Global Director Learning, Development and Culture

World Resources Institute; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 108,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

A global NGO is seeking a Global Director of Learning, Development & Culture to lead HR initiatives, enhance employee engagement, and promote an inclusive workplace culture. This role involves shaping global people strategies, fostering career development, and implementing well-being programs. Candidates should possess significant experience in organizational development and HR leadership. This position is hybrid, requiring occasional office presence.

Benefits

Generous leave days including sabbatical

Health insurance contribution

Access to a global network

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in large, mission-driven organizations.
• Proven leadership experience and ability to build multi-located teams.
• Experience in HR and organizational change initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead global people strategy and develop talent pipelines.
• Design and implement learning and development interventions.
• Champion wellbeing and cultural initiatives across the organization.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Organizational development

Communication

Cultural sensitivity

Education

Background in occupational/organizational/work psychology

Job description

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This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our office in London or the Hague. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

About the Role

We're looking for a strategic and people-focused leader to take on a new global role at WRI. As Global Director of Learning, Development & Culture, you'll lead a broad team in our Centre of Excellence and help shape how we support, grow, and engage our people across the world.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer (CPO), you'll work closely with HR teams in every regional and country office (Africa, Brazil, China, Colombia, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, US) and work closely with our global WRI HR network. Your work will help WRI become the best‑run NGO in the world - not just for operational excellence, but to ensure every employee has a great experience and can do their best work in service of our mission.

This is a unique opportunity to build something new and meaningful. You'll design and deliver strategies for continuous learning, impactful career development, healthy organisational culture, and improving wellbeing-making sure they're inclusive, impactful, and relevant across regions. You'll also help build People team capacity globally, creating more consistency and connection across our network.

What will you do:

Career Development:

• Shape WRI's global people strategy alongside the Chief People Officer
• Build career paths, succession plans, and talent pipelines for future leaders and specialists
• Lead performance and engagement strategies that help staff grow and stay connected
• Develop retention strategies that support continuity and agility
• Support workforce planning and organisational design across the institute
• Identify and address skills gaps to ensure we're ready for the future
• Oversee career frameworks that reflect WRI's mission and values

Learning & Development:

• Create a learning culture where staff have the tools and opportunities to grow
• Design a global learning strategy using our new learning system
• Deliver inclusive, accessible, and high‑impact training across departments
• Lead leadership development programmes tailored to WRI's culture and future needs
• Partner with internal and external experts to scale learning globally
• Apply psychological models and theories to ensure we take an evidence‑based approach
• Ensure learning is relevant, equitable, and focused on real‑world impact
• Manage the learning and development budget and relationships with external partners

Culture & Wellbeing:

• Champion WRI's recently refreshed values and lead a global culture strategy - fostering equity and inclusion for all our worldwide staff
• Define what a healthy workplace culture looks like and how we measure it through our culture barometer
• Lead wellbeing initiatives that support mental health, work‑life balance, and psychological safety
• Partner with country offices to ensure cultural efforts are locally relevant and globally consistent
• Apply psychological models to ensure we take an evidence‑based approach
• Support and work closely with our network of culture ambassadors across WRI offices
• Embed equity and inclusion into all people initiatives, with clear metrics and accountability

Who you are:

You're a strategic thinker and a compassionate leader. You understand how to build systems that support people, and you're passionate about creating workplaces where everyone can thrive. You bring experience in global HR, learning, leadership development and organisational development-and you know how to turn ideas into action.

Minimum requirements:

• A background in occupational/organisational/work psychology and experience of applying this to learning and development
• Demonstrated success as a senior People leader, with a proven track record of managing and developing senior‑level professionals and leading large, complex teams
• Extensive experience within large, matrixed, mission‑driven organisations. Able to navigate cultural context and deliver strategies that resonate
• Strategic skills with an ability to design and execute talent, learning, and culture strategies from inception through implementation while aligning with organisational priorities
• Extensive experience developing a strategic approach to career development and learning development
• Experience in the design, development, and delivery of learning and development interventions for many different skills across multiple job families, including the evolution towards skills and knowledge‑based organisation and trends
• Proven ability to lead organisation‑wide change initiatives, including culture transformation, talent development, and succession planning
• Exceptional ability to influence, engage, and inspire collaborators at all levels, including senior executives, while building trust across diverse teams and regions
• Experience leading global employees' listening strategies, engagement programmes, and retention initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes
• Extensive experience using analytics, surveys, and workforce data to inform decisions, measure impact, and continuously improve culture, learning, and talent policies
• Demonstrated ability to embed equity, inclusion, wellbeing, and psychological safety into organisational practises and people strategies
• Experience influencing senior leaders and effectively communicating across different levels, cultures, and geographies
• Proven leadership experience and building up multi‑located teams. Able to inspire virtual teams
• Languages: Verbal and written proficiency in English
• Requirements: Existing work authorisation is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorise visa work authorisation
• Given the leadership role and breadth of engagement needed, there is a requirement to be in the office 8 or more days a month (flex or full‑time office only)

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of 17 November 2025. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of qualified applications.

We are unable to consider your application without a cover letter in addition to your resume.

You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

Potential Salary: The salary range if based in the UK is GBP108,000 to 135,000; If based in the Netherlands the salary range is 107,000 to 134,000€

What we offer:

• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organisation with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure including sabbatical leave
• A generous pension plan that includes employer and employee contribution
• Health insurance contribution
• Travel to work scheme
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Program
• Geoblue travel insurance

About Us:

World Resources Institute works to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature and stabilise the climate. As an independent research organisation, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyse change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.

Our mission and values:

WRI's mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership and Care.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well‑being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications