Job Information
Senior Talent & Capability Adviser
Organisational Development & Culture
Permanent | Full‑time
Location: Hybrid (Northumberland / flexible working)
Northumberland County Council is undergoing a major transformation to modernise how we work, strengthen leadership, and create a modern, inclusive and high‑performing organisation that puts residents first.
As part of this, we are redesigning our Organisational Development & Culture (OD&C) service and are recruiting Senior OD Advisers to play a critical role in building capability and supporting organisational change.
For our Senior Talent & Capability Adviser role, we’re looking an experienced OD practitioner who can translate organisational priorities into practical interventions that build capability, strengthen talent pipelines and help managers lead change successfully.
This isn't just about designing frameworks. It's about working alongside managers, teams and services to develop talent, strengthen succession pipelines and respond to workforce capability and development needs, helping colleagues build confidence, develop capability and apply development opportunities in practice.
About the role
This role is for you if you bring:
- Strong experience in talent, capability or organisational development
- Experience designing and delivering talent, succession and capability interventions that support organisational change
- Confidence creating practical tools, interventions and manager support
About You – what we’re looking for
- Strong experience in talent development and succession planning
- Specialist knowledge of talent, career development or workforce capability approaches
- Experience of organisational capability and skills development
- Proven ability to support change readiness, adoption and reinforcement
OD Generalist Foundation
You will bring a strong organisational development foundation alongside your specialist expertise, using OD approaches to ensure talent, capability and change interventions lead to meaningful improvements in how people work and develop.
You’ll be confident diagnosing organisational and behavioural challenges and working with leaders to shape practical, evidence‑led solutions that build capability and support change.
You will move seamlessly between intervention design and delivery, creating practical tools, guidance and development approaches while also facilitating conversations, delivering interventions and supporting managers.
Why Join Northumberland?
- A rare opportunity to help build a modern, agile OD service from the ground up
- Visible, meaningful OD work with senior sponsorship
- Space to practise OD well – with clarity, boundaries and support
- Attractive local government benefits including generous leave, pension, agile working and wellbeing support
You’ll be confident diagnosing organisational and behavioural challenges and working with leaders to shape practical, evidence‑led solutions that build capability and support change.
You will move seamlessly between intervention design and delivery, creating practical tools, guidance and development approaches while also facilitating conversations, delivering interventions and supporting managers.
Why Choose Us
We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:
- 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
- Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Flexi scheme – up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)
How to Apply
Please submit an application via our website.
The candidate pack provides further detail about how we work within the OD & Culture Service, the team structure and expectations of the role. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a selection event.
For an informal discussion please reach out to Helen McMahon, Senior Manager - OD and Culture: Helen.McMahon@northumberland.gov.uk
This role is based at County Hall, Morpeth, and requires regular on-site attendance. A blended working approach is supported however our successful candidate will be expected to work in line with the Council’s WorkSmart principles, which guide how, when and where work is delivered based on organisational need.
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Further information
For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes here.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.
Alternative application format:
British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net
For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930
Although we advertise on North East Jobs, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications.
