Organisation Development Lead in Manchester

Working hours: 35 hours per week

Contract type: Permanent

Working style: Hybrid - Employees split their time between working remotely (e.g., from home) and working on-site (e.g., in an office).

Closing date: 11.59pm, 22 September 2026

Interview method: in person, at Manchester Town Hall Extension

Interview date: 30 September 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 25 September 2026 and will receive details of an interview task to prepare in advance.

Applicants must have existing right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role is subject to:

• Legal right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.
• 2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.

Could you help shape a workplace where people feel supported, listened to and able to do their best work? We’re looking for an experienced Organisation Development (OD) practitioner to join our friendly and collaborative Organisation Development team. This is a role with real purpose: helping us shape the conditions for a positive, inclusive and healthy organisational culture, where managers feel supported to lead well and colleagues feel listened to, involved and able to do their best work for the city.

About the role

The Organisation Development team sits within the wider People and Organisation Development Service. Our work is varied, people-focused and rooted in helping the Council continue to develop as a positive, inclusive and effective place to work.

As an OD Lead, you’ll help shape, plan, deliver and evaluate OD work that supports culture, leadership, management development, employee engagement and staff voice. This could include contributing to our wider OD Plan and organisational capability work, supporting services with navigating change, challenge or difficult working relationships, and helping colleagues connect with the Our Manchester values and behaviours in a practical and meaningful way.

A key part of the role will be supporting OD priorities that help managers, teams and colleagues work well together. At the moment, this includes work linked to the Good Manager Guide, which supports line managers to lead well, manage fairly and create the kind of team environments where people can thrive. You’ll also help create meaningful opportunities for colleagues to engage with the organisation, share their views and influence how we work, including through mechanisms such as the staff survey and wider staff voice activity.

What you’ll be doing

In this role, you’ll be:

• Leading and supporting OD programmes that improve organisational culture, capability and colleagues' experience of working at the Council.
• Using evidence, insight, engagement and evaluation to understand needs, shape OD priorities and improve future work.
• Working with services and colleagues to understand workforce culture challenges, support change and help teams navigate a way forward.
• Managing OD work programmes from initial scoping through to delivery and evaluation, keeping activity purposeful and on track.
• Building trusted relationships with leaders, HR colleagues, staff networks and other partners across the Council.

About the Candidate

We're looking for someone who:

• Brings strong OD experience and understands how to support culture, leadership, engagement and change in a large and complex organisation.
• Can take work from initial idea through to delivery and evaluation, with the planning, organisation and follow-through needed to manage projects, keep work on track and make things happen.
• Brings creativity and practical problem-solving skills, helping us make sense of workforce culture challenges and shape ideas, options and solutions that feel purposeful and achievable.
• Is comfortable developing approaches, programmes and resources that reflect what our organisation needs now and, in the future, recognising that off-the-shelf approaches are not always the right fit for Manchester City Council.
• Builds trust with different people, works collaboratively and communicates clearly, including managing expectations honestly, offering alternative approaches where needed and following through in a way that gives colleagues confidence.

In return, you'll join a supportive and collaborative team, with the opportunity to deliver meaningful OD work that reaches colleagues across the Council.

Tell us why this role is for you

Use your personal statement (maximum 500 words) to tell us:

• Why you work in OD
• Why you want to bring your OD experience to Manchester City Council
• What piece of OD work you are most proud of, and what it tells us about you and your approach

Please use examples from your experience to help us understand your OD practice, approach and impact.

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities. Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks during our annual leave purchase period.
• A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panel's minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term condition
• Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [email protected].

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks will depend on the role you’ve applied for, see the top of the advert for details. These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

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