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Organizational Development Professional Jobs in California

$7.4K - $7.9K/mo

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT The Academy for Professional Excellence (Academy) is a project of SDSU ... The Academy's Strategy, Development & Organizational Advancement (SDOA) Division leads the ...

$88K - $100K/yr

Attend meetings, trainings, conferences, and seminars to strengthen professional practice and communicate the status and impact of organizational development initiatives * Perform additional duties ...

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Organizational Development Professional information

What does an organizational development professional do?

An Organizational Development (OD) Professional focuses on improving an organization's effectiveness by analyzing processes, structures, and culture. They design and implement strategies for change management, leadership development, and employee engagement to foster a healthier and more productive workplace. OD professionals often facilitate training, consult with leadership, and use data-driven approaches to address organizational challenges. Their goal is to help organizations adapt to change and achieve long-term success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an organizational development professional?

To thrive as an Organizational Development Professional, you need expertise in change management, organizational assessment, and talent development, often supported by a degree in human resources, psychology, or a related field. Familiarity with HRIS platforms, employee engagement tools, and certifications such as SHRM-CP or ODCP are commonly valued. Strong interpersonal communication, facilitation, and analytical thinking set top performers apart in this field. These skills are crucial for effectively guiding organizations through transformation, improving workplace culture, and driving sustainable business results.

What are some common challenges organizational development professionals face when driving change initiatives within organizations?

Organizational Development Professionals often encounter resistance to change from employees and leadership, which can slow down or complicate transformation efforts. Navigating differing priorities among stakeholders and aligning diverse teams toward a shared vision requires strong communication and facilitation skills. Additionally, measuring the impact of development initiatives and ensuring sustained engagement can be challenging, making it important to use clear metrics and consistent feedback mechanisms. Building trust and demonstrating the value of change are key strategies for overcoming these challenges.

What is the difference between Organizational Development Professional vs Human Resources Specialist?

AspectOrganizational Development ProfessionalHuman Resources Specialist
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in HR, OD, or related fields; certifications like ODCP or SHRM-CP are commonRequires HR-related degrees or certifications such as SHRM-CP or PHR
Work EnvironmentFocuses on organizational change, culture, and development initiativesHandles employee relations, recruitment, and HR policies
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in consulting firms, large corporations, and non-profits for organizational growthCommon in HR departments across various industries for personnel management

The main difference is that Organizational Development Professionals focus on improving organizational effectiveness through change management and development strategies, while Human Resources Specialists handle employee-related functions like recruitment and compliance. Both roles require similar credentials but serve different core functions within organizations.

What can I do with an organizational development professional degree?

An organizational development professional degree prepares individuals for roles focused on improving organizational effectiveness, change management, and leadership development. Graduates can work as consultants, HR specialists, training managers, or internal organizational development practitioners, often utilizing skills in data analysis, strategic planning, and communication. Certifications like OD practitioner or change management credentials can enhance career prospects.

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Organizational Development Professional jobs?

Cities in California with the most Organizational Development Professional job openings:

Infographic showing various Organizational Development Professional job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution.

Organizational Development Director

University of California San Francisco

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


University Of California San Francisco rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

230th of 620 rated colleges and universities


Job description

The Director of Organizational Development is a senior leader within Human Resources' organization, reporting to the Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness/Chief Learning Officer. The Director leads UCSF's Organizational Development consulting practice and manages a team of experienced Organizational Development Consultants serving executive and senior leaders across UCSF Health and UCSF Campus.
As a member of the Organizational Effectiveness leadership team, the Director collaborates with peer leaders responsible for Leadership Development, Talent Systems, and Agentic Leadership, along with HR Business Partners and other Human Resources Centers of Excellence, to deliver integrated talent solutions that advance UCSF's strategic priorities.
The Director serves as the enterprise organizational development consultant for the institution's most complex organizational opportunities and challenges. Through executive consulting, organizational diagnosis, organization design, team effectiveness, and change leadership, the role helps leaders improve organizational performance while translating recurring organizational challenges into scalable enterprise capabilities.

This role must be based in San Francisco and is fully on-site with your peers and team.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

Knowledge, Skills and AbilitiesReq / PrefExpert knowledge of organizational development, organization design, team effectiveness, organizational systems, and change leadership.ReqExperience working in a complex, matrixed organization.Req

Experienced team leader

  • Demonstrated success consulting with executive leaders on complex organizational challenges.
  • Ability to diagnose systemic issues and design customized, scalable organizational solutions.
  • Exceptional executive presence, facilitation, consulting, and influencing skills.
  • Strong systems thinking and analytical capability.
  • Experience leading enterprise transformation initiatives in highly matrixed organizations.
  • Proven success leading and developing experienced organizational development professionals.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
ReqExperience in an academic health system, higher education, or similarly complex organization.PrefExperience supporting enterprise growth, integration, or large-scale transformation.Pref

Education, Licenses and Certifications:

Education

Req / Pref

Bachelor's degree in Organizational Development, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related discipline, and/or equivalent experience.ReqMaster's degree or higher in a related field.PrefTen (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience in organizational development, organization design, executive consulting, and enterprise transformation within large, complex organizations.ReqExperience leading organizational development consulting teams.Req

Certifications

Req / Pref

Organization Development Certified Professional (ODCP)PrefProsci or other Change Management CertificationPrefSHRM-SCP or SPHRPrefICF Executive Coaching CertificationPrefRelated certifications in organization design, facilitation, or systems thinking.Pref

of time

Essential Function (Yes/No)

  

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

30%

Yes

Enterprise Organizational Consulting

  • Serve as the lead organizational development consultant for executive leaders across UCSF Health and UCSF Campus.
  • Diagnose complex organizational challenges using organizational assessment, stakeholder consultation, workforce data, and systems thinking.
  • Design customized interventions that strengthen organizational effectiveness, strategic execution, and team performance.
  • Facilitate executive leadership teams through organizational assessment, alignment, and decision-making.

25%

Yes

Organization Design & Enterprise Transformation

  • Lead organization design initiatives supporting growth, restructuring, integration, and enterprise transformation.
  • Advise leaders on organizational structure, governance, operating models, decision rights, and workforce capability.
  • Develop change strategies that enable successful implementation of strategic initiatives.
  • Support enterprise initiatives requiring alignment across multiple organizations and functions.

20%

Yes

Enterprise Organizational Development Strategy

  • Identify recurring organizational patterns and enterprise opportunities through consulting engagements.
  • Develop scalable organizational development frameworks, methodologies, and tools.
  • Establish consulting standards that strengthen organizational capability across UCSF.
  • Partner with Talent leaders to integrate organizational development with leadership development, talent systems, and innovation initiatives.

15%

Yes

Team Leadership & Peer Collaboration

  • Lead, coach, and develop a team of Organizational Development Consultants.
  • Establish consulting standards, quality expectations, and professional development.
  • Manage consulting priorities, resource allocation, and team performance.
  • Foster collaboration and continuous improvement across the practice.

10%

Yes

Measurement & Continuous Improvement

  • Define success measures for consulting engagements and enterprise initiatives.
  • Evaluate organizational interventions using workforce and operational data.
  • Communicate organizational insights to executive leadership.
  • Continuously refine consulting methodologies based on outcomes and leading practices.

100%

 (To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)

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