Head of Learning and Development

Our Financial Services client is seeking a Head of Learning and Development to lead and evolve its approach to building capability, leadership effectiveness and future skills.

The role shapes how learning supports business performance, business readiness and cultural effectiveness across a complex corporate environment. You will be responsible for creating a scalable learning model that supports colleagues from entry through to senior leadership and specialist roles.

This is a senior role within the People function, working closely with executive leaders, functional heads and HR colleagues to ensure learning is aligned to business priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Learning Strategy and Direction - Define and lead the learning and development strategy in line with business goals, workforce planning and regulatory expectations. Translate business priorities into clear capability agendas, learning pathways and development programmes. Ensure learning supports technical and behavioural capability across all levels.
• Programme Design and Learning Architecture - Oversee the design of learning covering onboarding, role capability, leadership development and career progression. Build a coherent learning framework that balances consistency with flexibility for different business areas. Use digital, blended and experiential learning approaches to maximise reach and impact.
• Stakeholder Partnership - Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on capability, leadership effectiveness and future skills. Work with HR, Risk, Compliance and business leaders to ensure learning supports governance and conduct requirements. Build strong relationships to ensure learning is relevant, adopted and valued.
• Operating Model and Governance - Own the learning operating model to ensure it is efficient, scalable and commercially sound. Establish governance, prioritisation and decision frameworks for learning investment. Manage external learning partners where appropriate.
• Measurement and Impact - Define success measures for learning activity. Use insight and data to assess effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Team Leadership - Lead and develop a high performing learning team. Build capability across learning design, delivery and internal consultancy skills.

Experience and Profile

• Senior experience leading learning, talent or organisational development in a complex or regulated environment.
• Strong strategic capability linking learning directly to business performance and risk.
• Experience working in matrixed organisations with senior stakeholders.
• A track record of building modern learning frameworks and delivery models.
• Credibility influencing senior leaders without formal authority.
• A pragmatic and commercially aware mindset with strong delivery discipline.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic and future focused.
• Confident at senior level and practical in execution.
• Resilient, adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity.
• High integrity, professionalism and accountability.