People Change Consultant Fixed Term (12 months), Full Time (37 hours per week) £47,621 to £56,025 per annum Location: Chelmsford Working Style: Anywhere worker (1-2 days per week in the office) Closing Date: 3rd December 2024 Following a very successful round of recruitment recently, Essex County Council now have sign off to welcome further additions to the team. This is a hybrid-working role, with attendance in the Chelmsford office expected to be 1-2 days per week on average, depending on business need. The role will be offered on a fixed-term contract or secondment basis for 12 months. Please note that successful applicants will be invited to attend a virtual interview on 12th, 13th or 16th December 2024. Essex County Council has an ambitious journey of transformation that involves large scale change. This role will create and establish plans for large scale change, which will enable the organisation to achieve transformation ambitions - engaging and influencing stakeholders at all levels and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes. This role will provide highly specialist change management expertise, advice, guidance, and challenge within large and transformational programmes of work, enabling the council to achieve its strategic aims and deliver our organisation plan. The Change Consultant will work collaboratively with other specialist teams, wider People and Organisational Development and Transformation Delivery & Support to influence and shape change initiatives and programmes. Using proven change management frameworks, tools and resources the role holder will drive the right change outcomes across various transformation programmes to drive maximum business benefit, minimise resistance and effectively embed change. The Change Consultant will have a deep understanding of the impact that change has on people and organisations and will be able to make recommendations and take ownership for the interventions and activities that ensure that people are ready for change and are effective in handling resistance to change. Accountabilities Provide highly specialist subject matter expertise, thought leadership, practical advice, and guidance to programme and functional leadership teams, ensuring alignment between change initiatives and programme outcomes. Manage highly complex and difficult conversations; Present, explain, motivate, engage, influence, persuade and challenge at all levels. Embed a relational and people-centred approach to change by fostering a culture of challenge, support, and values-led change and transformation. Deliver practical and impactful change solutions by transforming complex concepts, leveraging innovative thinking to lead change initiatives effectively, ensuring successful outcomes and continuous improvement. Support in creation and implementation of impactful change management strategies, including stakeholder engagement, communications, change impact and readiness assessments, training, and transitioning to BAU, to support complex and transformational change. Work closely with key organisational leaders and stakeholders to analyse and manage the organisation-wide change landscape, ensuring effective prioritisation and management of change. Evaluate the impact of change initiatives, measuring key performance indicators and providing recommendations for continuous improvement and refinement of organisational processes Develop and drive the organisation's change capability strategy by coaching and mentoring leaders and role-modelling continuous learning and development, demonstrating leadership and organisational behaviours, and whole system change leadership. Regularly update knowledge and skills to meet the evolving standards set by the CIPD at standards level of Chartered Membership or above. Integrate the CIPD profession map and its framework into all actions, including participation in continuous professional development activities and ensuring that ECC’s HR practices and strategies are in accordance with the CIPD's professional standards and ethical guidelines. Actively participate in the development and continuation of communities of change practice and networks to share best practices, ensuring a cohesive approach to change and employee experience across the organisation. Meet specific individual and shared targets and objectives as defined annually within the performance management framework. Skills, Knowledge and Experience Educated to degree level (RFQ Level 6) or equivalent by experience; CIPD or Change Management qualification (such as Prosci Practitioner, APMG Practitioner, Change Management Institute, etc) desirable, with ongoing professional development. Demonstrable knowledge of the critical factors in leading change and practical experience of applying project and programme management approaches taking ownership for identifying risks and creating mitigation plans, evidence of delivering large scale change on time and to quality and budget. Expert knowledge in Change Management frameworks, methodologies, approaches and toolkits – including Prosci and ADKAR. Knowledge and experience of organisational development theories, with successful application in complex environments and/or transformation programmes. Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to tailor approaches to meet the needs of diverse audiences with differing levels of understanding, including the creation of engaging and tailored materials. Effective in engaging with partners and stakeholders, confident in managing multiple and conflicting stakeholder expectations. Planning, facilitating, and delivering stakeholder workshops and individual interventions for engagement, training, and coaching. Experienced in managing change programmes and projects, developing business cases, identifying risks, and creating mitigation plans. Delivering change readiness, maturity, and impact assessments to develop integrated people change plans. Experienced in managing diverse workloads through prioritisation, remaining credible under pressure, and working effectively in ambiguous situations. To read more about us please visit: People & Transformation Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here. Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. What you should do next Please click apply to submit an application. Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community here. If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.teamessex.gov.uk Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Further details can be found on our careers page. Downloads Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours