Contract: Interim / Contractor (initial 3–6 months, with potential extension)
Location: UK-based (hybrid)
Reporting To: Programme Leadership (Operating Model Workstream Lead)
The Opportunity
Our client is undertaking a major business-wide transformation programme focused on evolving how the organisation operates, develops its people, and delivers client work in line with future strategic ambitions.
The programme brings together multiple interconnected workstreams including operating model design, skills, career pathways, reward, knowledge, and delivery models.
The Operating Model workstream is focused on defining how the organisation operates in practice, including organisational structure, governance, decision-making frameworks, and how different parts of the business work together across capabilities, geographies, and central functions.
Initial design and baselining work has already been developed across several streams. The next phase requires integration of these outputs into a single coherent target operating model, further refinement of the design where required, and progression towards a clear implementation-ready end state.
the role
The Operating Model (OD) Contractor will support the transformation programme in developing an integrated and actionable target operating model.
This role is highly hands-on and requires the ability to operate in a complex, fast-moving environment, bringing structure to ambiguity and ensuring alignment across multiple senior stakeholders and workstreams.
You will translate strategic direction and existing design outputs into a cohesive operating model and support the development of implementation planning and rollout readiness.
Key Responsibilities
Integration and Synthesis of Workstreams
- Consolidate outputs from multiple workstreams into a single coherent operating model
- Identify gaps, overlaps, and dependencies across designs and support resolution
- Ensure consistency in terminology, design principles, and structure
Operating Model Design
- Translate strategy into detailed, implementable operating model components
- Define organisational structure, governance, roles, decision rights, and ways of working
- Develop supporting artefacts including role profiles, RACI models, process maps, and governance frameworks
Organisational Design Expertise
- Provide OD expertise to shape and refine design decisions
- Ensure outputs align with organisational design best practice
- Bring external perspective to strengthen overall model quality
Implementation and Rollout Planning
- Support development of phased rollout and implementation plans
- Identify implications for people, process, systems, and culture
- Work with change teams to ensure designs are practical and deliverable
Stakeholder Engagement
- Work closely with senior stakeholders, SMEs, and workstream leads
- Facilitate structured discussions to progress design decisions
- Support preparation of materials for governance and senior forums
About You
You are a pragmatic and delivery-focused organisational design professional who is comfortable working in complex, evolving environments.
You are able to move between strategic thinking and detailed design work, and you are confident operating independently while engaging senior stakeholders.
You bring structure to ambiguity and are motivated by turning complex transformation agendas into clear, actionable operating models.
Experience & Skills
Essential:
- Strong organisational design experience in complex or matrix organisations
- Proven ability to translate strategy into implementable operating models
- Experience integrating multiple workstreams into a coherent design
- Strong stakeholder management skills with senior leadership exposure
- Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
- Strong analytical and synthesis skills
Desirable:
- Experience on transformation or operating model redesign programmes
- Background in professional services or consulting environments
- Experience aligning multiple parallel workstreams into a unified model
Personal Attributes
- Pragmatic and delivery-focused with a bias for action
- Strong balance of strategic thinking and attention to detail
- Confident working independently in complex environments
- Clear communicator able to simplify complex concepts
Success in the Role
Success will be demonstrated through delivery of a coherent and integrated operating model that:
- Reflects the overall transformation strategy
- Aligns structure, capabilities, geographies, and central functions
- Defines clear governance and decision-making frameworks
- Is detailed and practical enough for implementation
- Has strong stakeholder alignment and buy-in
- Provides a clear pathway to rollout
Compensation & Benefits
Interim / contractor arrangement (rate to be confirmed)
Hybrid UK working model
For a confidential discussion and additional insight beyond this brief, please click apply and attach your CV – we will then reach out and arrange an introductory call.