Organisational Development Manager (Fixed Term Contract)

South East Water UK; Snodland; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Holiday entitlement

Flexible annual leave

Volunteer days

Cycle to work

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

South East Water UK is seeking an Organisational Development Manager on an initial fixed-term contract to August 2027, with potential for permanency. You will shape culture, capability and engagement across a 1,400-strong workforce during a period of transformation, reporting to the Head of HR and leading a dedicated OD team.

You will drive performance, compliance training, emerging talent programs, and leadership development while managing budgets and the apprentice levy funds.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent is required.
• Strategic thinking to translate strategy into actionable people plans.
• Diagnostic tools and OD methodologies to identify pain points.
• Excellent verbal and written communication for a diverse workforce.
• Data literacy to interpret HR analytics and engagement metrics.
• High emotional intelligence and resilience.
• Proven OD impact in a senior OD role, preferably in a regulated industry.
• Able to influence stakeholders with data-driven insights.
• Experience delivering high-impact projects on time and within budget.

Responsibilities

• Develop plans to drive a high performance culture and embed performance frameworks.
• Support wider HR initiatives to identify future talent gaps and succession plans.
• Lead design, delivery and tracking of all mandatory/regulatory training; ensure compliance.
• Lead emerging talent programs, including Apprenticeships and Graduate schemes.
• Direct and mentor the OD and HR team to foster high performance.
• Design and deliver employee engagement initiatives with senior stakeholders.
• Create leadership programmes to prepare managers for change and evolution.

Skills

CIPD level 7

Strategic thinking

Diagnostic prowess

Communication

Data literacy

Resilience

OD impact

Stakeholder influence

Project management

Education

CIPD Level 7 or equivalent

Job description

Summary: This is an initial fixed term contract to August 2027 with the possibility it could become permanent.

The Organisational Development Manager is the primary architect of culture and capability during a period of transformation for South East Water. In a water industry facing evolving regulatory landscapes, environmental challenges, and digital shifts, the role will ensure that our 1,400 strong workforce is resilient, skilled, and aligned with our future vision. Reporting directly to the Head of HR, the OD Manager will lead a dedicated team to design and execute strategies that improve organisational effectiveness and performance, managing a budget and the apprentice levy funds. This role isn’t just managing "business as usual", it's focused on leading the "business of tomorrow", ensuring our people are skilled, competent, motivated and engaged to deliver life-essential services through significant periods of change.

Main responsibilities:

Performance Management

Develop plans to drive a high performance culture, support our performance management roadmap, including embedding performance frameworks that move beyond compliance to focus on continuous improvement and behavioural excellence.

Supporting the wider business

Support wider HR initiatives to identify future talent gaps and design intervention strategies to ensure long-term operational sustainability. This includes succession planning activity and reducing risk around our business critical roles.

Compliance & Mandatory Training Oversight

Lead the team responsible for the design, delivery, and tracking of all mandatory and regulatory training. Ensure 100% compliance across high-risk technical areas to safeguard the business and its license to operate.

Emerging Talent Strategy

Lead the team in the design and delivery of a comprehensive emerging talent ecosystem, including Apprenticeships and Graduate Programmes. Focus on building a sustainable pipeline of future leaders and technical experts to mitigate the risks of an ageing workforce.

Team Leadership

Direct and mentor a team, fostering a high-performance culture within the OD and wider HR function.

Culture & Engagement

Lead the design of employee engagement initiatives and deliver results to senior stakeholders, partnering with business areas to create meaningful action plans.

Leadership Development

Create and oversee bespoke leadership programmes that equip managers at all levels of the organisation to lead through change, ambiguity and technical evolution.

You’ll need:

• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent
• Strategic Thinking: The ability to see the "big picture" and translate corporate strategy into actionable people plans.
• Diagnostic Prowess: Skilled in using OD diagnostic tools and methodologies to identify organisational "pain points."
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written skills, with the ability to simplify complex change concepts for a diverse workforce (from Field Technicians to office staff).
• Data Literacy: Ability to interpret HR analytics and engagement metrics to measure the ROI of OD interventions.
• Resilience: High emotional intelligence and the "grit" required to stay focused and positive during periods of high pressure.
• Proven OD Impact: Significant experience in a Senior OD role, ideally within regulated industry.
• Stakeholder Influence: Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders at all levels through data-driven insights and persuasive communication.
• Project Management: Experience delivering high-impact projects on time and within budget in a fast-paced environment.

Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time.

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package:

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

Compensation package:

Starting from £55,000 depending on experience