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What does an Organizational Development Specialist do?

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Brenna Goyette
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Published 4 min read

An organizational development specialist is responsible for developing and implementing programs and activities designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization. They may also be involved in change management, human resources, and training.

Organizational Development Specialist job duties include:

  • Assessing organizational development needs
  • Conducting training needs assessments
  • Developing and implementing training programs
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of training programs
  • Designing and administering employee surveys
  • Analyzing survey results and developing action plans
  • Facilitating focus groups and other meetings
  • Consulting with managers on organizational development issues
  • Developing and implementing change management plans
  • Researching best practices in organizational development

Organizational Development Specialist Job Requirements

An Organizational Development Specialist typically needs a bachelor's degree in organizational development, human resources, business administration, or a related field. Many specialists also have a master's degree or doctorate in organizational development or a related field. Additionally, many organizations require certification in organizational development from the International Organization for Standardization. experience working in organizational development, human resources, or a related field is also often required.

Organizational Development Specialist Skills

  • Organizational development
  • Strategic planning
  • Organizational change
  • Organizational design
  • Human resources
  • Training and development
  • Employee relations
  • Performance management
  • Recruitment and selection
  • Compensation and benefits
  • Labor relations
  • Organizational effectiveness

Related: Top Organizational Development Specialist Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become an Organizational Development Specialist

If you want to become an Organizational Development Specialist, you will need to have a strong interest in organizational behavior and how it can be improved. You should also be good at problem solving and have excellent communication skills.

Organizational Development Specialists help organizations improve their performance by analyzing their current state and developing plans for improvement. They work with all levels of an organization, from front-line employees to senior executives.

To become an Organizational Development Specialist, you will need to have a bachelor's degree in organizational development, business administration, or a related field. Many Organizational Development Specialists also have a master's degree in business administration or organizational development.

Once you have your education, you will need to gain experience working in an organization in a position that deals with organizational development. This could include working in human resources, training and development, or management. Once you have gained this experience, you can then start working as an Organizational Development Specialist.

Related: Organizational Development Specialist Resume Example

Related: Organizational Development Specialist Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

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Brenna Goyette

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Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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