Group Head of Learning & Leadership (GHL001)

Foreground LLC; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment group in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Group Head of Learning & Leadership. The role requires over 12 years of experience in learning and leadership development along with a strategic mindset to design scalable learning systems. The ideal candidate will demonstrate expertise in building executive development programs across various sectors. This position offers a unique opportunity to drive cultural transformation and capability development in a diverse business environment.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in L&D or leadership development.
• Experience designing enterprise learning frameworks.
• Strong understanding of modern learning technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the group-wide learning and development strategy.
• Design and oversee leadership development programs.
• Establish and manage a group learning academy.

Skills

Leadership Development

Organizational Development

Financial Services

Cultural Transformation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Psychology, Education, or Organizational Development

Master's or certifications (e.g., Hogan, Korn Ferry, SHRM-SCP)

Tools

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Behavioral Assessment Tools

Job description

Group Head of Learning & Leadership (GHL001)

Job Description:

Foreground is partnering with a progressive and talent-centric investment group headquartered in Abu Dhabi to appoint a visionary yet groundedGroup Head of Learning & Leadership . The role carries a group-wide mandate to design and institutionalize learning systems, leadership development frameworks, and cultural alignment initiatives across a portfolio that spans healthcare, financial services, industrials, and digital ventures.

Role Purpose

To design and deliver a scalable, future-ready learning and leadership architecture that accelerates capability development, builds internal succession pipelines, and drives a culture of high performance and continuous growth across a diversified business environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the group-wide learning and development strategy, including enterprise learning models, learning experience platforms, and digital content ecosystems.
• Design and oversee group-level leadership development programs tailored to different career stages, from frontline managers to CXOs, ensuring measurable ROI and long-term impact.
• Collaborate with HRBPs, CEOs, and functional heads to identify capability gaps, build learning roadmaps, and align development with business strategy.
• Establish and manage a group learning academy, incorporating blended learning, microlearning, coaching frameworks, and cohort-based programs.
• Partner with external providers, academic institutions, and executive coaches to curate content and elevate leadership readiness across the group.
• Introduce learning analytics dashboards, behavioral assessment tools, and feedback loops to measure program impact and support evidence-based talent decisions.
• Design cultural transformation programs that support shared values, inclusion, agility, and ethical leadership across diverse operating environments.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CHRO on workforce development policy, succession planning, and executive pipeline visibility.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 12+ years of experience in L&D, organizational development, or leadership development, including at least 5 years in a group or regional leadership role.
• Proven experience designing enterprise learning frameworks and building executive-level development programs in complex, multi-sector organizations.
• Bachelors degree in HR, Psychology, Education, or Organizational Development; Masters or certifications (e.g., Hogan, Korn Ferry, SHRM-SCP) strongly preferred.
• Experience working in or with GCC-based conglomerates, family businesses, or holding groups with decentralized talent systems.
• Strong understanding of modern learning technologies, LMS platforms, and behavioral assessment tools.

Preferred Skills & Traits

• Strategic thinker with deep empathy for human development and change journeys.
• Influential communicator capable of inspiring buy-in across executive and frontline populations.
• Highly collaborative and structured, with the ability to balance creative design with operational delivery.
• Fluent in English; Arabic is highly advantageous for cultural alignment and regional communication.

Required Skills:

Readiness Leadership Development Organizational Development Succession Planning Balance Pipelines Financial Services Arabic Business Strategy Healthcare Psychology Architecture Coaching Analytics Strategy Education Planning Design Business English Leadership Communication