Description

This role has a starting salary of £54,533 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week. This is a 9-month fixed term contract, with the possibility of further extension subject to ongoing Made Smarter Adoption funding in 2026/27 and beyond.

Surrey County Council is seeking an experienced and dynamic Organisation and Workforce Development Advisor to support the delivery of the innovative Made Smarter Adoption programme. This pivotal role will directly contribute to driving strategic initiatives to enhance economic growth, fostering innovation within businesses, and ensuring the programme's success through collaborative partnerships. If you are a strategic thinker, an innovative business support specialist, and passionate about driving growth and innovation, we encourage you to apply. 

This role will work remotely, visiting businesses in the caseload with regular travel across the region. There may be scope for individual OWDAs to concentrate the majority of activity within a broad geographical area of the South East (e.g. west or east).

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service 
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave 
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing 
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year 
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave 
• A generous local government salary related pension 
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more 
• 2 paid volunteering days per year 
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources 

About the Team

The Economy & Growth team is focused on the sustainable economic development of the whole of Surrey, collaborating across the organisation to operate as 'One Council' in the delivery of our strategy priorities to grow a sustainable economy and leaving no one behind. We provide valued strategic services focusing on business support, innovation, skills, and places for the benefit of the county's 1.2 million residents. We work with partners and major employers (such as Amazon, Asahi, WWF-UK, Samsung and McLaren) to champion and futureproof the country's leading regional economy, which is home to 110,000 businesses and contributes £50 billion a year to UK economy. 

Surrey County Council holds the role of the accountable body for the Made Smarter Adoption Programme in the South East. The Programme Delivery Team sits within the Economy and Growth team and will be responsible for the successful delivery of the programme across a wide geography, including Berkshire, Brighton, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Medway, Oxfordshire, Solent (incorporating the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton), Surrey, and West Sussex. 

About the role

As an Organisation and Workforce Development Advisor, you will be responsible for contributing to the successful operation of the programme delivery team of the Made Smarter Adoption Programme for the South East region. You will play an essential role in delivering organisational and workforce development advice and support to SMEs to transform their business through the adoption of Industrial Digital Technologies (IDTs). 

You will form an integral part of a team of remote specialists, including Technology Adoption Specialists (TAS), to deliver ambitious targets at pace that will support business growth across the South East network. 

Shortlisting Criteria 

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following: 

• Strong knowledge and experience in organisation and workforce development, particularly for manufacturing SMEs and digital technology adoption
• Proven ability to diagnose business needs and deliver development programmes 
• Experience working with senior management and engaging with skills development organisations
• Understanding of the digital skills landscape
• Excellent communication, networking, and results delivery in a target-driven environment
• Collaborative mindset with a passion for supporting businesses to grow and a proactive approach to embedding horizontal working across teams

How to Apply 

To apply, please upload a copy of your CV and outline your experience and suitability for the role by answering these three questions: 

• Please outline your understanding and technical knowledge of organisation and workforce development, including any examples you can provide in relation to the manufacturing sector.
• Please outline your experience working with others to deliver quality outcomes in a fast paced, target driven operational environment. 
• Please give us one or two examples of the most successful business diagnostic you have run with a company, the support you gave them or organisational workforce development, and the outcomes that were achieved as result of your support. 

Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion, please contact Bryan Vint via email at bryan.vint@surreycc.gov.uk.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 11.06.2025 with interviews taking place in person at Woodhatch Place, Reigate on week commencing 30 June 2025.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit. 

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas. 

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils. 

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! 

Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council.

Our Values
Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description.

Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application 
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form 

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.

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