Organisational Development Adviser

Cabot Learning Federation, Bristol, BS15 4JT

13 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  4 May 2026

• Closing date

  25 March 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  12 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other support roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £39,649 - £42,301

Organisational Development Adviser job summary

Job Title: Organisational Development Adviser  

Full Time Annual Salary: £39,649 - £42,301 (Grade F) (Based on hours and working weeks)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday / All year-round

Additional Information: The role operates on a hybrid basis, combining home working with weekly attendance at our office at Federation House in Kingswood, Bristol every Tuesday, alongside further days if required.

Potential Start Date: 04 May 2026 (Subject to completion of Pre-Employment Checks)

Play a leading role in shaping people strategy, culture, and engagement across a diverse education community

We are looking for an Organisational Development Adviser with the passion and insight to make a meaningful difference to the experience of colleagues across the Cabot Learning Federation. Reporting to the HR Director and working as a key member of our Central HR Team, you will help staff feel valued, supported and able to thrive through high‑quality organisational development and people‑focused initiatives.

In this role, you will lead strategic projects that strengthen staff engagement, wellbeing, EDI, leadership capability and retention across our academies. Working closely with academy leaders and HR colleagues, you will design and deliver trust‑wide initiatives, lead surveys and engagement activity, analyse workforce data, and develop evidence‑based action plans. You will also support succession and workforce planning to ensure we have the right skills and capacity for the future.

You will play a vital role in building capability across the federation by creating and delivering training that supports line managers and empowers colleagues. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys driving people‑centred change, thrives on collaboration and wants to help shape a positive, inclusive and forward‑looking organisational culture.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and deliver Trust‑wide organisational development projects focused on wellbeing, engagement, voice, EDI, leadership capability and retention.
  
• Design, plan and evaluate OD initiatives with clear objectives, robust project plans, and measurable outcomes.
  
• Lead Trust‑wide surveys and other engagement activity, analysing workforce data to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
  
• Develop and deliver high‑quality training and resources that build line manager confidence and capability.
  
• Provide targeted OD support to academies, helping them progress their school improvement priorities.
  
• Contribute to succession planning, workforce planning and the effective use of the apprenticeship levy.
  
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with leaders, HR colleagues, trade unions and external partners to influence positive change.
  
• Communicate clearly and confidently with a wide range of audiences, including presenting findings and recommendations.
  

This is a fantastic opportunity for an HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys problem-solving, and wants to have a genuine, lasting impact on staff experience and organisational outcomes.

About you:

You will have:

• Strong knowledge of employment law, HR practice, equality, diversity and inclusion, and organisational development principles.
  
• Experience designing, delivering and evaluating strategic people projects that drive real organisational improvement.
  
• Skilled at analysing complex workforce data and translating insight into practical actions and recommendations.
  
• Excellent relationship‑building and communication skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and gain buy‑in.
  
• Confident delivering training, presentations and briefings to stakeholders at all levels.
  
• Highly organised and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment.
  
• Resilient, adaptable and solutions‑focused, with the ability to remain calm when dealing with sensitive or challenging situations.
  
• Committed to continuous learning, personal development, safeguarding and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.
  
• A Level 5 qualification (or equivalent) plus CIPD/OD/project management qualification (or willingness to work towards).
  

Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application.

Why work in CLFs Central HR Team?

In this role, you’ll join a high‑performing, forward‑thinking team at the centre of people, culture and organisational development across our trust. You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Lead impactful organisational development projects that shape staff experience, culture and engagement across a diverse range of educational settings.
  
• Influence key areas of our people strategy and contribute to federation‑wide initiatives that support wellbeing, EDI, leadership capability and long‑term workforce development.
  
• Collaborate with academy leaders, HR specialists, trade union representatives and external partners to deliver meaningful, evidence‑based change.
  
• Develop your career within a supportive environment that values innovation, inclusion, reflection and continuous improvement.
  

Why work at CLF?

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.

We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

What we can offer you:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
  
• Generous annual leave.
  
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities.
  
• Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
  
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
  
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
  
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking plus many more!
  

 Recruitment timeline:

• Closing Date: 25 March 2026 @11.59pm
  
• Shortlisting: 25 March 2026
  
• Interviews: 02 April 2026
  

For an informal discussion about the role/to find out more, please email CLFs Recruitment Team directly (details can be found on the 'Contact Us' page on CLFs main website, or in the 'Application Instructions' section when applying).

As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.

Please note we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist. 

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

The Cabot Learning Federation are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant will, in accordance with statutory guidance, be subject to a comprehensive pre-employment checking process including references from current and previous employers, health, right to work in the UK and a child disqualification check. The checks will also include an enhanced DBS check and a further check against the appropriate barred list.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Cabot Learning Federation

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Cabot Learning Federation website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/cabot-learning-federation

Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) is a diverse West Country multi-academy trust which is home to 36 schools operating in five clusters in Bristol, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Somerset.

The CLF is unique due to its tight geographical concentration, the diversity of the communities it serves, and the variety of educational provisions it offers. We are one of the largest and most respected trusts in the South West and hold national as well as regional recognition due to the breadth and influence of strong practice in our trust.

Our collaborative culture, driven by a strong moral purpose, is key to our success. We believe strong collaboration can drive school improvement and embed excellence in our academies. Our team is united with the common goal of delivering outstanding educational experiences and promoting the life chances of the young people in our academies now and in the future.

Following a recent period of growth, we are proud to serve circa 18,000 pupils who all attend one of our 10 secondary academies, 17 primary academies, an all-through provision, a studio school, a discrete post-16 provision, three special schools and two alternative provisions spanning the age ranges.

The CLF is an equal opportunity employer and is proud to serve a diverse student population and their communities. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. To ensure our leadership team is fully representative of the people we serve, we are encouraging applications for this role from global majority communities.

We are proud to be part of a diverse region and celebrate the richness of cultures, faiths and backgrounds of our students. We aim to develop a curriculum that is responsive to our pupils’ needs and reflects their diverse interests and backgrounds.

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