Organisational Development Manager

Dacorum Borough Council; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Hemel Hempstead is looking for an experienced Organizational Development Manager. This role involves supporting culture and people development during local government reorganization. Key responsibilities include leading training programs, managing OD frameworks, and ensuring equity and inclusion throughout organizational changes. The ideal candidate will have HR/OD qualifications and experience in transformational change, along with strong project management skills. A supportive and flexible work environment is offered.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Pension contributions

Flexible working opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven track record in designing and delivering OD initiatives.
• Experience with EDI workstreams.
• Ability to manage and motivate a team.

Responsibilities

• Support key LGR-related workstreams.
• Lead corporate training and development programs.
• Ensure compliance with OD activities.

Skills

HR/OD or training qualification

Organisational change support

OD expertise

Delivery of EDI initiatives

Project management skills

Education

Degree-level qualification

Job description

Overview

Organisational Development Manager

Permanent

37 hours per week

Ref: PE622

Help shape a positive, inclusive, and future‑focused organisation

We are looking for an experienced Organisational Development Manager to play a key role in supporting our culture, capability and people development activity — at a time when our organisation is evolving through Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Within this role, you will have the opportunity to support a wider cross‑organisational team contributing to LGR workstreams, helping ensure our people, culture and OD foundations remain strong, supportive and compliant throughout the transition.

This role is perfect for someone who is passionate about learning and development, committed to embedding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and excited to help build a thriving environment where our people can do their best work.

Responsibilities

What you’ll be doing

• Contribute to key LGR‑related workstreams as part of a wider corporate team, helping ensure people impacts, culture, and workforce considerations are well‑supported.
• Maintain a strong focus on EDI&B, ensuring our work remains inclusive, aligned to best practice, and central to organisational culture during and after LGR.
• Lead the commissioning, development and delivery of an effective corporate training and development programme.
• Support the management, development and embedding of OD frameworks including talent management, succession planning, workforce planning, leadership development and performance reviews.
• Ensure OD and learning activities support compliance and organisational standards, including mandatory training, induction, and policy‑aligned development.
• Lead the delivery plan of the people strategy and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging strategy, ensuring that projects are managed and implemented within timescale and budget.
• Streamline and modernise OD processes, using data and technology to improve efficiency and user experience.
• Provide guidance and support to managers and teams navigating ongoing organisational change.
• Manage and motivate a small OD/EDI/training team to deliver high‑quality services and accessible learning.
• Manage and deliver corporate projects to deadline and budget and design/deliver training initiatives as required.

What we’re looking for

Essential

• A relevant HR/OD or training qualification, with evidence of continuous professional development.
• Experience supporting leaders and teams through organisational or transformational change.
• Strong OD expertise across workforce planning, training and development, talent/succession planning and organisational culture.
• A proven track record of designing and delivering OD interventions and corporate training programmes.
• Experience delivering EDI initiatives or leading EDI workstreams.
• Ability to meet deadlines, deliver projects, and maintain compliance, particularly during periods of organisational change.

Desirable

• Degree‑level qualification; project/change management qualification (e.g., Prosci).
• Coaching, behavioural science or psychology qualification.
• Experience producing strategy or policy documents.
• Experience working on large‑scale public‑sector change programmes (e.g., LGR).

*Full details of requirements can be found in the Person Specification.

Why join us?

This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our people experience, ensuring we remain inclusive, compliant and well‑supported as our organisation evolves. You’ll join a collaborative People team with the autonomy to shape services and introduce modern, engaging and impactful OD practices.

We offer generous annual leave and pension contributions with flexible working opportunities and a supportive inclusive environment.

About Dacorum Borough Council

The borough of Dacorum is in West Hertfordshire. It is made up of the main towns of Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring plus several large and small villages.

Dacorum is in the heart of West Hertfordshire and is ideally placed in a balanced living environment of both work and leisure. Positioned in beautiful countryside, it has the facilities and opportunities to suit the needs and demands of diverse groups.

The whole area is within easy reach of the M1 and M25 motorways or just a 25-minute train journey from London.

Our Vision, Priorities and Values

The Council is committed to working in partnership to create a borough which enables the communities of Dacorum to thrive and prosper. This requires us to play a key role in bringing together a range of organisations and individuals to support and sustain good conditions for local growth.

You will join us at an exciting time as we continue on our transformation journey to digitalise and streamline our services so that we can provide the most effective support to our communities, customers and tenants as well as being involved in Local Government Reorganisation.

A Basic check will be undertaken with the Disclosure and Barring Service to ensure that the successful candidate has no relevant convictions.

The deadline for applications will be midnight on the closing date shown in the advert details.

If you have any questions related to the role please contact Stacie Young, Head of People on [e-mail].