Overview
EDI Consultant – OX1 1ND
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £50,269 – £53,460
Working Hours: 37
Location: Oxfordshire
Business Unit: HR & Cultural Change
About us
Together, we’re delivering the future together and becoming an employer, partner, and place shaper of choice. To achieve our goals, we need to transform how we work by redesigning our organisational structure, so we’re set up for success and sustainability in the future.
Our HR & Cultural Change service is on an exciting journey. We’re fundamentally reimagining how we operate to deliver our People and Culture Strategy – ensuring the organisation is equipped to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
Our core values are at the heart of everything we do. They shape our culture and guide how we work, lead and grow together:
- Always learning
- Be kind and care
- Equality and integrity in all we do
- Taking responsibility
- Daring to do it differently
If you’re ready to make a meaningful difference and lead through values, we’d love to hear from you.
About the team
The post holder will join a dynamic and collaborative team of HR professionals and project leads working across strategic priorities such as organisational effectiveness, employee engagement, and cultural transformation. The team includes specialists in areas like wellbeing, HR data, and organisational redesign – all contributing to the delivery of our People and Culture Strategy.
What you will be doing
Are you passionate about creating inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive? We’re looking for a forward-thinking HR professional to lead the ‘Inclusive Workplace’ pillar in OCC’s ‘Including Everyone’ framework, taking a strategic approach to how we embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) into our people practice.
Champion Inclusion: In this role, you will lead the design and delivery of innovative, future-focused solutions to build a supportive, inclusive employee community that reflects the diversity of Oxfordshire. You will create an environment where lived experience is valued, diversity of thought is embraced, and inclusion is actively promoted by our leaders.
Embed Inclusion: Working across the HR Service and wider organisation, the post holder will embed EDI into our People and Culture strategy, driving a culture where diversity is celebrated and inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. This includes reviewing recruitment practices to improve how we diversify talent pipelines, creating learning opportunities that foster conscious inclusion, and empowering leaders to build safe spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work.
Drive Accountability: The role involves close collaboration with our colleague networks – listening, acting on feedback, and strengthening employee engagement. It also includes analysing workforce data to identify gaps, set goals, measure progress, and benchmark against other organisations. The post holder will also be responsible for shaping appropriate governance to ensure accountability for EDI outcomes and meaningful impact.
About you and your experience
We’re looking for an experienced HR professional who brings both strategic insight and a passion for diversity and inclusion. You’ll thrive in a complex, people-focused environment and be ready to make a real impact. You will have:
- A relevant HR qualification or membership, along with substantial post qualification experience delivering professional HR services.
- Great depth of knowledge of EDI, as well as proven experience of delivering impactful EDI initiatives in an organisation.
- Experience of operating strategically to embed EDI into people practices delivering impactful outcomes.
- In depth understanding of the relationship between people and business strategy, and complexities between all components of the HR service.
- In depth knowledge of relevant EDI legislation and best practice, or policies, procedures and practices relating to EDI.
Before applying, we recommend reviewing the attached job description. It has further information and clear guidance on what we’re looking for.
Following our service redesign, the new HR & Cultural Change operating model ensures everyone has clarity on their role and remit, while reinforcing a ‘one team’ ethos. This is an exciting time to join us, as we take the next steps in our service together.
Rewards and benefits
- Hybrid working – typically one day a week in our Oxford office for team collaboration, with flexibility to suit your role and lifestyle
- Culture of flexible working – e.g. adjusted hours to support work-life balance
- Great learning and development opportunities to support your growth
- Technology to support agile working
- Employee Assistance Programme – including health and wellbeing support
- Generous annual leave – 30 days plus bank holidays, and an option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
- Enhanced family friendly policies
- Local Government Pension Scheme – with employer contributions up to 19.9%
- Discounts – local and national offers for shopping and travel
- Find out more about us and our benefits: Our benefits
Application process
- If you are interested in this role, please submit your application by 6th October 2025.
- When applying, please upload a current CV and a personal statement:
CV: Include your employment history and relevant experience.
Personal Statement: Describe how your skills and experience align with the role, referring to the essential criteria and person specification. - The job description sets out our ideal, but we value diverse strengths and potential. If your experience aligns with much of what we’re looking for, please consider applying.
- Shortlisting is expected to take place week commencing 6th October 2025.
- Interviews are expected to take place in our central Oxford office. Further details will be shared with shortlisted candidates.
- For informal enquiries or further information about the role, please contact Emily Keeves, Talent Management Consultant on emily.keeves@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Our commitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.
Our commitment to: Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.
Our commitment to: Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.
Our commitment to: Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk
