Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance
Wigan Life Centre South/Hybrid Working
College Avenue
Wigan
WN1 1NJ
Salary: Grade 16, £69,970 - £74,122 per annum.
37 hours per week
We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough.
We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!
Your role:
As Strategic Workforce Lead, you’ll play a key role in shaping Wigan Council’s culture and driving transformational change. Leading a team of Strategic HR & OD Business Partners, you’ll work closely with senior leaders, services, and external partners to embed inclusive practices, develop leadership capability, and align organisational development with our borough-wide strategy, Progress with Unity. You’ll be supported by a collaborative HR & OD leadership team and have direct influence across the council and wider system.
About you:
You’re an experienced OD and change leader with a strong HR background and a passion for cultural transformation. You bring strategic thinking, excellent stakeholder engagement skills, and a track record of delivering impactful change. You’re confident managing teams, navigating complex environments, thinking creatively and using data to support. You’ll need to be adaptable, politically aware, and committed to inclusive leadership and continuous improvement.
About us:
Wigan Council has been voted ‘Overall Council of the Year’ at the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Awards. We are signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment ensuring that your service will be continuous or 'unbroken' between the supporting organisations.
The Progress with Unity plan is a place movement for change for the next decade, bringing a new era for Wigan Borough. It draws on the strengths of our individual organisations, recognising that together we can achieve much more for our communities by delivering on our 2 place missions; create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses and make our towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them.
Wigan Council is a forward-thinking, values-driven organisation committed to making a real difference in people's lives through mission led leadership. With a strong focus on innovation, collaboration, and community empowerment, we offer a supportive environment where you can grow professionally while contributing to meaningful change across the borough.
We are proud of our borough and our and commitment to Progress with Unity; So if you have the skills and are ready to join a forward-thinking HR & OD team with a passion to make a real difference in shaping the future of our workforce and communities, then please get in touch.
The contractual hours for this post will be worked across a range of locations to meet the needs of the role and the service. Work will be carried out across Council buildings and/or community venues across the borough. It is our priority to ensure that the role is fulfilled effectively and while there is some flexibility to work from home when service delivery allows, the expectation is that staff will attend the workplace for a minimum of two days per week. However, depending on service requirements, you may be required to work your full contractual hours on site at Council buildings and/or community venues.
Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits click here to find out more about working for #TeamWigan.
To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK. Please visit the link below to check you qualify to apply. Please note, at present we are not a licenced sponsor. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Prove your right to work to an employer
For an informal chat or further information please contact Lisa Selby at l.selby@wigan.gov.uk or call 07717450648
Progress with Unity: A new era for Wigan Borough
Peer Review 2025
Interview date: Thursday 6th November 2025
This is a politically restricted role
If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.
To view the details relating to this position, please click the links below: