Strategic People & Culture Partner

Sullivan Brown Resourcing Partners - HR Recruitment Experts; Morpeth; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public sector pension

Generous annual leave

Flexible working

Wellbeing support

Local government discounts

Job summary

Sullivan Brown Resourcing Partners is helping Northumberland County Council recruit a Strategic People and Culture Partner. You will guide senior leaders through organisational change, workforce transformation, and culture development to deliver a high-performing, inclusive council.

The role combines strategic oversight with hands-on coaching, data-informed decisions, and strong collaboration with HR partners to attract and develop top talent for public services.

Qualifications

• This role requires strategic HR leadership and transformation experience in complex organisations.
• Experience in public sector or large entities is highly valued.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and drive culture change.

Responsibilities

• Act as trusted strategic advisor to senior leaders across Directorates.
• Drive workforce transformation, culture change and leadership development.
• Champion inclusion, equality and wellbeing council-wide.
• Utilise data and insights to shape decisions and workforce planning.
• Coach leaders on engagement, performance, and change management.
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition and Organisational Development teams.

Skills

Strategic HR

Leadership development

Workforce transformation

Data-driven decisions

Stakeholder management

Influencing & coaching

Education

CIPD qualification

Job description

We are delighted to be recruiting for Northumberland County Council who are seeking an exceptional professional to join the People and Culture Senior Leadership Team as Strategic People and Culture Partner. Northumberland County Council is in the midst of a major, ambitious transformation programme designed to modernise the organisation, improve efficiency, and-above all-put residents first. This is a pivotal moment for the council, and we are building a People and Culture service that can genuinely enable large-scale change and create a modern, inclusive, high-performing organisation.

As a Strategic People and Culture Partner, you will play a central role in shaping this journey. Working directly with senior leaders, you will act as a trusted advisor, supporting directorates as they navigate organisational change, workforce transformation, cultural development, and the creation of a future-ready, people-centered council.

This is a role for someone who is both strategic and hands-on-someone who can see the bigger picture while also building capability, coaching leaders, interpreting workforce insights, and driving tangible improvements in the employee experience. Please note this role is offered on a FTC until Summer 2028.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of People and Culture, as Strategic People and Culture Partner, you will:

• Act as a trusted strategic advisor to senior leaders within your allocated Directorates, enabling delivery of organisational objectives through effective people strategies.
• Drive workforce transformation, cultural change, and leadership development, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities, values, and behaviours.
• Champion inclusion, equality, and wellbeing across the wider Council.
• Leverage data and insight to shape decisions and create an inclusive, high-performing, and future-ready workforce.
• Coach and mentor senior leaders on effective leadership practices, employee engagement, and performance management.
• Facilitate strategic workforce planning, succession planning, and leadership pipeline development.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and Organisational Development teams to attract, retain, and develop high-calibre talent.
• Lead initiatives to improve employee experience, engagement and organisational resilience.
• Support organisational change and transformation through robust change management strategies.
• Build strong relationships across the Council and with external partners to deliver sustainable improvements in culture and performance.
• Collaborate with elected members, trade unions, and external partners to deliver sustainable improvements in employee experience and service delivery.

This role is both strategic and hands-on, requiring a deep understanding of organisational dynamics and a passion for creating inclusive, high-performing environments.

About You

We are looking for:

• A strategic HR and organisational development professional with experience of leading cultural change in complex organisations (public sector experience is desired but not essential however experience in large complex organisations is required).
• Strong influencing skills and the ability to work collaboratively at the highest levels.
• A values-driven leader who inspires confidence and champions inclusion, integrity, and accountability.
• Proven ability to deliver innovative people solutions that improve performance and engagement.
• Deep knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
• Demonstrable experience handling complex ER cases.
• CIPD qualification (or equivalent experience) and a track record of delivering transformation in a public sector or similar environment.

Why Northumberland?

Northumberland is a county of opportunity - rich in heritage, diverse in communities, and ambitious for the future. We offer:

• A salary of up to £67,561 per annum.
• A supportive environment for innovation and transformation.
• Attractive benefits including generous annual leave (starting at 26 days and rising to 31 after 5 years' service), attractive local government pension scheme, flexi scheme, agile working, leadership development, wellbeing support, and local government discount schemes.
• The chance to make a real difference to our communities and workforce.