Jobs you could do with a Masters in People and Organisational Development

See the jobs offer you can work on after finishing your MSc in Organisational Development

Taking a MSc in Organisational Development is a big investment in your future. You’ll learn to think in a different way, considering and tackling all the factors impeding and working for change in your organisation, and considering the human factors involved. There’s a financial investment and a time investment.

It can feel like a big decision, even though you know you’re pulled towards it. So you probably want to know what new path your life could take if you’ve decided to embark on an MSc in Organisational Development.

Start with where you are now

Jobs you could do in the future partly depend on what your career path has been until now, obviously. A masters in organisational change will certainly fit you for a wider range of roles around change management, OD and HR as well as senior management roles, but recruiters will also be influenced by your role before or during the course.

Who takes an MSc in Organisational Development and change?

We can’t speak for other organisations, but we recommend our Masters in Organisational Development for:

• HR professionals who want to bridge the gap between OD in their own department and within a top-down free-standing independent business unit.
• Learning & Development and Talent managers looking to interpret the requirements of culture change and organisational transformation
• Transformation officer/CTO/Change lead looking for the maximum guarantee of project success.
• A CEO or senior director/partner in need of the full picture of the organisational change process.
• An Independent or Internal consultant in organisation development and change, now or in the future.

All of these individuals might follow very different career paths.

How well paid are Organisational Development roles?

In May 2019, a Totaljobs website survey found the average salary for Organisational Development jobs was £52,500, up by 24 per cent on the previous sample. US site Glassdoor suggests the median annual organizational development specialist salary is $76,278.

What job opportunities could a Masters in Organisational Development open up for me?

Once again, this will partly depend on what you’ve been doing before taking your MSc in Organisational Development and change. What your new qualification will do for you regardless is demonstrate that you really understand the practice and principle of OD, have reflected deeply on how change can work in different organisations, and have theoretical, practical and wide-ranging experience in this complex area. Some recruiters will be seeking qualifications in this field as part of their evidence base before hiring.

Here are some of the specialist jobs you might be eligible for:

• Organisational Development Practitioner – this individual helps organisations improve through planned changes, specialising in OD. Sometimes they work in-house, sometimes as a consultant. Average salary in the UK for this role is around £42,000, with change management consultants earning several thousand more.
• Organisational Development Manager – in this job, you’d work with the management team, implementing programmes which meet the organisation’s long-term goals. You might look, for instance, at current management training programmes and develop versions which will be more effective for the organisation.
• Organisational Development Consultant – if you’re the kind of person who relishes problem-solving, variety and working for yourself, this could be the option for you. OD consultants are freelance, offering their services to help organisations with specific problems or projects before moving on.
• Director of Organisational Development – Usually an in-house, senior role, the director of organisational development is responsible for applying organisational development theories, overseeing OD in general and implementing training programmes.

What ambitions do people have for their masters ?

Individuals enrolling on our MSc in Organisational Development here at Roffey Park Institute shared their reasons with us. They included:

• “To consolidate my knowledge and experience and “get the badge” which others will take seriously”
• “To get more involved in big change programmes”
• “To help bring about significant and lasting culture change”
• “To switch from HR into change management”
• “To transition from one organisation or industry to another, or to switch in or out of “independent consultancy”
• “To be taken more seriously, to have more credibility with senior leadership”

How do we think an MSc could help your career?

Here are some examples for different professions:

• HR professionals could bridge the gap between OD within HR and within a top-down free-standing independent business unit. You will emerge more confident, more credible and a strong voice in ensuring your people rise to the occasion.
• A Learning & Development and Talent manager would glean a more systemic understanding of organisational design and would have the clarity, confidence and theoretical knowledge to move people in the right direction in collaboration with the transformation team.
• A Transformation officer/CTO/Change lead seeking project success could get the insight to address the human component and deliver the ultimate legacy project – a success transformation process leading to superior business outcomes.
• A CEO or senior director/partner will understand all perspectives and draw the organisation’s departments or divisions together to function effectively throughout the change process. In this role, you need to see a tangible, measurable increase in organisational efficiency, profitability, morale, creativity and effectiveness rather than just a well-executed process.
• An independent or internal consultant in organisation development and change, now or in the future. As a consultant, you will be expected to demonstrate superior knowledge and expertise, and others will look to you for your calm, unflappable ability to see the bigger picture. This programme will give you that wide-ranging view of change management and all its facets, enabling you to engage with all stakeholders, from C-level executives and board members through to external or internal transformation teams, HR and L&D practitioners, business unit managers and other staff.

Why take your Masters at Roffey Park Institute?

Roffey Park’s MSc in People and Organisational Development is an innovative two-year, part-time Masters Qualification validated by the University of Sussex and taught at our London Gatwick base.

It deepens your theoretical knowledge and practical ability to transform organisations in a holistic way which brings the people along with you. It will increase your confidence, your personal impact, effectiveness and credibility in your role either inside an organisation or as an external consultant or change management practitioner.

Roffey Park’s unique academic approach will empower you to pursue your own study path through the programme to tailor the outcomes to your current and future needs.

Got more questions about the MSc?

We are experts in OD here at Roffey Park, and we also pride ourselves on meeting the needs of our clients. That means we can customise OD qualifications for you.

No matter where you’re based, our expertise is easy to reach as we’re close to London Gatwick, the M25 and fast train services. Why not find out more about what we do and how we do it and contact our team to discuss your needs?

Looking ahead to your new career

Getting your Masters in Organisational Development could not only be a transformative personal experience but it could also open the door to a broader and more fulfilling career, opening up more senior opportunities and the chance to become a consultant. It could be the best investment you ever make.