Senior Learning & Development Manager

Wickes; Watford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive bonus

Private Medical and Life Assurance

Enhanced contributory pension

Wellbeing programme

Job summary

Wickes in Watford is seeking a Senior Learning and Development Manager to own the end-to-end design and delivery of learning across the business, leading a team of six and shaping a strategy that builds today’s skills and tomorrow’s capabilities. You will drive leadership development, apprenticeships, and youth programmes while ensuring every colleague has essential skills to serve customers.

This pivotal role supports Wickes’ rapid store expansion, HR system transformation, and the strategic

Qualifications

• Experience leading a Learning and Development team in a multi-site business.
• Strong track record in leadership development and talent pipelines.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and external suppliers.
• Experience with apprenticeship and early careers programmes.
• Experience using digital/AI-enabled learning solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of L&D professionals across multiple sites.
• Own early careers, apprenticeships and youth employment programmes.
• Ensure core skills for safety, customer service and leadership are taught.
• Develop leadership development pipelines across all levels.
• Manage a budget and demonstrate learning impact to the business.
• Evolve learning delivery with technology and AI to personalise learning.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

People management

Apprenticeships

Early careers

Job description

Location: WATFORD LINK HOUSE SUPPORT CENTRE WICKES

Position Type: Permanent, Contract Type: Full Time

Hours of work: 37.5

Posted: 10-Nov-2026

Descriptions & Requirements

As Senior Learning and Development Manager you’ll own the end-to-end design and delivery of learning across our business, from a young person's first day of work experience to the development of our future senior leaders. Reporting to the HR Director - Talent and Capability and leading a team of six, you’ll shape and deliver an L&D strategy that builds the skills our colleagues need today and the capability we need to grow tomorrow.

This is a moment of real change: we are opening 70 new stores across the UK, transforming our HR systems, and rethinking how digital and AI will change the way our colleagues learn. You will play a leading role in our contribution to getting young people into work, including the retail industry's Opening Shift commitment with the BRC and DWP to support 100,000 young people not in employment, education or training into retail jobs by 2029. It is a role for someone who wants genuine ownership and the chance to make a visible difference to colleagues, customers and the communities we serve.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead a team of L&D business partners and learning colleagues
• Own early careers, apprenticeships and youth employment programmes
• Ensure every colleague has the core skills to be safe, confident and great with customers
• Build leadership development, pipeline and acceleration for every leadership level
• Manage a budget and show the impact learning has had on the business
• Evolve our learning proposition and how we deliver it, using technology, data and AI to create personalised, accessible learning suitable for a frontline workforce

What you will bring;

• Experience leading a Learning and Development team in a multi-site business, ideally in Retail or another frontline environment. The role will be based in Watford 2-3 days a week.
• A track record in leadership development, talent pipeline and apprenticeships
• Track record of designing and delivering leadership development and talent pipeline programmes.
• Experience of running apprenticeship and early careers programmes, including use of levy funding.
• Experience of managing a budget and external suppliers.
• Experience of introducing digital or AI-enabled learning and using technology, data and AI to modernise how learning is designed and delivered

What can we offer you?

You’ll be supported with fantastic learning and development and have the opportunity to grow and develop your career with us.

We’ll also equip you with a benefits package that includes:

• Competitive bonus
• Private Medical and Life Assurance
• Enhanced contributory pension scheme
• Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle to work scheme
• Our widely recognised wellbeing strategy is something we’re proud of at Wickes. As part of this, we offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits and support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, financial education & loans, and access to parental, menopause and fertility support.

About Us:

Wickes is a multi-channel retailer operating in the home improvement market. With 50 years in industry, Wickes now generates revenue in excess of £1.6bn across 230 stores delivered by 8,000+ colleagues. But it is our culture that is considered our best kept secret; it’s a collaborative, down to earth, fun and inclusive environment where people feel part of a winning team. All our colleagues come from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a determination to succeed and a passion for being the best we can be. If that sounds like you, we’ll make you feel right at home.

“We aim to create an inclusive workplace with colleagues’ wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.

We’re a Disability Confident Employer and committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from disabled people and are committed to providing an accessible recruitment process and workplace for everyone. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments, please let us know here ."