Head of Learning and Development

First Group; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

First Group is seeking a strategic Learning & Development leader to drive organisational capability and implement development solutions that align with business growth.

The role focuses on developing senior-level capabilities, shaping learning strategies, and partnering with senior leadership to deliver measurable business impact across multi-site operations.

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level experience in Learning & Development or Organisational Development.
• Experience developing and implementing L&D strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Strong leadership and management development experience.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders across a complex organisation.
• Experience managing budgets, suppliers and learning technologies.
• Experience using data and evaluation to measure learning impact.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the organisation's L&D strategy aligned to business objectives.
• Identify capability gaps and translate them into learning initiatives.
• Lead leadership, management, talent and career development programmes.
• Champion a culture of continuous learning and personal accountability.
• Provide strategic oversight of operational training to support safety and workforce needs.
• Lead and develop the L&D Manager and Driver Training Manager to high performance.
• Oversee learning technologies and the LMS to enhance learner experience.
• Manage L&D budget, resources and supplier relationships for value-driven delivery.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decisions

Effective communication

Education

CIPD Level 7 or equivalent

Tools

Learning Management System (LMS)

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver the organisation's learning and development strategy aligned to business objectives and workforce priorities
• Identify capability gaps and future skills requirementstranslating these into effective learning and development initiatives
• Lead leadership, management, talent and career development programmes across the organisation
• Champion a culture of continuous learning, development and personal accountability
• Provide strategic oversight of operational trainingensuring programmes support business, safety and workforce requirements
• Lead and develop the Learning & Development Manager and Driver Training Manager setting clear objectives and driving high performance
• Oversee learning technologiesincluding the Learning Management System (LMS) to enhance the learner experience and business impact
• Manage the L&D budget, resources and supplier relationships to ensure effective and value-driven delivery
• Use data, insight and evaluation measures to assess effectiveness, demonstrate impact and drive continuous improvement
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders to ensure learning priorities support organisational goals

What We're Looking For:

We're looking for a strategic and influential Learning & Development leader who can drive organisational capability and deliver development solutions that support business growth and performance.

The successful candidate will have:

• Significant senior-level experience within Learning & Development, Talent Development or Organisational Development
• Experience developing and implementing L&D strategies aligned to organisational objectives
• Strong leadership and management development experience
• Experience leading and developing learning, training or people development teams
• A proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and build effective relationships across a complex organisation
• Experience managing budgets, suppliers, learning technologies and digital learning platforms
• Experience using data and evaluation to measure learning effectiveness and business impact
• Strong strategic thinking, communication, stakeholder management and leadership skills
• Experience working within a multi-site, operational or complex business environment

Desirable:

• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent
• Coaching or leadership development qualification
• Experience within transport, logistics or another safety-critical environment
• Experience leading organisational change, transformation or culture programmes

Benefits:

• We are also committed to your financial wellbeing, and we offer a platformwith many discounts on high street brands and supermarkets etc
• Staff Travel Pass
• Nominee Pass after three months of service
• Cycle to work scheme