Learning & Development Specialist | UAE Nationals | People & Culture

Grant Thornton; Dubai; On-site; AED 167,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

Grant Thornton UAE is seeking a dedicated UAE National Learning & Development Coordinator to advance Emiratisation initiatives, including the Emirati Development Program (EDP), graduate programs, internships, leadership initiatives, mentoring, and government-supported learning.

You will collaborate with business leaders, mentors, service lines, and external education providers to design, deliver, monitor progress, and enhance development pathways for UAE National employees, ensuring meaningful

Qualifications

• UAE National with Family Book.
• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, Psychology, Education, Learning & Development, or related discipline.
• At least three years of experience in Learning & Development, Talent Development, HR or Graduate Programmes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English and Arabic.
• Strong organisational and project management capabilities.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate UAE National development programmes (EDP) and other UAE National initiatives.
• Monitor programme milestones, progress, attendance, assessments, and completion rates.
• Develop service-line learning journeys for UAE National employees.
• Maintain programme schedules, learning calendars, training records, and participant communications.
• Coordinate onboarding, induction activities, and programme launches.
• Ensure programmes align with Emiratisation objectives and workforce development strategies.
• Organise internal and external training programs, workshops, webinars, and learning events.
• Coordinate professional qualification support and development activities for UAE Nationals.
• Collaborate with SMEs to develop learning content and pathways.
• Facilitate learning sessions and learner engagement initiatives.
• Partner with Service Line Leaders, Managers, Mentors to support UAE National development.
• Act as primary contact for Emiratisation-related learning initiatives.
• Liaise with external providers, universities, government entities, and training partners.
• Support communication and engagement activities relating to Emiratisation and UAE National talent development.
• Track participation, utilisation, learning completion, certification progress, and programme effectiveness.
• Produce regular reports and dashboards for leadership and People & Culture stakeholders.
• Monitor learning KPIs and recommend continuous improvement actions.
• Support learning needs analyses and programme evaluation activities.
• Coordinate mentoring, coaching, buddy, and networking initiatives for UAE National employees.
• Support events and activities that promote UAE National engagement and inclusion.
• Facilitate feedback sessions and focus groups to identify development opportunities.
• Contribute to initiatives that strengthen retention, progression, and leadership readiness.

Skills

Programme coordination

Stakeholder management

English & Arabic communication

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/Psychology/Education/Learning & Development

Job description

Grant Thornton UAE is a member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent assurance, tax, and advisory firms. With over 76,000 professionals in more than 150 countries, we combine global scale with local expertise to help dynamic organizations unlock their potential for growth. Our collaborative approach, deep industry knowledge, and commitment to excellence ensure that we deliver tailored solutions to meet our clients' unique needs.

Here. You can widen your opportunities. Be inspired. Be challenged. Be yourself. Here. You can.

SERVICE LINE OVERVIEW

Internal Client Services (ICS) is the backbone of the firm’s operations, providing the essential internal support that enables client‑facing service lines to deliver high‑quality work. IICS includes functions such as IT, HR Operations, People & Culture, Finance, Marketing, and other enabling teams that keep the firm running smoothly.

People & Culture (P&C) function, operating as part of IICS, is responsible for shaping and supporting the full employee lifecycle while ensuring that all internal people‑related processes run smoothly, compliantly, and consistently across the firm. P&C serves as a strategic partner to the business, enabling high performance and an excellent employee experience.

JOB OVERVIEW

The role will be responsible for coordinating, managing, and continuously enhancing learning and development initiatives dedicated to UAE Nationals across the firm. The individual will play a key role in supporting the design, delivery, monitoring, and success of Emiratisation-focused development programmes, including the Emirati Development Program (EDP), graduate programmes, internships, leadership initiatives, mentoring programmes, and external government-supported learning initiatives.

Working closely with business leaders, mentors, service lines, and external learning providers, the role will ensure our UAE National talent receives meaningful development opportunities that support professional growth, performance, engagement, and long‑term career progression within Grant Thornton UAE.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

UAE National Development Programmes

• Coordinate and administer the Emirati Development Program (EDP) and other UAE National development initiatives
• Monitor programme milestones, progress, attendance, assessments, and completion rates
• Support the development of service‑line specific learning journeys for UAE National employees
• Maintain programme schedules, learning calendars, training records, and participant communications
• Coordinate cohort onboarding, induction activities, and programme launches
• Ensure programmes align with the firm's Emiratisation objectives and workforce development strategies

Learning & Development Delivery

• Organise internal and external training programs, workshops, webinars, and learning events
• Coordinate professional qualification support and development activities for UAE Nationals
• Collaborate with subject matter experts to develop learning content and learning pathways
• Facilitate learning sessions where appropriate and support learner engagement initiatives

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with Service Line Leaders, Managers, Mentors and Buddies to support UAE National development
• Act as the primary point of contact for Emiratisation‑related learning initiatives
• Liaise with external providers, universities, educational institutions, government entities, and training partners
• Support communication and engagement activities relating to Emiratisation and UAE National talent development

Learning Analytics & Reporting

• Track participation, utilisation, learning completion, certification progress, and programme effectiveness
• Produce regular reports and dashboards for leadership and People & Culture stakeholders
• Monitor learning KPIs and recommend continuous improvement actions
• Support learning needs analyses and programme evaluation activities

Employee Experience & Engagement

• Coordinate mentoring, coaching, buddy, and networking initiatives for UAE National employees
• Support events and activities that promote UAE National engagement and inclusion
• Facilitate feedback sessions and focus groups to identify development opportunities
• Contribute to initiatives that strengthen retention, progression, and leadership readiness of UAE National talent

Continuous Improvement

• Research market best practices in Emiratisation, learning, graduate development, and talent acceleration
• Identify opportunities to enhance programme quality and participant experience
• Support the development of scalable learning structures, career pathways, and development frameworks

CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS

• UAE National with Family Book
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, Education, Learning & Development, or related discipline
• At least three years of experience in Learning & Development, Talent Development, HR or Graduate Programmes
• Strong programme coordination and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English and Arabic
• Strong organisational and project management capabilities
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications

OUR VALUES

We’re looking for people who have a strong connection with and share our CLEARR values:

• Collaboration: We work together, share ideas, and always make time to help each other out
• Leadership: Everyone has the chance to lead their own projects
• Excellence: Quality is central to our purpose. We love what we do, and it shows. We sweat the details. We see things through, no matter how tricky
• Agility: The world moves quickly. To keep up, we stay flexible – changing approaches, changing projects, working offline, online, together, and alone to get things done
• Respect: A given, of course: we value each other and our clients. We listen, we understand, we care
• Responsibility: The decisions we make and advice we give affects people’s lives and livelihoods. We take that seriously and always do well by doing what’s right.

OUR BENEFITS

We offer a competitive compensation package, flexible work arrangements, professional development support, and a range of wellbeing and community initiatives—designed to help you thrive personally and professionally.