Senior Learning Manager (All Genders) - maternity/parental leave cover

Zalando GmbH; Berlin; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Employee shares programme

40% off fashion and beauty

Wellbeing options and mental health

Volunteer days

Biannual peer-to-peer review

Job summary

Zalando invites a Senior Learning Manager to shape Zalando’s learning landscape in the Tech Academy. You will partner with senior tech leaders and SMEs to drive strategic capabilities, scalable knowledge sharing, and high-impact learning programs across the tech organisation.

You will lead inclusive initiatives, build a vibrant tech learning culture, and design bespoke programs aligned with evolving business priorities.

Qualifications

• Proven track record designing and scaling corporate learning programs in a tech environment.
• Experience collaborating with senior tech leadership and SMEs.
• Strong understanding of L&D and AI methodologies in learning.
• Excellent English communication and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, launch, and coordinate bespoke learning activities and programs for Tech Academy.
• Assess future and current learning needs and define success metrics to show business impact.
• Leverage AI and learning technologies to create and improve learning products and processes.
• Partner with senior tech leadership and SMEs to develop effective learning products using instructional design.
• Drive a vibrant learning culture through communications, internal tech conferences, and community events.

Skills

Learning strategy

Needs assessment

AI in learning

Stakeholder management

Community building

Education

Education/human resources degree

Tools

Workday Learning

Job description

As a Senior Learning Manager in the Tech Academy team, you will shape Zalando’s learning landscape and accelerate the professional growth of our tech talent. You strongly believe in the importance of a vibrant and inclusive tech learning culture, and know what it takes to get there. Partnering closely with senior tech leadership, and subject matter experts (SMEs) across tech job families, you will help the organisation build strategic capabilities and drive engaging community and continuous, high-impact knowledge sharing at scale.

Note: This is a maternity/parental leave cover role offered with a fixed-term contract based in Berlin.

Please note that this is a parental leave replacement, limited to a duration of 12 months. If you are currently on a permanent contract with the company, you will retain your existing contract while being temporarily assigned to this role. This means you will be expected to secure another internal position before the end of the assignment; the company will support you in this process. As this is a fixed-term assignment, if the role is at a higher grade than your current position, no formal promotion will be granted. Instead, you will take on the role in an interim capacity, and a functional allowance may be considered for the duration of the assignment.

INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN

At Zalando, our vision is to be the leading European technology platform for fashion and lifestyle – one that thrives on diversity and is truly inclusive by design. We believe that diverse teams fuel innovation and creativity, and we actively seek out talent from all backgrounds.

We actively seek to reduce bias in our hiring and employment processes, focusing on your qualifications, skills, and contributions. To support this, we kindly ask that you refrain from including personal details such as your photo, age, or marital status in your CV, ensuring a fair and equitable evaluation based solely on your abilities and potential.

We are committed to providing an exceptional and accessible candidate experience for everyone. If you require any accommodations to support you throughout the hiring process, please let us know – we are here to assist you.

WHAT WE’D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING)

• Learning strategy: Design, launch, manage and coordinate bespoke learning activities and tailored programs - including our monthly tech onboarding programs. Build roadmaps that align Tech Academy’s offerings with evolving business priorities.
• Needs assessment and evaluation: Identify and assess future and current learning needs of tech-related roles within Zalando. Define clear success metrics and apply data-driven evaluation methods to track learning effectiveness, optimise offerings, and demonstrate business impact across Tech Academy initiatives.
• AI and learning technologies: Leverage and utilise AI functionalities in your day-to-day work to create, optimise and design products and processes. You are familiar with online learning platforms and L&D tools (e.g., Workday Learning), and maintain a keen understanding of global corporate learning trends and how AI is changing the learning and development landscape.
• Stakeholder & community collaboration: Act as the strategic L&D partner for senior tech leadership and SMEs. Guide and support our subject matter experts (SMEs) in producing effective learning products by applying instructional design and adult learning methodologies.
• Learning culture and community building: Drive learning culture across the tech organisation through targeted communications, internal tech conferences, and interactive community events that spark informal knowledge exchange and strengthen employee engagement.

You have a proven track record in designing and scaling learning programs within a corporate environment, backed by sound knowledge of effective L&D and AI methodologies (ideally with a degree in education, human resources, or equivalent practical experience).

You have experience working in tech organisations and demonstrate high technical literacy. A background in engineering or a solid understanding of software and technical concepts is a plus.

You demonstrate a strong ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, and prioritise your time effectively in a fast-paced environment.

You are a natural communicator who is passionate about creating memorable learning experiences and driving engagement for our diverse tech community. You will be a connector between our key stakeholders while building strong and high-trust relationships across the organisation.

Fluency in both written and spoken English and strong public speaking and facilitation skills is required for this role.

OUR OFFER

• 27 days of holiday a year to start for full-time employees (+1 day for every calendar year up to 30 days)
• 2 paid volunteering days a year
• Employee shares programme
• 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, discounts from external partners
• Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement)
• Family services, including counselling and support
• Health and wellbeing options (including Wellhub, formerly Gympass)
• Mental health support and coaching available
• Drive your development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review

About Zalando

Founded in Berlin in 2008, Zalando is the leading European technology platform for fashion and lifestyle. Connecting 62 million active customers with more than 7,000 brands across 29 markets, our operations are built on a unique AI-powered data and infrastructure platform. For our customers, our multi-app approach - comprising Zalando, ABOUT YOU, and Lounge by Zalando - delivers an inspiring, highly personalized shopping experience, serving different customers with different needs. For our partners, we are building the operating system for e-commerce. Through ZEOS, Tradebyte, and SCAYLE, we open our logistics, software, and service capabilities to brands and retailers, enabling them to seamlessly scale their businesses across borders.