Head - Learning & Development

Arada; Dubai; On-site; AED 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Arada in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, seeks a seasoned Head of Learning & Development to shape and drive the organization’s learning strategy, building a future-ready workforce across a multinational setting.

You will lead the L&D team, partner with executives, implement leadership programs, and manage digital learning initiatives to deliver measurable business outcomes.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Learning & Development, Talent Development, or Organizational Development.
• Experience designing enterprise-wide learning and leadership development strategies.
• Experience selecting LMS and acquiring relevant technologies to support the function
• Experience working in complex, multi-site, or multinational organizations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Learning & Development strategy aligned with business goals and workforce planning.
• Establish a learning culture that promotes continuous development, knowledge sharing, and career growth.
• Partner with senior leaders to identify capability gaps and future talent requirements.
• Lead and mentor the Learning & Development team, ensuring high performance and continuous improvement.
• Design and manage leadership development programs for emerging, mid-level, and senior leaders.
• Support succession planning initiatives through targeted development programs.
• Create competency frameworks and career development pathways across functions.
• Oversee mentoring, coaching, and high-potential employee development programs.
• Conduct organizational training needs analyses to identify learning priorities.
• Design, procure, and deliver learning solutions using classroom, virtual, blended, and digital methodologies.
• Evaluate program effectiveness using learning metrics, business outcomes, and ROI analysis.
• Ensure learning content remains relevant, engaging, and aligned with industry best practices.
• Drive adoption of modern learning technologies, including microlearning, AI-enabled learning tools, and social learning approaches.
• Develop scalable digital learning strategies to support a geographically diverse workforce.
• Collaborate with HR Business Partners, functional leaders, and external vendors to deliver learning solutions.
• Advise executives and managers on workforce capability and organizational development initiatives.
• Build strategic partnerships with learning providers, universities, and professional institutions.
• Develop and manage the annual L&D budget.
• Monitor training expenditures and ensure cost-effective resource utilization.
• Establish governance, policies, and compliance standards related to learning and development.
• Ensure mandatory and regulatory training requirements are met.

Skills

Strategic Thinking

Leadership & People Management

Influencing & Stakeholder Management

Business Acumen

Project & Program Management

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

Communication & Presentation Skills

Coaching & Mentoring

Data-Driven Decision Making

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/OD/Business Administration/Psychology/Education

Master's degree preferred

Tools

LMS

AI-enabled learning tools

Job description

Head of Learning & Development

Role Overview:

The Head of Learning & Development (L&D) is responsible for shaping and driving the organization's learning strategy to build a highly skilled, future-ready workforce. Additionally, the role will be responsible for designing, leading, and executing the organization's learning strategy to build workforce capability, enhance employee performance, and support business objectives. This role drives a culture of continuous learning, leadership development, talent growth, and organizational effectiveness through innovative learning solutions and strategic initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Learning Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Learning & Development strategy aligned with business goals and workforce planning.
• Establish a learning culture that promotes continuous development, knowledge sharing, and career growth.
• Partner with senior leaders to identify capability gaps and future talent requirements.
• Lead and mentor the Learning & Development team, ensuring high performance and continuous improvement.

Talent & Leadership Development

• Design and manage leadership development programs for emerging, mid-level, and senior leaders.
• Support succession planning initiatives through targeted development programs.
• Create competency frameworks and career development pathways across functions.
• Oversee mentoring, coaching, and high-potential employee development programs.

Learning Program Management

• Conduct organizational training needs analyses to identify learning priorities.
• Design, procure, and deliver learning solutions using classroom, virtual, blended, and digital methodologies.
• Evaluate program effectiveness using learning metrics, business outcomes, and ROI analysis.
• Ensure learning content remains relevant, engaging, and aligned with industry best practices.

Digital Learning & Innovation

• Drive adoption of modern learning technologies, including microlearning, AI-enabled learning tools, and social learning approaches.
• Develop scalable digital learning strategies to support a geographically diverse workforce.

Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with HR Business Partners, functional leaders, and external vendors to deliver learning solutions.
• Advise executives and managers on workforce capability and organizational development initiatives.
• Build strategic partnerships with learning providers, universities, and professional institutions.

Budget & Governance

• Develop and manage the annual L&D budget.
• Monitor training expenditures and ensure cost-effective resource utilization.
• Establish governance, policies, and compliance standards related to learning and development.
• Ensure mandatory and regulatory training requirements are met.

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, Psychology, Education, or a related field.
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Learning & Development, Talent Development, or Organizational Development.
• Experience designing enterprise-wide learning and leadership development strategies.
• Experience of selecting LMS and acquiring relevant technologies to support the function
• Experience working in complex, multi-site, or multinational organizations preferred.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking
• Leadership & People Management
• Influencing & Stakeholder Management
• Business Acumen
• Project & Program Management
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement
• Communication & Presentation Skills
• Coaching & Mentoring
• Data-Driven Decision Making