Head of Learning

Southern Housing; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Housing is seeking a Head of Learning to shape a modern, blended learning experience for colleagues across the organisation. You will lead the Learning function, align with the People Strategy and influence senior stakeholders to deliver compliant, high-impact development.

This role focuses on capability, culture and measurable impact, driving learning technology, data and innovative solutions to support residents and communities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a learning function in a complex organisation.
• Strategic capability to align learning with business priorities and culture.
• Proven ability to deliver measurable learning outcomes and ROI.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, delivery and continual improvement of a blended learning offer.
• Partner with senior leaders to identify current and future skills needs.
• Oversee LMS governance, procurement and platform optimization.
• Drive learning evaluation, insight and data-informed decisions.
• Build and coach a high-performing Learning team.

Skills

L&D strategy

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Curriculum design

Compliance

Digital learning

Learning analytics

Education

CIPD Level 7 in Learning and Organisation Development

ILM/CMI Level 5 in Leadership/Performance Coaching

Tools

LMS procurement

E-learning platforms

Job description

Shape Organisational Learning. Influence Culture. Build Capability.

At Southern Housing, we're creating communities where everyone has a safe home in a place they're proud to live.

To achieve that vision, we know our people need the skills, confidence and capability to deliver exceptional services every day. That's where you come in.

We're looking for an exceptional Head of Learning to lead our Learning function and help shape how learning is experienced across our large, complex and purpose-driven organisation.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced learning leader who can connect business priorities, resident needs and workforce capability to create meaningful learning outcomes. You'll lead a talented team, influence senior stakeholders, champion innovation and ensure our learning offer drives compliance, capability and a culture of continuous development.

If you're passionate about learning technologies, skills-based development, learning culture transformation and delivering measurable impact through learning, we'd love to hear from you.

Why this role matters

As our Head of Learning, you'll play a pivotal role in delivering a modern, blended and high-impact learning experience for colleagues across Southern Housing.

Working closely with our Director of Learning & Culture, you'll translate the learning elements of our People Strategy into high-quality, accessible and engaging learning solutions that help our people perform at their best.

You'll ensure learning is not simply an activity, but an integral part of how we work, develop and succeed as an organisation.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll lead the design, delivery and continuous improvement of a comprehensive learning offer that supports both current and future organisational needs with a strong focus on compliance.

Leading learning excellence

• Deliver a high-quality blended learning offer across the organisation.
• Ensure learning solutions are engaging, inclusive, accessible and aligned with business priorities and organisational culture.
• Embed a culture of continuous learning and self-directed development.
• Drive learning evaluation, insight and continuous improvement through data and feedback.

Learning technology and systems leadership

• Maximise the value and capability of learning systems and digital learning platforms.
• Lead LMS optimisation, governance, adoption and ongoing enhancement.
• Ensure learning data, reporting and compliance information are accurate, meaningful and actionable.
• Work closely with technology, systems and data teams to improve learning experiences and business outcomes.

Working in partnership and influence

• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders across the organisation.
• Provide expert advice and consultancy on learning and development, compliance and capability building.
• Partner with subject matter experts and business leads to identify current and future skills needs.
• Respond quickly to evolving organisational and sector requirements, leveraging technology and innovation to support workforce development.

Team leadership

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing Learning team.
• Create an environment where innovation, accountability and collaboration thrive.
• Embrace change and support colleagues to do the same

Commercial and operational leadership

• Manage significant learning budgets, ensuring value for money and strong return on investment.
• Lead procurement activities, supplier relationships and contract performance management.
• Maintain robust governance, quality assurance, compliance and risk management processes.

What You'll Need

We're looking for someone who brings a strong technical expertise and a passion for developing people.

Essential Experience And Skills

• Experience of Learning Management System (LMS) procurement, implementation and ongoing management.
• Extensive experience leading, motivating and inspiring teams, with a proven ability to support people through change and foster a collaborative one-team culture.
• Strong understanding of adult learning theory and methodologies, including the design and implementation of blended learning solutions.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders to support sustainable people, skills and competency development.
• Proven ability to embed diversity, equity and inclusion principles into learning and development strategies and programmes.
• Significant experience co-creating, designing and delivering training, digital learning solutions and development programmes for colleagues at all levels.
• Experience managing external learning providers, including commissioning services and effective contract management.
• Exceptional relationship-building, stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Commercially focused, with experience ensuring value for money, efficiency and return on investment from learning and development activities.
• Experience delivering executive and senior-level coaching and facilitation to groups and individuals.
• Experience operating at a senior level within complex, geographically dispersed and diverse organisations.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to Southern Housing locations as required.

Qualifications

• Working towards CIPD Level 7 in Learning and Organisation Development, or able to demonstrate equivalent experience.
• Level 5 (or above) ILM or CMI qualification in Leadership/Performance Coaching.

In your supporting statement, it is important that you clearly articulate how you meet each of the above criteria providing real competency based examples.

Closing date- 16th August 2026 at 23:59

Interview dates

Fleet House, Farringdon

• Tuesday 25 August
• Tuesday 1 September

Join us and help shape a culture where learning is embedded, capability flourishes and our people can deliver their very best for residents and communities.