Associate Director – Workforce & Learning
Salary: £108,016.00 - £118,680.00
Location: Dudley, West Midlands – on site and hybrid
Employer: Dudley Council
Be the change. Lead the future. Improve lives.
Dudley Council is seeking an outstanding individual to join our senior leadership team as the Associate Director for Workforce & Learning. This is a high‑impact, high‑profile role at the heart of our transformation journey – driving the development of our workforce strategy, organisational development plans and effective, responsive business partnering support to all our teams.
As a key member of our senior leadership team, you will drive strategic and operational change, working closely with Directors and Group Directors to provide robust, modern, integrated HR services, an OD programme that shapes around the needs of the authority, our priorities, is co‑produced with key stakeholders and reflects the challenges facing the Council and wider public sector. You will understand the importance of shaping a programme that is able to build strong foundations across our HR services which are shaped around the business need and provide robust assurance, enabling us to move to improvement and then onto full transformation.
Key Responsibilities
* Being the Council lead for people strategy and transformation, HR operations, business partnering, responsive organisational development (OD) programmes and providing professional advice, guidance and assurance.
* Lead strategic workforce planning aligned to the Council’s operational improvement and future service needs.
* Oversee all aspects of HR, OD, and people strategy, including policy development, job evaluation, and grading structures.
* Drive a modern, data‑informed HR function through ICT innovation, business partnering, and transactional services.
* Ensure effective employee relations, employment law compliance, and robust governance.
* Lead payroll and workforce information functions, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and audit controls.
* Champion staff wellbeing and inclusion as core pillars of the people strategy.
* Support corporate transformation by embedding the new operating model and evidencing continuous improvement.
* Provide strategic advice to senior leaders and Members and build partnerships across sectors to drive innovation and collaboration.
* Lead on relations where the council has traded services with outside organisations, including opportunities for growth.
* Manage budgets effectively and ensure all workforce functions demonstrate value for money and measurable impact.
* Lead the design and implementation of learning programmes that support employee development, leadership capability, talent management and retention, and champion professional development pathways to support succession planning and career progression to build a skilled and future‑ready workforce.
* Provide assurance that the council is following statutory and regulatory requirements related to training and qualifications, including safeguarding, continuing professional development and health & safety mandates.
* Embed a culture of continuous learning and improvement, supporting staff at all levels to develop the skills, knowledge, and behaviours needed for high performance.
* Oversee learning innovation, ensuring the effective use of technology, e‑learning platforms, and blended learning approaches to improve access, engagement, and efficiency.
* Drive leadership and management development, ensuring current and future leaders are equipped to lead transformation and deliver outstanding services.
* Lead on apprenticeship strategy and delivery, maximising levy spend, supporting workforce entry routes, and developing future talent pipelines.
* Commission and manage all external training providers, ensuring quality, impact, and value for money.
Who we are looking for
A visionary leader with the understanding, experience and drive to transform HR and OD in Dudley and be central to supporting our ongoing journey of improvement and modernisation. You will bring credibility, compassion, and courage – with the ability to lead transformation, inspire teams, and work collaboratively across our Groups and partners.
Why Dudley?
Dudley is a borough on the rise – ambitious, inclusive and committed to change. Join us and play a central role in helping our residents live healthier, more independent lives. This is a unique opportunity to influence the future direction of the Council, working at the forefront of innovation and governance. Be part of a leadership team committed to improving services, efficiency, and customer experience for our community.
Apply now and be part of something that truly makes a difference.
https://www.dudleycounciljobs.org.uk/
For an informal discussion please contact Stephen Meah-Sims, Group Director for Core Business via Kerry Jones – Kerry.Jones@dudley.gov.uk
Closing date Wednesday 26 November 2025.
Application Process
The recruitment process will comprise of several stages. Initially, candidates will be longlisted and invited to participate in technical interviews. Following this, shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend assessment centres before a final interview.
Workplace Attendance: Working in the office 3+ days a week (pro‑rated)
So that we can demonstrate Dudley’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and to improve bias in the recruitment process that could create barriers for candidates. Your personal data will be anonymised when you apply, to ensure that you comply with our anonymisation process, please ensure you have removed your name and date of birth from any attachments prior to uploading them to your application.
Online application forms will only be accepted for this vacancy, online facilities for jobs are available at public libraries within the Dudley Borough.
All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove their right to work in the UK.
Please note: Dudley MBC does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK.
If you require support completing an online or paper application form and or interview techniques, please contact Dudley Adult and Community Learning on 01384 818 143 or acl@dudley.gov.uk who can support with Digital Skills and Job Applications.
If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application please contact the HR Resourcing Team via HR.Resourcing@dudley.gov.uk
If you are experiencing a problem whilst applying for a position, please follow the link below to the WM Jobs Help Page in the first instance https://help.wmjobs.co.uk/
If the WM Jobs Help Page does not resolve your issue then please contact the HR Resourcing Team via HR.Resourcing@dudley.gov.uk
Dudley Council will check the information that you have provided against any details already held for accuracy and completeness. The Council will check, share and cross match your information both internally within the council and with external organisations to protect public funds and prevent or detect crime, only where the law allows us to do so.
The Council’s full Privacy and Disclaimer Statement can be accessed on the website at https://www.dudley.gov.uk/privacy-disclaimer-statement/
N.B. We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications.
#LI-DMBC2019
Attached documents
* Job Description & Person Specification
* Employee Benefits List.pdf
* Employee Benefits List.pdf
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