Research & Early Development Digital Academy Lead

UCB S.A.; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

UCB is seeking a Research & Early Development Academy Lead to shape and lead the learning strategy across R&ED, translating workforce needs into scalable programs. Based in Slough, UK or Braine, Belgium, you will drive academy governance, content curation and community building to accelerate adoption of new digital capabilities.

You will design end-to-end learner journeys, partner with Digital Transformation and Talent teams, and deliver measurable capability growth for a world‑leading

Qualifications

• Strong experience in learning experience design and capability development.
• Experience in product management, platform ownership or change enablement.
• Ability to translate capability needs into learning pathways.
• Understanding of scientific roles, workflows and capability needs in research.
• Excellent communication, branding and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading cross‑cutting learning/transformation initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the learning strategy for Research & Early Development, translating needs into role-based paths.
• Lead and grow a portfolio of academies aligned with priorities and emerging capabilities.
• Design learner journeys from awareness to application with practical development.
• Build and lead a community of Academy Champions to enhance adoption and quality.
• Oversee content strategy and curate high‑quality learning resources.
• Drive engagement, governance and impact measurement for effective learning programs.

Skills

Learning experience design

Capability development

Product management

Platform ownership

Change enablement

Stakeholder management

Job description

Make your mark for patients

We are looking for a Research & Early Development Academy Lead who is innovative and agile, to be based inSlough UK orBraine, Belgium.

About the role

You will lead the Research & Early Development Academy portfolio as a key capability-building pillar of UCB's digital transformation. Working in partnership with the Digital Transformation programme and Talent organisation, translate strategic priorities, future workforce needs and emerging digital capabilities into scalable learning experiences, communities and development pathways that accelerate adoption, strengthen digital behaviours and prepare the organisation for new ways of working. Drive governance, engagement and continuous improvement to ensure the Academy delivers measurable capability growth and business value.

Who you'll work with

Working with Digital, Talent and early Research and Development.

What you'll do

• Define and evolve the learning strategy for Research & Early Development, translating capability and workforce needs into role-based learning pathways and development experiences.

• Lead and grow a portfolio of academies, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and expanding offerings to address emerging capability requirements.

• Design engaging learner journeys that progress learners from awareness through application, delivering practical and impactful capability development.

• Build and lead a community of Academy Champions, leveraging peer networks to enhance learning, mentoring, adoption, and content quality.

• Oversee content strategy and curation, ensuring learning resources are relevant, high quality, and organised into coherent learning experiences.

• Drive Academy engagement, communications, and brand visibility, establishing a compelling value proposition and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
• Own Academy governance, platform experience, and impact measurement, ensuring effective operations, strong learner experiences, and continuous improvement through adoption, feedback, and capability outcomes.

Interested? For this role you'll need the following education, experience and skills

• Strong experience in learning experience design, capability development, product management, platform ownership or change enablement

• Ability to translate capability frameworks and workforce needs into practical learning experiences and development pathways

• Strong understanding of scientific roles, workflows and capability needs within a research environment

• Excellent communication, branding, and stakeholder management skills

• Comfortable owning complex, cross-cutting initiatives end-to-end

• Experience working across learning, transformation, talent or organisational development initiatives

About us

UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company, focusing on neurology and immunology. We are over 9.000 people in all four corners of the globe, inspired by patients and driven by science.

Why work with us?

At UCB, we don’t just complete tasks, we create value. We aren’t afraid to push forward, collaborate, and innovate to make our mark for patients. We have a caring, supportive culture where everyone feels included, respected, and has equal opportunities to do their best work. We ‘go beyond’ to create value for our patients, and always with a human focus, whether that’s on our patients, our employees, or our planet. Working for us, you will discover a place where you can grow, and have the freedom to carve your own career path to achieve your full potential.

At UCB, we’ve embraced a hybrid-first approach to work, bringing teams together in local hubs to foster collaborative curiosity. Unless expressly stated in the description or precluded by the nature of the position, roles are hybrid with 40% of your time spent in the office.

UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on [e-mail]. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.