Learning and Development Specialist - Retail Training

AlFuttaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 78,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

Al-Futtaim is seeking a Learning and Development Specialist for Retail Training in Dubai to plan, coordinate, and monitor learning across IKEA stores and regional teams.

You will translate business needs into practical training plans, maintain records, support facilitators, and improve participation, certification, and capability through multiple delivery formats.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience in Learning and Development, HR, or training coordination.
• Experience in retail, operations, or multi-stakeholder environments is valuable.
• Practical knowledge of learning management systems and record keeping.

Responsibilities

• Translate business priorities into annual and monthly learning plans.
• Coordinate classroom, virtual, blended, and self-directed learning activities.
• Ensure programmes are communicated and delivered on time.
• Maintain learning dashboards and track attendance, completion, and certification.
• Support onboarding, product learning, and mandatory training across stores and regions.
• Act as a learning consultant to managers, HR teams, and regional stakeholders.
• Gather feedback and identify improvements to learning solutions.

Skills

Learning and development coordination

Retail training

Annual learning planning

Monthly training schedules

Learning service level agreements

Training needs coordination

Employee onboarding

Classroom training support

Virtual learning

Blended learning

Self-directed learning

Learning pathways

Facilitator coordination

Workplace buddy programmes

Learning management systems

Attendance tracking

Certification tracking

Learning dashboards

Training compliance

Employee engagement campaigns

Social learning

Individual development plans

Manager consultation

HR Business Partner coordination

Regional stakeholder support

Training records management

Learning quality assurance

Participant feedback

Continuous improvement

Digital learning tools

Training communication

Retail capability development

Stakeholder relationship building

Education

Diploma / Higher Diploma in HR / Learning & Development

Job description

Learning and Development Specialist - Retail Training Job Snapshot Role: Learning and Development Specialist - Retail Training Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Industry: Retail Function: Training and Development Experience: 1-3 years Job Type: Full-time Position Overview Learning and Development Specialist - Retail Training in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a Retail opportunity focused on planning, coordinating, and monitoring learning activities across IKEA stores and regional teams. Al-Futtaim is hiring an organized people-development professional who can translate business needs into practical training plans, maintain learning records, support facilitators, and improve employee participation, certification, and capability across multiple delivery formats.

Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Retail Function: Training and Development Salary: 7000-11000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Learning and Development Specialist will help ensure that employees receive timely, relevant, and consistent learning support throughout their journey with IKEA. The role connects store priorities, mandatory training, onboarding, individual development, and brand competence with structured planning and reliable execution. By improving coordination, reporting, and engagement, the specialist will strengthen employee readiness, manager satisfaction, compliance, and day-to-day retail performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate business priorities, employee development needs, and training requests into annual and monthly learning plans.
• Align learning schedules with regional priorities, store requirements, and agreed service level commitments.
• Coordinate classroom, virtual, blended, and self-directed learning activities from planning through completion.
• Ensure training programmes are communicated clearly and delivered within monthly, quarterly, and annual timelines.
• Work with Store Management Teams, HR Business Partners, Regional Learning and Development, and subject matter experts.
• Confirm facilitator, buddy, venue, platform, and learning‑material readiness before each training activity.
• Maintain an active pool of facilitators and workplace buddies to support planned development programmes.
• Coordinate onboarding, product learning, process training, mandatory courses, and employee development pathways.
• Promote learning participation through campaigns, internal communication, and social learning initiatives.
• Encourage a strong development culture aligned with IKEA values, behaviours, and ways of working.
• Monitor attendance, completion, assessment, and certification records through approved learning platforms.
• Maintain accurate employee learning histories and resolve missing or incorrect records promptly.
• Prepare monthly learning dashboards covering delivery, participation, compliance, and certification status.
• Track service level performance and highlight risks that could affect learning delivery commitments.
• Follow up with employees and managers on overdue training and incomplete mandatory programmes.
• Support line managers with individual development plans, performance discussions, and employee capability needs.
• Act as a practical learning consultant to managers, HR teams, facilitators, and regional stakeholders.
• Gather feedback from participants and managers to evaluate learning quality and business relevance.
• Identify gaps in existing learning solutions and recommend practical improvements.
• Share successful practices, delivery insights, and learning outcomes with regional teams.
• Contribute to retail and regional learning projects, pilots, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain organized training calendars, attendance records, communication logs, and supporting documents.
• Use digital tools and learning management systems to improve coordination, visibility, and reporting.
• Adapt learning plans when store priorities, staffing needs, or business conditions change.
• Ensure all learning activity supports IKEA brand competence, customer service, operational standards, and employee growth.

Ideal Profile

The preferred candidate holds a diploma, higher diploma, or equivalent vocational qualification in Human Resources, Learning and Development, Business, or a related field. Applicants should have 1-3 years of experience in Learning and Development, Human Resources, training coordination, onboarding, or another people-support role. Experience in retail, operations, or a multi-stakeholder environment would be valuable. Practical knowledge of learning management systems is required, including the ability to maintain records, monitor attendance, track completion, and manage certification information. The role suits someone with strong planning, organization, communication, and follow-up skills. The successful candidate should be comfortable coordinating several learning activities at once while responding to changing business priorities. Confidence working with managers, HR teams, facilitators, subject matter experts, and employees is essential. Familiarity with digital learning tools, virtual training platforms, dashboards, and reporting systems will support effective performance.

Skills Set

• Learning and development coordination
• Retail training
• Annual learning planning
• Monthly training schedules
• Learning service level agreements
• Training needs coordination
• Employee onboarding
• Classroom training support
• Virtual learning
• Blended learning
• Self-directed learning
• Learning pathways
• Facilitator coordination
• Workplace buddy programmes
• Training calendar management
• Learning management systems
• Attendance tracking
• Completion monitoring
• Certification tracking
• Learning dashboards
• Training compliance
• Employee engagement campaigns
• Social learning
• Individual development plans
• Manager consultation
• HR Business Partner coordination
• Regional stakeholder support
• Training records management
• Learning quality assurance
• Participant feedback
• Continuous improvement
• Digital learning tools
• Training communication
• Retail capability development
• Stakeholder relationship building

Why Join Us

This role provides an opportunity to support employee growth across IKEA 's fast-moving Retail environment while working with store leaders, HR teams, facilitators, and regional learning specialists. The position offers practical exposure to onboarding, capability building, digital learning, compliance, and employee engagement. Professionals who demonstrate reliable planning, strong stakeholder support, and measurable learning outcomes can progress toward senior Learning and Development, training operations, talent development, HR business partnering, or regional capability roles. Al-Futtaim 's scale and IKEA 's established learning culture provide a stable environment for long-term professional development.

About the Company

Al-Futtaim is a diversified privately held regional business headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Through Al-Futtaim Retail, the group manages leading international brands across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Al-Futtaim IKEA holds franchise rights in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, and Egypt and supports employees through structured learning, values-led leadership, and continuous development.