HR & OD Consultant
Contract: 12-Month Fixed Term
Organisation: Greater Manchester Local Authority
Are you an experienced HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment? We're looking for a confident and proactive HR & OD Consultant to join the People team supporting a diverse portfolio of services across Housing, Property & Estates, Arts & Culture, Regulatory Services, Regeneration, and frontline operational teams within the Place Directorate.
Working alongside HR Business Partners, you'll provide expert, solution-focused HR advice across the full employee lifecycle, helping managers navigate a wide range of employee relations matters while supporting organisational development initiatives and service improvements. You'll build strong relationships with managers and senior leaders, coach and challenge where appropriate, and play a key role in driving positive people outcomes.
What you'll be doing
- Managing a varied and high-volume employee relations caseload including absence, disciplinary, grievance, organisational change and other people matters.
- Partnering with managers and leaders to provide practical, people-centred HR advice and solutions.
- Supporting workforce planning, organisational change and service transformation initiatives.
- Delivering coaching, training and guidance to managers to build their confidence and capability.
- Developing effective relationships with Trade Unions and key stakeholders to maintain positive employee relations.
- Using data, insight and professional judgement to identify trends and develop proactive solutions to workforce challenges.
What we're looking for
Whether your experience comes from the public sector, manufacturing, logistics, retail, healthcare or another large-scale operational environment, you'll be successful if you can demonstrate:
- Strong generalist HR experience with excellent employee relations knowledge.
- Experience managing complex, high-volume casework in a fast-paced setting.
- The ability to build credibility quickly and establish effective relationships across diverse service areas.
- A proactive, hands-on approach with a willingness to get out into services and understand operational challenges.
- Confidence influencing managers at all levels and supporting them through change.
- Experience working with Trade Unions would be beneficial but is not essential.
Why join us?
This is an opportunity to work within a collaborative HR & OD function that puts people at the heart of decision-making. You'll support senior leaders in delivering their people plans while helping shape a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture across a large and varied workforce. Professional development, learning opportunities and ongoing support are integral to the role.