Head of Organisational Development

We are recruiting for an experienced and values-led Head of Organisational Development (OD) to join our HR Leadership Team, led by our Chief People Officer, and lead a broad, high-impact portfolio covering colleague experience, engagement, culture, leadership development, talent, learning and development, performance management and equality, diversity and inclusion.

At Cafcass, our work supports children and families at some of the most important and difficult moments in their lives, and the experience, capability and engagement of our colleagues is central to how well we deliver that purpose. This is a senior organisational development role with significant autonomy, influence and accountability. You will play a key part in shaping how Cafcass supports, develops and retains colleagues, helping to build an inclusive, agile and high-performing organisation that enables exceptional experiences for the children and families we work with.

As Head of Organisational Development, you will lead the development and delivery of strategic and practical OD initiatives that strengthen colleague experience, organisational culture, leadership capability and talent development across Cafcass. You will work closely with the Chief People Officer, Corporate Management Team, HR Leadership Team, operational and corporate leaders, trade unions, external partners and colleagues across the organisation. You will bring specialist expertise, credible senior leadership and a strong continuous improvement mindset, ensuring OD provision is responsive, evidence-based and aligned to Cafcass’ values, culture and transformation priorities. The role will lead and develop the Organisational Development Team, ensuring the function delivers high-quality, relevant and measurable support to leaders and colleagues across a national, multi-site organisation.

What you will be doing

• Lead Cafcass’ approach to colleague experience, working collaboratively across HR to develop meaningful, values-driven solutions that support engagement, retention and organisational effectiveness.
• Further develop our approach to colleague engagement and recognition, including the colleague survey, feedback mechanisms and interventions that respond to what colleagues tell us.
• Lead the design and delivery of leadership development and talent initiatives, helping to strengthen the pipeline for key roles and embed effective succession planning.
• Develop and improve Cafcass’ approach to performance management, aligned to the organisation’s accountability framework and wider organisational priorities.
• Lead the organisation’s learning and development provision in collaboration with internal colleagues, ensuring it is fit for purpose, supports transformation and provides clear learning pathways.
• Champion and facilitate our equality, diversity and inclusion priorities, ensuring inclusion is embedded across our priorities and colleague experience.
• Use HR management information, data and insight to shape evidence-based decisions, identify retention factors and assess the impact of OD interventions.
• Lead the commissioning and management of external OD, learning or development solutions where required, ensuring quality, value for money and compliance.
• Provide professional leadership to a diverse and multi-sited team, supporting a proactive, customer-focused and continuously improving service.
• Act as a senior HR leader and ambassador for Cafcass, contributing to cross-functional organisational projects and supporting the wider HR Leadership Team.

About you

We are seeking a confident and credible senior HR or OD professional who can operate strategically while also ensuring effective delivery. You will bring:

• A strong track record of leading HR, organisational development, learning and development or people-focused teams in a large or complex organisation.
• Significant experience of developing and delivering organisational development, leadership, talent, colleague experience or culture initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of organisational development, colleague engagement, organisational culture and inclusive people practice.
• Experience of leading continuous improvement and delivering measurable impact through people, culture and organisational effectiveness work.
• The ability to influence, advise and challenge senior stakeholders, including executive and operational leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage, inspire and bring people with you.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with confidence using HR data and insight to shape priorities and solutions.
• Experience of budget management, external commissioning and delivering value for money.
• A collaborative, inclusive and values-led leadership style, with a clear commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding.
• CIPD membership, or an equivalent graduate or postgraduate management qualification, together with a strong understanding of HR practice, employment legislation and safeguarding compliance.

Why join Cafcass?

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a national organisation with a unique and important purpose. You will be joining Cafcass at a time when colleague experience, leadership capability, talent development and organisational culture are central to how we deliver for children and families.

In return, you will be part of an organisation that offers:

• A role with genuine strategic influence and organisational impact.
• The opportunity to lead a broad and ambitious organisational development portfolio.
• A supportive, values-led HR Leadership Team.
• A strong commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and colleague voice.
• Access to the West Yorkshire Pension Fund, a Local Government Pension Scheme.
• 28 days’ annual leave, rising to 33 days after five years’ continuous service, plus bank/public holidays.

Your location

We offer flexible and hybrid working but reflecting the seniority of the role and that Cafcass is a national organisation, it is reasonable to assume there will be regular travel across England.

Safeguarding and inclusion

Cafcass is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. We are also committed to creating an inclusive and diverse working environment where colleagues feel valued, respected and able to do their best work. We welcome applications from people with a range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

Recruitment timeline and selection process

Interviews are likely to take place at either our Derby or London Office (TBC) on Wednesday 12th August. As part of the selection process, shortlisted candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation in advance. Further details, including the presentation topic and submission requirements, will be provided to shortlisted candidates ahead of interview.

If you would like to discuss the opportunity before applying, please contact hrresourcing@cafcass.gov.uk and we will forward your email - in which you might want to include your CV and contact details - to the relevant colleague. However, please note emailing your CV will not constitute an application and we will only accept applications submitted through our recruitment system.

Similarly, in waiting for any response to your email, please don't miss the closing date to apply, which is 22/07/2026 22:00.

In anticipation of your successful application, we encourage you to review our offer and pre-employment checks process. You are welcome to raise any questions or concerns about these checks during your application, with the assurance that this information will remain confidential. Successful applicants will undergo various pre-engagement checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS). In line with the DBS code of practice and our policy, if a criminal offence is declared, an individual assessment will be conducted. For further details regarding this assessment, please refer to the Cafcass DBS policy.