Head of Talent

The Royal British Legion; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Private Healthcare

Enhanced parental leave

Generous pension scheme

Flexible working options

Employee Assistance Programme

Learning & development courses

Volunteer opportunities

Cycle to Work

Job summary

The Royal British Legion is seeking a Head of Talent to unify our recruitment and learning into a single Talent function. You will shape our 2035 Strategy, creating an engaging experience from first contact to career progression.

You’ll lead a team, partner with leaders, manage budgets and partners, and drive data-led decisions to develop capabilities across the organisation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a cohesive Talent Strategy covering recruitment, resourcing, succession planning and career development.
• Lead inclusive recruitment and onboarding processes aligned with values and employer brand.
• Use workforce data to anticipate skills needs and shape attraction and development plans.
• Lead learning and development plans across mandatory, professional, management and leadership development.
• Oversee a blended learning offer spanning digital, face-to-face and experiential learning.
• Build leadership capability by partnering with leaders to design practical development programmes.
• Develop early careers, apprenticeship and internal mobility pathways within RBL.
• Ensure learning management and applicant tracking systems are used effectively and evolve.
• Manage budgets, suppliers and external partners, measuring impact and value for money.
• Lead, coach and develop the Talent team to provide inclusive, professional service.

Skills

Talent strategy

Recruitment

Learning & development

Data insights

Budget management

Leadership

Tools

Applicant Tracking System

Learning Management System

Job description

About The Role

Following an internal promotion, we are seeking a Head of Talent to lead and develop our Talent function.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape how the Royal British Legion attracts, develops and retains the people we need to deliver our 2035 Strategy. You will bring recruitment and learning together into one joined-up Talent function, creating a clear, engaging experience from first contact through to career progression.

Join the leading Armed Forces charity and help make a lasting difference to the lives of those who have served to keep us safe and protect our way of life.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a cohesive Talent Strategy covering recruitment, resourcing, succession planning and career development.
• Lead inclusive, efficient recruitment and onboarding processes that reflect RBL's values and employer brand.
• Use workforce data and insight to anticipate future skills needs and shape attraction and development plans.
• Lead RBL's learning and development plans across mandatory, professional, management and leadership development.
• Oversee a blended learning offer spanning digital, face-to-face and experiential learning.
• Build leadership capability by partnering with leaders to design practical, high-impact development programmes.
• Develop early careers, apprenticeship and internal mobility pathways that help people build a future with RBL.
• Ensure our learning management and applicant tracking systems are used effectively and continue to evolve.
• Manage budgets, suppliers and external partners, measuring impact and ensuring value for money.
• Lead, coach and develop the Talent team to provide an inclusive, professional and solutions-focused service.

You’ll join RBL at a pivotal point in our journey, with the opportunity to bring together talent, learning, leadership development and career pathways in a way that makes a meaningful difference for colleagues, beneficiaries and members. With the backing to turn strategy into practical, lasting improvements, you’ll help build a modern, data-led Talent function that supports our ambitions for the future.

You will be contracted to our London Haig House Hub with a minimum expectation of two days per week working in person at the Hub and flexibility for working remotely/at home when not on site.

Employee benefits include -

• 28 day's paid holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with optional annual leave purchase scheme of up to 5 working days
• Private Healthcare
• Enhanced paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Generous pension scheme with employer contributions ranging from 6% to 14%, depending on length of service
• Range of flexible working options may be available, depending on your role
• Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential counselling, financial and legal advice
• Range of courses delivered by learning specialists to support your development goals and objectives
• Opportunities to volunteer
• Travel loans, Cycle to Work, and more!

For more detailed information about the role, please see the Job Description attached to our direct advert. Our teams take a personalised approach to shortlisting, which is carried out without the use of AI and is based on the evidence provided in your application against the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification.

RBL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer interview schemes for candidates who declare an Armed Forces connection and/or a disability. However, candidates are only eligible for this scheme if their application clearly demonstrates that they meet all of the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification for the role.

Interview Dates:

WC 12th October 2026

We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role(s). Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

About Us

Since 1921, the Royal British Legion has been dedicated to supporting members of the Armed Forces community, and we will continue to be there for as long as we are needed, ensuring their unique contribution is never forgotten.

As the UK's largest Armed Forces charity, we are proud to have over 180,000 members, 110,000 volunteers, 1,900 employees, and a wide network of partners and charities working together to provide lifelong support, whatever the need and whenever it is required.

We are committed to supporting our people through flexible and hybrid working where possible, a strong focus on wellbeing, and opportunities to develop skills and grow careers while making a meaningful impact.