Head of Strategic Development

Head of Strategic Organisational Development and Change

Overview

We are at the heart of Birmingham City Council’s most essential asset – it’s People.

Playing a vital role in shaping the future of the city and ensuring that key services reach those who need them most. With a focus on aligning workforce needs with organisational goals, our team supports, engages, and motivates the workforce to deliver exceptional services to Birmingham's citizens.

Whether it’s managing accurate payroll, ensuring safe recruitment, fostering positive employee relations, or driving inclusive policies, every decision we make has a direct impact on both employees and the community.

We’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive, guided by our core principles of being helpful, open-minded, and delivering positive outcomes.

By working collaboratively across service areas, we provide expert guidance and support to colleagues, empowering them to focus on delivering vital front-line services. If you're passionate about making a difference, this role gives you the opportunity to contribute to a forward-thinking, diverse, and vibrant city, creating lasting impact for both our employees and citizens.

Role Overview

We are seeking a strategic leader to drive the Council’s change and adoption strategy, enabling the successful implementation of new technologies, systems, and business processes across the organisation.

This pivotal role focuses on preparing the workforce for change minimising disruption, reducing resistance, and ensuring employees are supported, engaged, and ready to adopt new ways of working.

Working across complex, high-value programmes, you will embed effective change management approaches that build capability, unlock value, and deliver measurable outcomes. With a strong focus on people and culture, you'll advise senior leaders, guide delivery teams, and help shape a modern, agile, and future-ready organisation

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic change and adoption initiatives by developing and implementing organisation-wide change management strategies that support the successful roll-out of new technologies and business processes.

Embed change management across programmes by working closely with project delivery teams to integrate change activities into plans, ensuring a seamless transition for users and early realisation of benefits.

Support and influence senior leaders by providing expert guidance on change sponsorship, stakeholder engagement, and cultural alignment, helping them lead change effectively from the top.

Develop and deliver actionable change plans including communications, training, coaching, and resistance management strategies to ensure consistent, informed, and engaged adoption across the organisation.

Champion a culture of continuous improvement by embedding change readiness assessments, promoting best practice, and driving learning initiatives to build internal capability and sustain transformation

About You

You are an experienced change management leader with a proven track record in driving successful technology and business process transformations within large, complex organisations. You possess extensive expertise in applying change management principles, methodologies, and tools to facilitate smooth transitions and maximise adoption.​

Your experience includes leading high-value programmes, engaging with senior stakeholders, and guiding multidisciplinary teams to deliver impactful change initiatives.

You excel in developing and implementing comprehensive change management plans, effectively communicating strategic messages across various levels, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Your strong interpersonal skills enable you to build collaborative relationships, influence decision-making, and lead teams through complex change processes