COS Head of Talent and Leadership Development

BoF Careers; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25% staff discount on all H&M Group brands

Up to 25 days holiday

Annual health checks

Pension scheme

Discounted gym membership

Private health & dental care

Job summary

A global fashion organization based in London is seeking a Head of Talent and Leadership Development. This role involves defining and leading the talent and leadership strategy, managing a dynamic team, and collaborating closely with HR leaders globally. The ideal candidate will have proven leadership experience in HR across multiple disciplines and the ability to design innovative learning initiatives. Offered is a full-time contract with attractive benefits and the opportunity for some remote work.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading HR teams across multiple disciplines.
• Background in high-growth, global organizations with experience in US and APAC markets.
• Expertise in designing and delivering leadership development programs.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the global strategy for talent and leadership development.
• Design comprehensive talent strategies, including workforce planning and skills gap analysis.
• Collaborate with HR leaders to deliver an integrated strategy.

Skills

Leadership development

Workforce planning

Skills gap analysis

Coaching and mentoring

Job description

Overview

As Head of Talent and Leadership Development, you will define and lead the global strategy for talent, leadership, and learning at COS, ensuring alignment with our People Strategy and overall business objectives. Reporting directly to the People Director, you will manage a team across Talent, Leadership, and Learning & Development. In this global role, you will design career pathways, build future-ready capabilities, and embed leadership accountability throughout the organization—driving impact across our London head office and stores worldwide. You will collaborate closely with the Heads of HR Operations, HR Business Partnering, Total Rewards, and Talent Acquisition to deliver an integrated strategy that supports both our office and retail environments globally.

Responsibilities

• Set the long-term strategic direction for the Talent & Leadership Development team and design a comprehensive talent strategy encompassing workforce planning, skills gap analysis, leadership/skills development, and innovative learning initiatives.
• Coach, mentor, and develop a team of three specialists and a Learning Lead, delivering consistently strong results and impactful solutions for the business.
• Partner with the Global Talent Acquisition Manager to build external talent pipelines for emerging roles and critical skills across the organization.
• Drive workforce planning and skills gap analysis through the Talent Specialist, shaping career pathways and future capabilities, and lead succession planning and targeted development for high-potential talent.
• Lead and collaborate with the Learning & Development Lead and Learning Specialist to create and manage learning frameworks that foster career growth and organizational performance, leveraging innovative solutions such as digital learning and experiential programs.
• Identify future skill requirements and develop actionable plans to build organizational capability and resilience.
• Work with the Leadership Specialist to design and oversee leadership development programs for all levels, including executive coaching and high-potential talent initiatives.
• Strengthen leadership capability and accountability through tailored programs, assessments, and recognition frameworks.
• Ensure robust succession planning for critical roles and leadership pipelines by partnering with HR Business Partners across regions.

Qualifications

Alignment to our company values is essential. Our values define how we work and interact. We are open-minded and curious, dare to be different, believe in constant improvement, and empower and trust you to take ownership.

• Proven experience leading HR teams across multiple disciplines (Workforce Planning, L&D, Engagement, Talent Management, Compensation & Benefits).
• Background in matrixed, high-growth, global organizations; experience in US and APAC markets is a plus.
• Expertise in designing and delivering leadership development programs aligned with organizational strategy.
• Extensive knowledge of leadership theories and learning methodologies.
• Strong ability to plan and execute complex initiatives, analyze business needs, and develop innovative solutions for leadership and learning challenges.

Additional Information

This is a full-time permanent contract based at our Head Office in London UK.

Benefits

• We offer attractive benefits with extensive development opportunities around the globe.
• All employees receive a 25% staff discount usable on all H&M Group brands in stores and online.
• Incentive Program – HIP. Read more about the program here.
• Additional UK-based benefits: up to 25 days holiday, annual health checks, pension scheme, discounts via benefits hub, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym membership, employee assistance via retail trust, private health & dental care.

Inclusion & Diversity

We are committed to creating inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplaces. Our teams should reflect a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and all diversity dimensions are considered in our recruitment process.

Brand Description

COS offers a wardrobe of ready-to-wear and accessories rooted in exceptional quality and lasting design. The brand emphasizes luxury, craftsmanship, innovation, and compelling fashion movements.

Work Arrangement

In this role you will have some flexibility to work remotely; due to the high level of cross-department collaboration, four days per week office presence is required to foster strong collaboration and teamwork.

Ready to Apply?

Click on the I’M INTERESTED link to upload your CV securely. After receiving your application, we will keep you updated regularly about its status via email.

Closing Date: 4/2. Interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Job Location

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