Group Manager

Bridgend County Borough Council; Bridgend; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Job summary

Bridgend County Borough Council invites applications for a strategic Group Manager for Human Resources & Organisational Development. You will lead an ambitious HR & OD service, shaping workforce planning, culture, leadership development and wellbeing across a high-performing organisation.

You will report to the Head of Performance & Workforce Cultural Change, driving strategic people initiatives aligned to Bridgend 2040.

Qualifications

• Significant senior HR and organisational development experience.
• Chartered CIPD membership or substantial equivalent experience.
• Leadership credentials within a large, complex organisation.
• Track record of delivering workforce transformation and cultural change.
• Experience developing workforce strategies that improve organisational performance.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Passion for helping people and organisations perform at their best.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop an innovative HR & OD service.
• Drive organisational development, workforce planning and cultural change initiatives.
• Support organisational transformation programmes and service redesign.
• Develop modern approaches to recruitment, retention and talent management.
• Lead workforce strategies that enable a resilient, engaged and high-performing workforce.
• Build strong relationships with Trade Unions, senior managers, elected members and external partners.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

CIPD membership

Leadership in large org

Workforce transformation

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

People & culture focus

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Contractual hours 37

Basis Full time

Job category/type HR and Training

Date posted 22/10/2026

Job reference 19293

37 hours per week

Help Shape the Future Workforce of Bridgend

Bridgend County Borough Council is on an ambitious journey of transformation. We are looking for an inspirational and forward-thinking senior leader to join us as our Group Manager for Human Resources & Organisational Development.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a high-performing HR & OD service at a time when workforce planning, organisational culture, leadership development, employee wellbeing, talent management and service transformation are more important than ever.

Reporting directly to the Head of Performance & Workforce Cultural Change, you will provide strategic leadership across HR and Organisational Development, ensuring our people strategy supports the delivery of our Corporate Plan, transformation priorities and the long-term ambitions of Bridgend 2040.

The Role

You will:

• - Lead and develop an innovative HR & OD service.
• - Drive organisational development, workforce planning and cultural change initiatives.
• - Support organisational transformation programmes and service redesign.
• - Develop modern approaches to recruitment, retention and talent management.
• - Lead workforce strategies that enable a resilient, engaged and high-performing workforce.
• - Build strong relationships with Trade Unions, senior managers, elected members and external partners.
• - Use workforce intelligence and evidence to inform strategic decision-making.
• - Champion employee engagement, leadership development, inclusion and wellbeing.

About You

We are looking for a strategic leader who can demonstrate:

• - Significant senior HR and organisational development experience.
• - Chartered CIPD membership (or substantial equivalent experience).
• - Strong leadership credentials within a large, complex organisation.
• - A track record of delivering workforce transformation and cultural change.
• - Experience developing workforce strategies that improve organisational performance.
• - Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• - A passion for helping people and organisations perform at their best.

Why Join Us?

This senior role offers a unique opportunity to influence the future direction of Bridgend County Borough Council during a period of significant organisational transformation. Working closely with the Head of Performance & Workforce Cultural Change and the wider Corporate Management Teams, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our workforce, organisational culture and leadership capability, helping to deliver our long-term ambitions for Bridgend County 2040.

Protecting children, young people or adults at risk is a core responsibility of all council employees.

The council’s Hybrid Working Policy applies to this post. This provides a framework for establishing how you will undertake working hours between your home and the office.

Under the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 this post is designated as politically restricted.

You are welcome to contact Stacey Forde - Head of Performance & Workforce Cultural Change via e‑mail on [e-mail] if you wish to discuss this opportunity further.