At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic people and organisational development initiatives across Kingston and Sutton councils.
- Company: Join a progressive team focused on community needs in a vibrant London borough.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, flexible working, and a supportive environment for career growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities to influence and innovate in a dynamic setting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on local communities while developing your HR and OD skills.
- Qualifications: CIPD or equivalent experience in people management and organisational development required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 € per year.
About The Borough
Joining us, you get to work for not just one high performing London Borough, but two. Kingston and Sutton councils have a number of shared services serving both authorities, with some teams and roles more focussed on one council than the other, but the majority are shared across both, meaning you get multiple opportunities to learn from a wider pool of activities and two different political bodies.
We work flexibly in both Kingston and Sutton offices, and support working at home or flexible working patterns that enable you to tailor your working and personal life. We provide the equipment and tools to enable you to work flexibly, and in return ask you to use that flexibility to be creative and ambitious in the services we deliver.
There are some really exciting things happening in both boroughs. In Sutton, we are developing the London Cancer Hub, a world leading cancer research and treatment hub that will bring together professionals from across different sectors to identify and test new treatments and therapies. Over in Kingston, we are undertaking the largest housing regeneration programme ever delivered in the borough, building new energy efficient housing that will transform some of our oldest Council owned housing. Both boroughs have publicly committed to doing what they can to tackle the climate emergency and are investing in new technologies and societal change that will help bring carbon emissions down and improve our climate impact.
You should choose Kingston and Sutton if you are looking for an opportunity that will challenge you to deliver more, support you to achieve personal ambitions, and expect you to put borough residents at the heart of what you do.
Kingston is a beautiful Royal borough with a historic setting on the banks of the Thames with excellent schools and a bustling retail centre, all surrounded by open green spaces such as Richmond Park and Bushy Park, former recreation grounds for Tudor Kings and Queens. The Council is controlled by a Liberal Democrat Administration and has a council plan “Greener, Fairer, Safer, Together”, that sets out a vision to be a vibrant, diverse and inclusive borough where residents are active, empowered, engaged and able to remain independent and resilient. The Council engages with residents through a number of forums and events through the year, and like Sutton plays a leading role in developing the South West Region of London.
Sutton is a well connected attractive part of London that has a reputation for excellent schools, green and leafy open spaces, and a history that drives a thriving heritage and culture offer through our museums and libraries. The Council is controlled by a long established Liberal Democrat Administration and has high ambitions set out in its corporate plan “Ambitious for Sutton”, that will ensure Sutton remains a great place to live, work and raise a family. The Council plays a leading role in a number of local partnerships and places great emphasis on engaging effectively with its residents, listening to local voices and making their message heard across London Government.
About The Role And Our Ideal Candidate
About the Role
The Strategic People & OD Business Partner is part of a team of four Business Partners, with each Business Partner having responsibility for their own Directorate that they support. These three roles will support and advise the Adult Social Care & Health, Corporate Services and Residents & Communities directorates in Kingston. These roles will take the lead in the delivery and embedding of the People & OD strategy for Kingston with an understanding of local needs, delivering projects and acting as a trusted partner, supporting the delivery of both directorate and corporate priorities.
A Typical Day Will Involve Reviewing And Analysing Data To Help Inform OD Interventions And Activity, Liaising With Managers On Specific Work Streams, Facilitation At Corporate Initiatives And Events As Well As Preparing And Delivering Presentations To The Directorate. You Will Be:
- Leading organisational redesigns that break down silos and foster our "Stronger Together" approach
- Embedding EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) into the DNA of our recruitment and retention strategies
- Empowering our managers to become inspiring leaders in a hybrid, high-performance environment
- Developing workforce plans that address the skills gap, future proofing our organisation
Who We’re Looking For
To be successful in this role you will need to be a strategic thinker with a focus on delivery as well as a strong communicator. You will also need to have flexibility and adaptability with the following:
- An in depth understanding of people management and organisational development (evidenced by CIPD, equivalent qualification/experience)
- Excellent knowledge of legislation and statutory guidance
- Significant experience advising at all levels of management on HR and/or OD disciplines
- Experience of working with stakeholders across all levels of an organisation
About Us
This is an exciting opportunity to join a progressive People and Organisational Development (OD) Service that focuses on our residents' needs, across The Royal Borough of Kingston. We are building a strategically focused OD service that is responsive to developing culture and capability, and enabling our workforce to provide the services needed for the communities we serve.
This represents a stand‑out chance for an experienced HR and OD practitioner to play a key role in driving forward organisational development and change across three diverse and unique high‑profile directorates. This is a great place to be a HR and OD Professional!
Our Offer To You
As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across however big or small; will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.
Benefits
Employees have access to a wide range of benefits to enable staff to achieve a work life balance, some of which include:
A generous annual leave entitlement of 25-32 days, plus
Strategic People and Organisational Development (OD) Business Partners (Kingston) in London employer: LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON
Joining Kingston and Sutton councils means becoming part of a dynamic and forward-thinking environment that prioritises employee growth and community impact. With flexible working arrangements, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and exciting projects like the London Cancer Hub and extensive housing regeneration, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference while developing your career in a supportive and collaborative culture.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic People and Organisational Development (OD) Business Partners (Kingston) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even hit up LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the councils and their current projects. Knowing about the London Cancer Hub or the housing regeneration programme will show you're genuinely interested and ready to contribute.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills align with the role of Strategic People and OD Business Partner. Highlight your experience in organisational development and how you can help Kingston and Sutton achieve their goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic People and Organisational Development (OD) Business Partners (Kingston) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Strategic People and OD Business Partner role. Highlight your experience in people management and organisational development, and show how it aligns with our mission at Kingston and Sutton councils.
Showcase Your Strategic Thinking:We want to see your strategic mindset! Use examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you've successfully delivered projects or initiatives that align with organisational goals. This will help us understand your approach to driving change.
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We value authenticity and want to know what makes you tick. Share your passion for EDI and how you’ve embedded it into your previous roles – this is key for us!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the role of Strategic People and OD Business Partner. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities, especially around organisational development and people management. Understanding the specific needs of Kingston and Sutton councils will show that you’re genuinely interested and prepared.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Be ready to discuss your past experiences in HR and OD. Prepare examples that highlight your strategic thinking and how you've successfully advised management on HR disciplines. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and make them impactful.
✨Emphasise Flexibility and Adaptability
Given the dynamic nature of the role, be sure to convey your flexibility and adaptability. Share instances where you’ve successfully navigated change or adapted to new challenges, particularly in a hybrid working environment. This will resonate well with their focus on creativity and ambition.
✨Engage with Their Vision
Familiarise yourself with the councils' visions, such as 'Greener, Fairer, Safer, Together' for Kingston and 'Ambitious for Sutton'. During the interview, express how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to these goals. This shows that you’re not just looking for a job, but are invested in their mission.
