Head of Learning & Development

International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC; Genf; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva seeks a Head of Learning and Development to lead the organization’s learning strategy, shape the capability agenda, and partner with senior leaders to drive change in a digital, AI-enabled environment.

You will manage the Learning and Development Unit, oversee a global team, and align programs with strategic priorities, operational realities, and ethical standards of humanitarian work.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in HR, organizational development or related discipline.
• 12–15 years of experience in Learning & Development or Talent Management.
• Experience designing organization-wide learning strategies and capability programs.
• Proven leadership of diverse, multi-location teams.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the Learning & Development vision and strategy.
• Translate organizational priorities into clear capability priorities and learning pathways.
• Lead the L&D team across the organization (65 staff across 6 locations) and foster a global standard learning culture.
• Build a balanced learning ecosystem (formal, experiential, coaching, peer learning) using the 70/20/10 model.
• Ensure the quality, impact and value of the learning portfolio with metrics and data-driven insights.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Directorate and senior leaders on capability development.
• Drive the digital and AI-enabled evolution of the learning ecosystem and explore new learning technologies.

Skills

Strategic leadership

People leadership

Innovation & adaptability

Strategic execution

Collaboration & influence

Learning agility

Results orientation

Education

Advanced university degree in HR/OD/education/business

12–15 years in L&D or related field

Job description

What We Do

Since 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has worked to preserve human dignity and relieve suffering caused by war and armed violence.

In collaboration with our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners around the world, we do everything we can to deliver life‑saving aid, reconnect families and locate missing people – helping those who need it most, regardless of who they are and what side of the front line they are on.

We engage with authorities and armed forces on all sides, often confidentially, pressing for access to detainees to improve their living conditions and urging compliance with international humanitarian law to protect non‑combatants, including from digital threats.

Purpose of the role

The Head of Learning and Development provides strategic leadership for the ICRC’s Learning and Development function, ensuring that the organization builds the capabilities required to deliver its mission today and in the future. The position reports directly to the Chief People Officer and will manage the Learning and Development Unit within the People division.

As part of the People function, the role translates the ICRC’s strategic and operational priorities into a coherent learning and capability agenda, enabling people and teams to perform, adapt and grow in an increasingly complex, digital and rapidly changing environment.

The role contributes to the ICRC’s ambition to build a fit‑for‑purpose, reliable People function that enables the organization to achieve its mission by recruiting, developing and deploying the talent it requires today and tomorrow, while caring for the people who make the mission possible.

The Head of Learning and Development leads the L&D team, shapes the organization learning strategy and ecosystem, and acts as a strategic advisor to senior leaders on capability development.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

Define and implement the Learning & Development vision and strategy

• Define and implement a Learning and Development vision and strategy, aligned with the ICRC’s Institutional Strategy, Staffing model, operational realities and future capability needs.
• Translate organizational priorities into clear capability priorities, learning solutions and development pathways for today and the future.
• Lead the Learning and Development team across the organization namely 65 staff across 6 locations, manage X team members. The Head of LnD chair and lead and facilitate the Learning Council, ensuring strong alignment between organizational priorities, learning investments and operational needs. Accountable for all aspects of learning that is defined within the Learning Council Workplan, advocates for a global standard learning culture across the institution and an environment conducive to learning.
• Build a balanced learning ecosystem aligned with our operational realities, combining formal learning, experiential learning, coaching, peer learning, knowledge sharing and on-the-job development,the “70, 20, 10” model.
• Is Responsible for the quality, impact and value of the learning portfolio by using data, learner insights and clear measures of effectiveness to continuously improve solutions, prioritize investments and resources, maintain consistent quality standards, and leverage internal and external expertise strategically.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Directorate, senior leaders and key stakeholders on learning, capability and organizational development matters.

Lead and develop a high-performing Learning & Development team

• Lead, inspire and develop the Learning and Development team, in line with the People Management standards, creating a high-performing, collaborative and learning-oriented culture.
• Set clear priorities, accountabilities and standards while empowering team members to innovate and take ownership.
• Manage the L&D budget and be accountable for workforce planning and the allocation of L&D resources against organizational priorities.

Drive innovation, technology and AI-enabled learning

• Lead the digital and AI-enabled evolution of the ICRC’s learning ecosystem, responsibility leveraging AI tailor learning, identify capability gaps and improve the learner experience, while ensuring that technology is used as an enabler of learning and performance.
• Leverage AI to tailor learning, identify capability gaps, support knowledge acquisition and improve the learner experience in line with the learning and career paths.
• Promote and foster innovative approaches such as adaptive learning, micro-learning, simulations, communities of practice, peer learning and experiential development.
• Stay abreast of external developments, emerging learning technologies and future-of-work trends and assess their relevance to the ICRC.

Strengthen Leadership And Critical Capabilities

• Ensure the learning and development work closely with Global HRBP and Métiers to shape and oversee learning strategies for critical organisational capabilities, including leadership, management, digital and AI capabilities, financial literacy, risk, operational and people management.
• Partner with Talent Management, Global HRBPs and the metier to strengthen leadership pipelines, succession and career mobility.
• Ensure that learning opportunities contribute to the development and retention of critical talent.
• Equip People teams and line managers in taking greater ownership of people development and creating learning environments within their teams.

Education and professional requirement

• Advanced university degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, Business Administration or a related discipline.
• Minimum 12 -15 years of experience in Learning & Development, Talent Management, Organizational Development or a related field, preferably in a complex international organization.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing organization-wide learning and capability strategies.
• Strong experience leading and developing high-performing, diverse teams.
• Proven experience acting as a strategic advisor and consultant to senior leaders.
• Demonstrated understanding of current and emerging trends in digital learning, AI, skills-based organizations and future capabilities.
• Experience using data and evidence to assess learning needs, measure impact and inform decision-making.
• ICRC field experience is an asset.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of French is an asset.

Key competencies

• Strategic leadership: Ability to translate organizational strategy into a clear capability and learning agenda, anticipate future needs and create a compelling vision.
• People leadership: Ability to build, lead and develop high-performing teams, creating trust, accountability, collaboration and continuous learning.
• Innovation & adaptability: Curiosity and ability to challenge established approaches, experiment with new methodologies and leverage technology, AI and emerging learning practices.
• Strategic execution: Ability to turn strategy into action, prioritize effectively, manage complexity and deliver sustainable results while ensuring business continuity.
• Collaboration & influence: Ability to build strong relationships across functions and levels, create alignment and mobilize stakeholders around shared priorities.
• Learning agility: Strong personal commitment to continuous learning, openness to feedback and ability to learn quickly from experience, evidence and others.
• Results orientation: Focus on measurable organizational impact, quality and value, with the ability to balance long‑term transformation with immediate operational needs.

Additional Information

• Location: Geneva
• Type of contract: Open-ended
• Mobility Type: Required Rotation, 6 years
• Activity rate: 100%
• Start date: January 2027
• Recruiter: Diara NIANG
• Application deadline: Sunday, 25th of October 2026

The ICRC values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.

Our values

• At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values. For more information on the ICRC values, please visit this page.