Organisation Design Consultant

Overview This is a hybrid-working role, with attendance in the Chelmsford office expected to be 1-2 days per week on average, depending on business need. The Organisation Design Consultant helps enable the success of organisational strategy by aligning the shape and structure of the organisation with the desired outcomes. This role reviews, analyses and evaluates what the organisation wants and needs, analysing the gap between where it is and where it wants to be in order to design and execute organisational practices and interventions that bridge that gap and foster transformational change. This role is focused on enhancing organisational structure and effectiveness and has a deep understanding of organisational dynamics, strategic vision, and change management principles and is key to shaping and aligning the council's structure, processes, and culture to optimise performance and achieve business objectives. As an organisational design consultant, you will be able to employ a well‑rounded business change approach that seamlessly blends organisational design and business improvement to design and deliver holistic interventions that align with organisational culture to ensure successful change management, which is established and owned by the business, driving successful outcomes through the effective use of key Organisational Design approaches, tools, and methodologies. This role requires effective collaboration across People and Organisational Development and the entire organisation, working closely with People Business Partners and People Leads to ensure the successful development and delivery of the Organisational Development Strategy and associated people interventions. Taking ownership for implementation of essential workforce initiatives across the Council which benefit our employees, the organisation and positively impact on service users and our residents, showcasing your strong project management expertise and demonstrating professional proficiency through the application of consultancy model at a professional standard. Accountabilities Influence and drive the design, implementation, and evaluation of organisational design tools, frameworks and methodologies to enhance overall effectiveness and performance, applying the full consultancy cycle and model to provide a service which supports delivery, professionalism, and productivity. Manage highly complex and difficult conversations; Present, explain, motivate, engage and influence, persuade and challenge at all levels. Work with the Organisation Development Consultants, advising on work design choices and approaches to ensure alignment between structure, systems, processes and culture to improve service delivery and drive performance. Build organisational effectiveness through organisational assessments and diagnostics, including structural analysis, process evaluations, and cultural assessments. Utilising data‑driven approaches to identify gaps, redundancies, and areas for optimisation within the existing organisational framework. Collaborate with leaders and stakeholders across the council to identify and address organisational challenges, assess current structures, and identify opportunities for improvement. Providing expert advice and solutions to influence the delivery of the organisational strategy, and associated Business and Transformation Plans, aligning organisational design initiatives with the Workplace Strategy. Develop comprehensive organisation design strategies that support the Council's objectives and enhance operational efficiency. Driving Design Authority decisions through comprehensive socialisation and communication packs to demonstrate the value and articulate the rationale and benefits of proposed changes to all stakeholders ensuring smooth transitions and minimal disruption to business‑as‑usual activities providing guidance and support to leadership and employees throughout the change process. Partner with People & OD teams to integrate Organisational Design practices into leadership and management development, increasing capability and ensuring alignment with the overall people agenda and workforce strategy including the employee experience, wellbeing and EDI agendas, along with other people processes and practice. Evaluate the impact of OD initiatives, measuring key performance indicators and providing recommendations for continuous improvement and refinement of organisational processes. Regularly update knowledge and skills to meet the evolving standards set by the CIPD at standards level of Chartered Membership or above. Integrate the CIPD and its framework into all actions, including participation in continuous professional development activities and ensuring that ECC's HR practices and strategies are in accordance with the CIPD's professional standards and ethical guidelines. Actively participate in the development and continuation of communities of practice and networks to share best practices, ensuring a cohesive approach to OD and employee experience across the organisation. Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework. Qualifications Educated to degree level in a relevant professional field such as organisational development, business improvement, Business Administration, Human Resources or equivalent by experience. Professional membership of CIPD at Chartered level or working towards this. Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area. Demonstrable experience of managing complex structure, systems and process change issues through professional application of the consultancy model to drive results. Strong understanding and evidence of effective application of leading‑edge organisational behaviour, change management, and strategic planning theories and methods, with demonstrable experience of practical and successful application of these within a complex matrix environment. Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to translate insights into actionable recommendations. Project management skills to ensure timely and successful execution of organisation design initiatives. Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to clearly articulate messages to a range of audiences with differing levels of understanding. Strong business acumen with the ability to link initiatives with strategic business priorities. Strong working knowledge of current business technology. Why Essex? As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you. In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about ) on our careers site. Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs. At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone. Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. #J-18808-Ljbffr