership, Learning and Development Specialist, you will drive Progress with Unity through leadership development and meaningful employee experiences.

You’ll create environments where people grow and perform at their best, shaping leadership offers, programmes and networks.

Qualifications

• Experience in learning and development or HR & OD.
• Ability to turn ideas into action.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Shape learning across the organisation.
• Lead Leadership Fundamentals programme.
• Develop Leadership Networks.
• Improve employee experiences.

Skills

Leadership development

HR & OD

People skills

Job description

Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance

Wigan Life Centre South

Salary: Grade 10, £46,579 - £50,908 per annum.

We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough.

We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!

Your role:

This is an exciting opportunity to shape how learning happens across the organisation. Working closely with the Leadership, Learning and Development Specialist, you'll play a key role in bringing our Progress with Unity vision to life through leadership development, organisational learning and meaningful employee experiences.

You'll help us create an environment where people are supported to learn, grow and perform at their best. From shaping our leadership offer and Management Fundamentals programme to developing our Leadership Networks and evolving the Progress with Unity Experience, you'll turn ambitious ideas into practical, engaging experiences that make a real difference.

This is a role for someone who enjoys bringing people together around a shared purpose, can see the bigger picture, and is equally comfortable thinking strategically and making things happen.

About you:

We're looking for someone who is passionate about people, learning and HR and organisational development, and who is motivated by helping others succeed.

You may come from a learning and development, leadership development or wider HR & OD background, but what matters most is your ability to turn ideas into action and deliver meaningful change. You'll be someone who enjoys taking ownership, using initiative and driving work forward.

You’ll be confident working independently, making sound decisions and balancing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. You'll be comfortable navigating ambiguity, solving problems and identifying opportunities to improve how we work, while knowing when to involve others and when to take the lead.

You’ll be an excellent communicator who can quickly build credibility and strong relationships across the organisation. You'll be comfortable thinking strategically and making things happen, with the confidence to take ownership for delivering outcomes that support our organisational ambitions.

About us:

You will join us at an exciting point in the development of our HR & OD service and our wider ambitions for Wigan. You will have the opportunity to influence the future direction of leadership and learning, test new ideas and work with colleagues and partners who are committed to achieving better outcomes for our workforce, our organisation and our borough.

The Progress with Unity plan is a place movement for change for the next decade, bringing a new era for Wigan Borough. It draws on the strengths of our individual organisations, recognising that together we can achieve much more for our communities by delivering on our 2 place missions; create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses and make our towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them.

The contractual hours for this post will be worked across a range of locations to meet the needs of the role and the service. Work will be carried out across Council buildings and/or community venues across the borough. It is our priority to ensure that the role is fulfilled effectively and while there is some flexibility to work from home when service delivery allows, the expectation is that staff will attend the workplace for a minimum of two days per week. However, depending on service requirements, you may be required to work your full contractual hours on site at Council buildings and/or community venues.

Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits find out more about working for TeamWigan.

To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK, and you must maintain a valid (active) right to work. Please note, at present we are not a licenced sponsor. Please visit the link below to check you qualify to apply. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Prove your right to work to an employer

Wigan Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. As part of this commitment, Wigan Council operates robust Safer Recruitment procedures

We recognise that on occasion candidates may use AI tools. Please read our applying authentically section below before submitting your application.

Interview date: 5th November 2026

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

Supporting Documents

• Job Specification
• Safer Recruitment at Wigan Council
• Privacy Notice