Interim Operating Model & Workforce Transformation Lead

Cedar; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 111,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Cedar is seeking an Operating Model & Workforce Transformation Lead – Interim in Birmingham, to drive the implementation of a new Commercial and Procurement Operating Model. This senior role collaborates with the Director and SLT to ensure readiness and maintain service continuity during the transition.

You will lead strategic workforce planning, skill and capacity analyses, and oversee permanent and interim resourcing, building CPD and evidence-based recommendations for leadership.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic workforce planning and resource modelling.
• Proven track record delivering operating model changes in complex environments.
• Strong stakeholder engagement across senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead workforce planning, capacity and demand modelling for Commercial and Procurement.
• Develop transition plans aligned to the future operating model and design.
• Oversee recruitment activity and interim resourcing during the transition.

Skills

Strategic workforce planning

Resource modelling

Operating model implementation

Organisational design

Recruitment planning

Change management

Capability development

Budget management

Senior stakeholder engagement

Job description

Operating Model & Workforce Transformation Lead – Interim

£600-£650 per day | Inside IR35 | 6 months initially | Birmingham – 1 day per week

A leading public sector organisation is seeking an experienced Operating Model & Workforce Transformation Lead to support the implementation of a new Commercial and Procurement Operating Model.

This is a senior interim role working closely with the Director of Commercial and Procurement and the Procurement Senior Leadership Team. You will lead workforce and organisational readiness, ensuring the right people, skills, capacity and capability are in place to support the future operating model while maintaining service continuity throughout the transition.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic workforce planning, resource modelling and capacity planning across Commercial and Procurement Services.
• Develop workforce plans aligned to the future operating model, covering skills, capacity and capability requirements.
• Lead preparations for permanent recruitment against the new operating model structure.
• Oversee temporary and interim resourcing during the transition period.
• Monitor workforce establishment, staffing budgets, forecasts and resource requirements.
• Identify skills gaps, workforce risks and succession requirements and develop appropriate mitigation plans.
• Support implementation of the revised target operating model, organisational design and new ways of working.
• Lead change and engagement activity to support successful adoption of the future operating model.
• Develop transition and contingency plans for future phases of the transformation.
• Manage the transition from temporary to permanent resource while maintaining service continuity and organisational knowledge.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme to strengthen procurement capability.
• Use workforce data and management information to provide evidence-based recommendations to senior leadership.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across Commercial, Procurement, HR and wider corporate functions.
• Contribute as a member of the Procurement Senior Leadership Team and deputise for the Director when required.

About You

We are looking for a senior workforce transformation, organisational design, change or operating model professional with a strong track record of delivering significant organisational change within complex environments.

You should have experience across strategic workforce planning, resource modelling, operating model implementation, organisational design, recruitment planning, change management, capability development, budget management and senior stakeholder engagement.

You will be comfortable working at strategic level with senior leaders while also taking ownership of the practical detail required to deliver the transformation.

Experience within local government or the wider public sector would be highly advantageous, particularly experience supporting Commercial, Procurement or corporate services functions.

Location: Birmingham – 1 day per week

Rate: £600-£650 per day

IR35: Inside IR35

Duration: 6 months initially

Start: ASAP / subject to availability