Organisation Design and Transformation Practitioner

West Midlands Combined Authority; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

EV car benefit

Healthcare plans

Discounted gym membership

Costco membership

Job summary

West Midlands Combined Authority is seeking an Organisation Design & Transformation Practitioner to lead complex reviews, advise senior leaders and drive evidence-led design of operating models. The role focuses on governance, risk management and delivering better outcomes for the region.

The position is a 12-month fixed-term contract based in Birmingham, requiring collaboration across People & Culture, PMO, Finance and Tech teams.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading complex organisation design reviews with Director or Executive-level sponsors.
• Experience in operating model and organisation design programmes in complex organisations.
• Strong stakeholder management, consulting and influencing senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex organisation design reviews from initiation through diagnostics, option design and implementation planning.
• Collaborate with Executive Directors and senior leaders to scope and lead reviews.
• Design organisation design sprints, workshops and diagnostics to define challenges and governance requirements.
• Develop and test evidence-led operating model options against affordability and risk.
• Provide assurance on governance, risk management and professional standards.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Facilitation

Analytical thinking

Communication

Change management

Coaching

Education

Degree-level qualification

CIPD Level 5

Organisation Design qualification

Tools

Organisation Design framework

Job description

The West Midlands Combined Authority is continuing to evolve as an organisation, building the capability, culture and ways of working needed to deliver for the region. Our People & Culture Strategy is focused on making WMCA the best place to work and belong, creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and able to contribute their best.

As Organisation Design & Transformation Practitioner, you will play a key role in helping make that ambition real. You will lead complex organisation design reviews and transformation activity, working with senior leaders to understand organisational challenges, design evidence-led options and support decisions that improve how teams, services and operating models work. Your work will help ensure change is purposeful, well governed and focused on delivering better outcomes for our people, partners and the West Midlands.

Please note, that this is a 12 month fixed term contract.

What you'll be doing

• Lead complex organisation design reviews from initiation through to diagnostics, option design, decision support and implementation planning.
• Work directly with Executive Directors, Directors and senior leaders to scope, contract and lead organisation design reviews, providing constructive challenge and maintaining professional neutrality.
• Design and facilitate organisation design sprints, senior workshops and diagnostic activity to define organisational challenges, desired outcomes, constraints, decision points and governance requirements.
• Develop and test evidence-led organisation design and operating model options against agreed principles, affordability, deliverability, workforce impact and organisational risk.
• Build trust and credibility with senior stakeholders, managing conflicting perspectives, political sensitivities and competing priorities to support robust decision-making.
• Provide assurance that organisation design activity meets required professional, governance and evidential standards, including appropriate identification and management of risks.
• Coach and advise leaders, People Business Partners and colleagues to build organisation design capability and support consistent use of the Organisation Design framework, tools and standards.
• Deliver Change Assessments and provide practical advice to leaders and managers on managing change impacts and creating a positive employee experience.
• Manage multiple concurrent organisation design reviews, balancing pace, quality, stakeholder capacity and organisational risk.
• Drive continuous improvement in organisation design processes, tools and ways of working, collaborating across People & Culture, PMO, Finance, Tech & Insight, Governance and People Business Partnering.

What's essential

• Significant experience leading complex organisation design reviews with Director or Executive-level sponsors, from diagnostic through to option development and implementation planning.
• Proven experience of operating model and organisation design programmes or projects within complex organisations, including transformation at functional, business unit or enterprise level.
• Strong stakeholder management, consulting and influencing skills, with experience coaching and advising senior leaders through complex organisational change.
• Ability to maintain professional neutrality, provide constructive challenge and build trust and credibility in high-stakes or politically sensitive environments.
• Applied knowledge of Organisation Design, Organisation Development and Transformation methodologies, frameworks and diagnostic approaches.
• Experience designing organisational structures, systems and operating models using evidence to support clear, practical recommendations.
• Strong facilitation, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret HR, financial, performance and operational information and communicate findings clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Experience working collaboratively across matrix environments and organisational boundaries, managing multiple priorities and competing demands.
• Knowledge of relevant HR legislation, public sector governance and professional standards.
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience, with CIPD qualification to a minimum of Level 5.
• Organisation Design qualification, accreditation or equivalent demonstrable professional expertise, with evidence of continuing professional development.

Location

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

Anonymised Applications

Your uploaded CV won't be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. It's your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Reasonable adjustments

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team ([e-mail]).

Salary and benefits

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA.
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses.

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Our Values and Behaviours

• Collaborative - We work as one organisation. Together we build trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and residents to create the biggest impact for our region.
• Driven - We are focused on outcomes. We perform at our best to unlock productivity and delivery, achieving the greatest regional impact.
• Inclusive - We value difference. Creating an environment where people belong, and feel psychologically safe, so we can all thrive and shape a West Midlands built for everyone.
• Innovative - We are courageous. We embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo to continuously improve and shape the future of the West Midlands.

Creating an inclusive workplace

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We're a Disability Confident Employer with 'Leader' status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying.

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).