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Development Consultant Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Opportunity We seek a highly dynamic Talent Development Consultant to join our Employee Experience team, committed to helping our people leaders achieve business impact across the organization!

The Opportunity We seek a highly dynamic Talent Development Consultant to join our Employee Experience team, committed to helping our people leaders achieve business impact across the organization!

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Showing results 1-20

Development Consultant information

See California salary details

$43.9K

$77.6K

$111K

How much do development consultant jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for development consultant in California is $77,598.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,100.00 and $91,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a development consultant?

A development consultant uses organizational development principles to implement changes to help a business improve, with the goal of making an organization healthy and profitable. As a development consultant, your primary responsibility is to conduct an assessment to identify a business’s problems or challenge areas. Once you complete the assessment, you come up with a plan or strategy designed to help the company make critical changes to be successful. Your job duties typically include assessing financials and competitors, collecting and analyzing data, developing relationships with stakeholders, and overseeing the implementation of the strategies you develop. You may also help establish teambuilding strategies for various departments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a development consultant, and why are they important?

A Development Consultant should have expertise in project management, fundraising strategies, and data analysis, often backed by a degree in business, nonprofit management, or a related field. Familiarity with donor management systems (such as Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge) and certifications like CFRE are highly valued. Outstanding interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and persuasive communication distinguish top performers in this role. These abilities are crucial for building donor relationships, driving organizational growth, and effectively executing development initiatives.

What are the most common challenges faced by development consultants when working with clients on strategic projects?

Development Consultants often encounter challenges such as aligning diverse stakeholder interests, managing expectations regarding project timelines, and adapting to rapidly changing client needs. Navigating organizational politics and ensuring effective communication between cross-functional teams can also be complex. Successful consultants leverage strong interpersonal skills, flexibility, and a thorough understanding of industry best practices to address these challenges and deliver optimal solutions.

What is the difference between Development Consultant vs Project Manager?

AspectDevelopment ConsultantProject Manager
Required CredentialsOften requires degrees in development, business, or related fields; certifications like PMP or PMI-ACP are commonTypically requires project management certifications like PMP; degrees in management or related fields are preferred
Work EnvironmentAdvises organizations on development strategies, often working independently or as part of consulting firmsManages specific projects within organizations, coordinating teams and resources
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across consulting firms, NGOs, government agencies, and private companiesCommon in corporations, construction, IT, and various industries managing projects

While both roles involve planning and coordination, a Development Consultant focuses on advising organizations on development strategies, whereas a Project Manager oversees the execution of specific projects. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

How much does a development consultant make?

A development consultant's salary typically ranges from $60,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior or specialized consultants with advanced skills or certifications can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000. Compensation may also include bonuses or project-based fees.

What are the most commonly searched types of Development Consultant jobs in California?

The most popular types of Development Consultant jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Development Consultant jobs in CA?

For Development Consultant jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Development Consultant job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $77,598 per year, or $37.3 per hour.

Organizational Development Consultant

Central Business Solutions

Aliso Viejo, CA • On-site

$53/hr

Other

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Trident Consulting is seeking a "Sr. Organizational Development Consultant for one of our clients in "Aliso Viejo, CA- Onsite A global leader in business and technology services.

Title: Sr. Organizational Development Consultant

Location: Aliso Viejo, CA- Onsite

Rate: $53/hr on w2

Description

  • The Senior Organizational Development Consultant serves as a strategic advisor to Human Resources and business leaders by translating employee feedback and organizational data into actionable insights that strengthen engagement, culture, leadership effectiveness, and business performance.
  • This role leads the analysis, interpretation, and communication of engagement survey results and other employee experience data sources to identify trends, organizational risks, strengths, and improvement opportunities.
  • The incumbent partners closely with leaders across the organization to facilitate understanding of employee sentiment, drive action planning, and support meaningful organizational change. Leveraging advanced analytics, AI-enabled technologies, and organizational development expertise, this role helps transform employee feedback into measurable business and people outcomes.

Requirements

  • Analyze and interpret employee experience data, including, engagement, pulse, and culture survey results, to identify organizational trends and actionable insights.
  • Conduct complex quantitative and qualitative analyses to uncover root causes, emerging themes, strengths, and areas of organizational risk.
  • Develop executive-ready reports, presentations, dashboards, and data visualizations tailored to diverse leadership audiences.
  • Facilitate survey results reviews, insight discussions, and action-planning sessions with leaders and functional teams across the organization.
  • Partner with HR Business Partners, Talent Management, and business leaders to design and implement strategies that address employee feedback and improve organizational effectiveness. Utilize AI-enabled tools, analytics platforms, and emerging technologies to accelerate data synthesis, theme identification, and insight generation from employee comments and sentiment data.
  • Provide consultation and coaching to leaders on employee sentiment, engagement drivers, organizational culture, leadership effectiveness, and change readiness.
  • Translate employee experience findings into organizational development interventions focused on leadership, communication, collaboration, inclusion, and team performance.
  • Monitor and evaluate action plan effectiveness, organizational trends, and employee experience outcomes to support continuous improvement efforts.
  • Contribute to the development of enterprise-wide people strategies, organizational development programs, and culture initiatives that support business objectives.
  • Experience leveraging data analytics, visualization tools, AI-enabled technologies (such as Claude), and storytelling techniques to develop business-focused recommendations.
  • 5+ years of progressive experience in Organizational Development, Talent Management, Human Resources, Employee Experience, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or a related discipline.
  • Demonstrated experience analyzing and interpreting employee survey data, including engagement, culture, pulse, or Great Place to Work assessments.
  • Proven ability to influence and consult with leaders while facilitating discussions on complex organizational and people-related topics.
  • Experience leveraging data analytics, visualization tools, AI-enabled technologies (such as Claude), and storytelling techniques to develop business-focused recommendations.
  • Experience working in healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, or other regulated environments is preferred Bachelor's degree in Organizational Development, Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Business, or related field required.
  • Master's degree in Organizational Development, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Human Resources, or related discipline preferred.

This assignment is to assist with the Great Place to Work Survey Data.

Survey takes place, they would like to have someone in place by the end of the survey through the end of November 2026.

1) Familiarity with employee tied surveys

2) Data Analytics and Synthesis with an organizational development mindset

3) Powerpoint skills to display the info to leadership

Claude is preferred, but other ai tools are transferrable.