Organisational Development Manager

Harrow Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Harrow Council is seeking an experienced Organisational Development (OD) Manager to shape the workforce, culture and capability. You will lead OD programmes, workforce strategy and EDI initiatives, partnering with senior leaders to deliver high‑quality, customer‑focused services.

You will provide expert advice on organisation design, leadership development, and employee engagement, using data and evaluation to demonstrate impact and value for money across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Senior HR or Organisational Development experience.
• Proven track record delivering multiple OD programmes in complex environments.
• Experience using OD diagnostics to inform interventions.
• Knowledge of OD best practice and value for money.
• Ability to lead in ambiguity with resilient leadership.
• Strong interpersonal, influencing and presentation skills.
• Excellent planning and multi-stakeholder management.
• Degree-level qualification with ongoing professional development (CIPD preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead high‑impact organisational development, workforce strategy and EDI initiatives.
• Advise across organisation design, culture change, leadership development and employee engagement.
• Develop and embed the Workforce Strategy with data, insight and evaluation.
• Provide expert solutions to senior leaders and HR colleagues across the Council.
• Coordinate council‑wide engagement activities and measure impact for value for money.

Skills

OD leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Psychometric tools

Leadership development

Communication skills

Collaboration across teams

Strategic thinking

Education

Degree or equivalent (CIPD preferred)

Tools

DISC assessment

McKinsey 7S

360 feedback tools

Job description

Overview

The London Borough of Harrow is looking for an experienced and forward‑thinking Organisational Development (OD) Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping the Council’s workforce, culture and organisational capability. This senior, strategic post will lead high-impact organisational development, workforce strategy, and equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives that align with the Council’s corporate priorities. Working in close partnership with senior leaders, directorates and HR colleagues, the role will help ensure Harrow has the skills, behaviours and ways of working needed to deliver high‑quality, customer‑focused services. The OD Manager will provide expert advice and practical solutions across organisation design, culture change, leadership and management development, employee engagement and performance. A key focus will be the development, delivery and embedding of the Council’s Workforce Strategy, supported by robust data, insight and evaluation to demonstrate impact and value for money. As the corporate lead for OD and EDI, the postholder will champion inclusive practices, oversee EDI action plans, and lead council-wide engagement activities, turning insights into meaningful improvements for staff. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident and credible professional to make a lasting contribution to strengthening organisational capability and ensuring Harrow remains a great place to work and serve its communities.

About You

• Extensive experience in a senior HR or Organisational Development role, including direct people management responsibility.
• A strong track record of leading and delivering multiple OD programmes and projects within complex, fast‑paced and changing environments.
• Proven experience using a range of OD diagnostic and psychometric tools (e.g. 360 feedback, DISC, McKinsey 7S) to inform organisational and leadership interventions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of OD best practice, workforce strategy and service delivery models, with a clear focus on value for money and measurable impact.
• The ability to operate effectively in ambiguity, demonstrating resilient and confident leadership behaviours.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the credibility to engage, challenge and advise senior leaders and key stakeholders constructively.
• Strong written, verbal and presentation skills, capable of communicating complex messages clearly to diverse audiences.
• Outstanding organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining a strong customer and stakeholder focus.
• A collaborative and inclusive approach, working effectively across teams, disciplines and organisational boundaries to achieve shared outcomes.
• A degree‑level qualification (or equivalent experience) with evidence of ongoing professional development, ideally supported by CIPD or relevant postgraduate qualifications.

Related Documents

For more informaton, please refer to the Role Profile/ Selection Criteria