At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape leadership and workforce transformation for businesses in Greater Manchester.
- Company: Join a dynamic team focused on organisational development in the FPBS sector.
- Benefits: Make a real impact while collaborating with senior leaders and driving growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to innovate and enhance regional business support.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of Greater Manchester's growth agenda and influence key business strategies.
- Qualifications: Experience in organisational development and strong understanding of FPBS sector dynamics required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Shape the future of leadership and workforce transformation across Greater Manchester. We’re looking for a highly credible Organisational Development (OD) Specialist to support businesses within the Financial, Professional & Business Services (FPBS) sector to unlock growth through their people. This is a strategic, client-facing role, working with senior leaders across a diverse portfolio from scaling SMEs to complex organisations, designing and delivering impactful people and organisational strategies that drive productivity, performance, and inclusive growth.
Core purpose: The position focuses on delivering high-quality organisational development assessments for a portfolio of Greater Manchester 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, specifically for those organisations operating in the Financial, Professional, & Business sector.
Why this role matters: Given the strategic importance of the Financial, Professional & Business Services sector within Greater Manchester, applicants must be able to demonstrate credible sector insight and the ability to translate this into impactful organisational development solutions. 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:
- Greater Manchester Strategy (GMS), including its missions around productivity, innovation, skills, and inclusive growth.
- 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: You will act as a trusted advisor to business leaders, delivering end-to-end organisational development support, including:
- Leading in-depth organisational diagnostics, including culture, workforce, and capability assessments.
- Designing and implementing strategic OD interventions across the full employee lifecycle (workforce planning, talent, performance, culture, engagement, and retention).
- Supporting businesses with organisation design, restructuring, operating models, and change management.
- Developing leadership capability, performance frameworks, and workforce development strategies.
- Advising on employer value propositions, recruitment, and talent attraction within competitive FPBS markets.
- Delivering facilitated workshops, masterclasses, and cohort-based learning programmes.
- Managing a portfolio of clients, ensuring measurable impact in productivity, workforce capability, and growth outcomes.
- Collaborating with internal specialists and external partners to deliver integrated, high-quality business support.
- Using data, insight, and emerging tools (including AI) to inform solutions and enhance client impact.
What we’re looking for: You’ll bring a blend of expertise, insight, and strong interpersonal skills. Essential attributes/experience include:
- Significant experience in organisational development, workforce strategy, or people consulting.
- Strong understanding of FPBS sector dynamics (e.g. legal, financial, consultancy, professional services environments).
- Proven ability to influence and advise senior leaders on complex organisational challenges.
- Expertise across OD disciplines, including:
- Culture and engagement.
- Change management.
- Talent and succession planning.
- Workforce planning and organisational design.
- Experience delivering diagnostics, strategic recommendations, and measurable business outcomes.
- Excellent facilitation, coaching, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- CIPD, L&D, or equivalent qualification.
- Knowledge of the Greater Manchester business support ecosystem (GMS, LSIPs, Good Growth).
- Experience using digital tools, data, or AI to enhance OD practice.
Why join us? This is a high-impact role where you will:
- Work at the heart of Greater Manchester’s growth and skills agenda.
- Influence senior leaders across a high-value sector.
- Deliver meaningful, measurable impact across the regional economy.
- Be part of a collaborative, specialist team.
- Shape and innovate the OD offer across the region.
Business Advisor - Organisation Development Sector Specialist in Manchester employer: The Growth Company
Join a dynamic team dedicated to shaping the future of leadership and workforce transformation in Greater Manchester. As a Business Advisor specialising in Organisational Development, you will enjoy a collaborative work culture that prioritises employee growth and innovation, while directly contributing to the region's ambitious economic agenda. With access to tailored professional development opportunities and the chance to influence senior leaders across the Financial, Professional & Business Services sector, this role offers a meaningful and rewarding career path.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Advisor - Organisation Development Sector Specialist in Manchester
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like The Growth Company!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Business Advisor - Organisation Development Sector Specialist position at The Growth Company via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Advisor - Organisation Development Sector Specialist in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at The Growth Company.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to The Growth Company’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Growth Company
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to The Growth Company. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at The Growth Company. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to The Growth Company.
