Business Advisor - Organisation Development Specialist in Bolton

Location: Manchester

Salary: £43,260 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Shape the future of upskilling across Greater Manchester. The GM Business Growth Hub is seeking an Organisational Development Specialist to support business owners with demonstrable experience, knowledge, and credibility within all areas of organisational development practice, to support business growth and good employment practices.

Core purpose: The position focuses on delivering high-quality organisational and workforce development assessments for a portfolio of business owners and leaders. It involves diagnosing people focused issues, identifying opportunities for improvement, and helping organisations create tailored action plans that align workforce development with wider business growth goals, to boost productivity.

In-person Assessment Centre to take place on 16th July (09am-12pm) in Manchester City Centre. If successful at the assessment centre, interviews will take place on 21st July or 23rd July in Manchester City Centre.

Why this role matters: Greater Manchester is delivering an ambitious agenda for growth, productivity, and skills. To be effective in this role, you must have a strong understanding of:

• The Greater Manchester Strategy (GMS), including its missions around productivity, innovation, skills, and inclusive growth.
• The GM Good Growth Fund, its priorities, eligible sectors, and how workforce development contributes to improved business performance and wider economic outcomes.
• Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), particularly how leadership capability, workforce development, and organisational culture support the skills needs of GM’s priority sectors.

These frameworks shape the region’s business support ecosystem, and your work will directly contribute to delivering their ambitions.

What you’ll be doing:

• Build business relationships — establish strong connections with business owners, leaders, and key internal/external contacts to promote Organisational Development services and support high-quality referrals.
• Develop professional networks — maintain a strong network of business and professional contacts to generate ongoing personal referrals.
• Manage client enquiries — handle enquiries face-to-face, virtually, by phone, and by email, assessing growth potential using appropriate tools and processes.
• Record CRM data — ensure all client enquiries and partner referrals are accurately logged in the Business Growth Hub CRM.
• Conduct diagnostics — carry out detailed in person diagnostics to identify the right starting point for support, followed by comprehensive training/organisational needs analyses.
• Explore workforce challenges — hold in-depth discussions with clients to understand complex organisational development issues.
• Monitor outputs — track and collect output and impact data throughout the project lifecycle.
• Deliver workshops — run group learning sessions, workshops, and cohort programmes in person or via virtual platforms such as Microsoft Teams.

What we’re looking for: You’ll bring a blend of expertise, insight, and strong interpersonal skills. Essential attributes/experience include:

• Strong analytical skills — able to assess situations quickly and make sound decisions.
• Innovative mindset — spot opportunities and bring fresh ideas.
• Confident communicator — build relationships and networks with ease.
• Highly organised — plan effectively and manage priorities well.
• Strategic capability — operate at a senior level, meet tight deadlines, and handle complex challenges.
• Account management expertise — confident in managing business relationships and client portfolios.
• Organisational development specialist — experienced in facilitation, coaching, organisational change, performance analysis, culture, engagement, recruitment, retention, and induction.
• Qualified or experienced — degree/CIPD desirable, or equivalent professional experience.
• Proven track record — successful history of addressing a wide range of organisational development challenges.
• HR knowledge — strong understanding of HR policies, processes and workforce focused practices.
• Strong IT capability — confident using digital tools and systems.
• Excellent presenter — delivers clear, engaging written and verbal presentations.

Why join us? This is a high-impact role where you will:

• Shape workforce capability across Greater Manchester.
• Support businesses to grow through stronger, more confident managers and employees.
• Contribute to the delivery of regional strategies and investment programmes.
• Work with a diverse range of organisations and partners.
• Be part of a values-driven organisation committed to making a positive difference.

We are currently unable to provide sponsorship for work permits or visas. Therefore, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in the UK.

Artificial intelligence can assist you during the application process, but every example and statement you include must be honest, accurate, and based on your own real experiences. If plagiarism is detected, meaning you present someone else’s ideas or experiences, or AI-generated content, as your own, your application may be withdrawn, and internal applicants could face disciplinary action.

At GC, safeguarding the welfare of all individuals including vulnerable adults and young people is a top priority, and we expect all staff to uphold this standard. All appointments follow Safer Recruitment Procedures, including a DBS check carried out by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd), at no cost to the successful candidate.

Please note: It is a legal offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity if you are on the Barred List.

We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and either have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community. If this applies to you, you can request consideration under this scheme during the application process. Your request will be shared only with the Hiring Manager and Internal Recruitment Team.

We also aim to make our recruitment process inclusive and accessible. If you need reasonable adjustments or have any general enquiries at any stage or the recruitment process, please contact or call us on 0161 237 4447.

Examples include:

• Meeting the hiring manager or touring the venue in advance.
• Extra time for tasks.
• Interview questions shared beforehand.
• Accessibility software or equipment for assessments.

We’re proud to support the Ban the Box campaign, which helps people with convictions access job opportunities. As part of this, we’ve removed questions about convictions from the initial application stage.

GC is committed to fostering a culture of flexibility and agile working. Many roles will increasingly support full agile arrangements. If you require more permanent flexibility, we encourage you to discuss this during your interview so your request can be considered early in the process.

All GC colleagues will work in line with the Health and Safety at work act and the GC Health and Safety Policy.