Head of Workforce Professionalisation & Capability

Position not right for you?
Share it with someone you know.

Reference: MAY

Expiry date: 22:59, Sun, 7th Jun 2026

Location: Coventry

Benefits: 27 days holiday plus statutory, hybrid working, pension matched up to 8%, life assurance x4, fully funded private medical

We're building thriving communities as one of the UK's largest housing groups and a leading developer of affordable housing.

We believe everyone is entitled to a good home they can afford, in a place they are proud to live. More than 100,000 people live in our homes.

If you want to experience work that's truly rewarding, join us. Because when we achieve together, customers and communities thrive.

Work for Orbit. Believe in people.

The role

To lead and support Orbit's approach to workforceprofessionalisation, ensuring the organisation is well prepared for emerging sector requirements and that colleagues are equipped with the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to deliver high-quality services.

The Professionalisation Lead will provide leadership across professionalisation and capability development activity, ensuring strong alignment between professional standards, frameworks and delivery. The role will support the capability development lead to embed professional standards within the Professional Development Framework, support the development of clear qualification pathways, and ensure alignment to key organisational priorities, including a Direct Labour Organisation (DLO) programme.

This role is part of People and Strategy where you'll help us to build a culture and brand that people want to be part of.

What you'll achieve

• Coach and develop individuals within the function, building capability, confidence and impact, while role modelling Orbit's leadership behaviours and values.
• Shape and evolve ways of working to support a growing professionalisation and capability offer, with the potential to lead a broader team as the function develops.
• Lead on the development and delivery of Orbit's approach to workforce professionalisation, working in close partnership with the Head of Learning and Talent Development.
• Translate emerging regulatory and sector requirements into practical, organisation-wide approaches that can be embedded effectively.
• Support organisational readiness for the Competence and Conduct Standard, including identifying roles in scope and shaping appropriate qualification and development pathways.
• Work in close partnership with capability development colleagues to embed professional standards within the Professional Development Framework, ensuring alignment between professionalisation, capability and career pathways.
• Lead the design and implementation of qualification pathways and professional development routes (e.g. CIH Level 4 / Level 5 or equivalent).
• Build and maintain relationships with professional bodies and learning providers, ensuring high-quality, relevant provision.
• Support key organisational priorities, including the DLO programme, ensuring professional standards and competence frameworks are defined and aligned.

What you'll bring

Essential skills

• Significant experience operating in a senior learning, organisational development, workforce capability or professional standards role, with a track record of delivering organisation-wide impact.
• Good understanding of the social housing sector and the evolving professionalisation and regulatory landscape, with the ability to interpret requirements and translate them into practical organisational approaches.
• Demonstrable experience of shaping and implementing strategic programmes or frameworks that influence workforce capability, professional development or organisational performance.
• Proven ability to partner and influence at senior level, building credibility with Directors, Heads of Service and other key stakeholders to shape thinking and drive alignment.
• Proven programme leadership capability, with experience of coordinating and delivering multi-faceted initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to connect and align different agendas (e.g. capability, regulation, culture, workforce planning) into a coherent and practical approach.
• Knowledge or experience of CIH qualifications, professional body standards or accredited learning pathways.
• Experience of supporting organisations through regulatory change, compliance frameworks or professionalisation activity.
• Relevant professional qualification (e.g. CIPD, CIH or equivalent).

Why Orbit?

Choosing us means being rewarded in every sense.

Here's what you can expect to enjoy with us.

A rewarding experience that works for you

We strive to create an inclusive experience with benefits and wellbeing programmes designed to help you, and your loved ones, to thrive. For a better work life balance, we offer flexible working opportunities for many roles.

A place to progress

From training programmes to professional qualifications, we provide opportunities to learn and develop at every stage of your career. Whether you're a student, graduate or experienced professional we'll support you to grow.

For leaders, our tailored development journeys are designed to stretch and strengthen your leadership skills. As well as practical training, we give you access to renowned business schools and experiential programmes for greater breadth and depth of learning.

A purpose to feel proud of

We're proud to make a difference to people together. We're values-driven with a commercial focus on performance - because the more profit we make, the more we can achieve for people.

What brings us together is a passionate belief in progress and people.

Read more about the values and purpose that drive us on our careers website.

How we hire

We aim to make our hiring process simple and fair:

• Online application
• Interview(s)
• Decision and offer

We put the safeguarding of our customers, colleagues and contractors at the heart of everything we do and as such, certain roles will be subject to a DBS check.