Group Manager - HR & OD

Bridgend County Borough Council is on an ambitious journey of transformation. We are looking for an inspirational and forward-thinking senior leader to join us as our Group Manager for Human Resources & Organisational Development.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a high-performing HR & OD service at a time when workforce planning, organisational culture, leadership development, employee wellbeing, talent management and service transformation are more important than ever.
Reporting directly to the Head of Performance & Workforce Cultural Change, you will provide strategic leadership across HR and Organisational Development, ensuring our people strategy supports the delivery of our Corporate Plan, transformation priorities and the long-term ambitions of Bridgend 2040.
The Role
You will:
- Lead and develop an innovative HR & OD service.
- Drive organisational development, workforce planning and cultural change initiatives.
- Support organisational transformation programmes and service redesign.
- Develop modern approaches to recruitment, retention and talent management.
- Lead workforce strategies that enable a resilient, engaged and high-performing workforce.
- Build strong relationships with Trade Unions, senior managers, elected members and external partners.
- Use workforce intelligence and evidence to inform strategic decision-making.
- Champion employee engagement, leadership development, inclusion and wellbeing., This senior role offers a unique opportunity to influence the future direction of Bridgend County Borough Council during a period of significant organisational transformation. Working closely with the Head of Performance & Workforce Cultural Change and the wider Corporate Management Teams, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our workforce, organisational culture and leadership capability, helping to deliver our long-term ambitions for Bridgend County 2040.
Protecting children, young people or adults at risk is a core responsibility of all council employees.
The council's Hybrid Working Policy applies to this post. This provides a framework for establishing how you will undertake working hours between your home and the office.

We are looking for a strategic leader who can demonstrate:
- Significant senior HR and organisational development experience.
- Chartered CIPD membership (or substantial equivalent experience).
- Strong leadership credentials within a large, complex organisation.
- A track record of delivering workforce transformation and cultural change.
- Experience developing workforce strategies that improve organisational performance.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- A passion for helping people and organisations perform at their best.