Head Learning and Development

Unifi Africa; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Unifi Africa seeks a senior L&D leader to shape and deliver a group-wide learning and development strategy across markets. You will design, deliver and measure learning programs—induction, role pathways, change enablement, and leadership training—while driving practical business impact and capability growth.

You will lead the L&D team, partner with HR systems, and ensure scalable processes and strong vendor management to sustain high performance and learning velocity.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience leading L&D across markets.
• Experience designing, delivering and measuring high-impact learning solutions beyond the classroom.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute the group-wide L&D agenda.
• Identify capability gaps and close them with scalable learning solutions.
• Own design, development and facilitation of learning programs (induction, pathways, change enablement, culture, management training).
• Oversee external training providers and ensure measurable outcomes.
• Build and lead a high-performing L&D team across the group.
• Manage the learning management system end-to-end and analytics.

Skills

Learning strategy

L&D design & delivery

Data analytics for learning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Learning & Development or related field

Job description

About Unifi

Boldly different. Fiercely human. Proudly African.
Unifi is redefining credit across Africa with simple, fast personal loans. We have a strong conviction in Africa, its opportunities and its people. Our products help clients unlock their potential and achieve more. Operating in Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Tanzania, Unifi is one of Africa’s fastest growing lenders. We combine a client first mindset with innovative technology and data analytics to make life easy for our clients.

Purpose of the role

Lead and deliver the group wide learning and development agenda that builds capability, supports growth and enables employees to perform at their best through impactful, practical and scalable learning solutions.

What You Will Own

• Group learning agenda: Help shape and execute the learning strategy.
• Learning analysis: Ensure capability gaps are identified and close them with appropriate learning solutions.
• Learning design and delivery: Own the design, development and facilitation of all learning at Unifi e.g. induction, role specific pathways, change enablement, culture initiatives, behavioural competencies and management training.
• Learning that sticks: Ensure all learning programs and initiatives are fit for purpose and result in real business outcomes through practical on the job application. New knowledge, skills and behaviours should show up every day.
• External learning that earns its place: Own how and from whom we buy external training, from procurement to managing quality of execution. Hold providers to high standards and measurable outcomes, review regularly and stop working with partners that don’t deliver.
• High performing L&D team: Lead the L&D team across the group. Set high standards, grow their capability and deal with poor performance quickly.
• Learning management system: Own the learning management system end to end: procurement, set up, user experience and data. Make it simple and track system performance against expectations. Work closely with the HR Systems domain lead on enhancements, bug fixes and integration with other systems.
• Simple and scalable L&D processes: Build and run the processes that make L&D work the same way across the group. Set clear standards for quality, version control and turnaround times so learning gets out fast and stays up to date. Keep everything as simple as possible, with no red tape and nothing that slows the business down, and keep improving how we work as we grow.
• Learning reporting that drives decisions: Own all learning reporting across the group through regular, easy to read reports and dashboard reporting. Make our learning data the single source of truth, and turn the numbers into clear insights and recommendations, not just figures on a page.
• Make learning count: Show the return on every learning investment. Agree success measures with the business before we build, set a baseline, and track the impact on behaviour, performance and business results. Know the cost per learner and per programme, compare building with buying, and show leaders what they get for every rand, shilling and kwacha we spend. Double down on what works, and stop what doesn’t. Fail forward fast.

What You Will Bring

• A degree in learning and development, instructional design, HR or a related field.
• 8+ years experience in a similar role leading L&D across different markets.
• Experience designing, delivering and measuring high impact creative learning solutions beyond the classroom, including blended, digital, social and on the job learning, that make learning practical, engaging and effective.

How You Show Up

• Keep It Simple. You turn complex capability needs into clear priorities and learning that people can use straight away.
• Fail forward fast. You’re curious, creative and happy to challenge traditional training. You pilot, learn and adapt quickly rather than overdesigning.
• Client first:. You understand how Unifi makes money and serves clients. You spend time where the work happens, from branches and call centres to head office, and you connect learning to what our people and clients actually need.
• Bring out the best in people.You set high standards, coach your team and help others grow through honest feedback, stretch and real opportunities to learn .
• Leading self: You lead with maturity, vulnerability, managing your own energy and consistently hold yourself to high standards.
• Leading others: You drive by setting clear expectations and holding others accountable, you know your team and build trust, you make people proud to be part of the Unifi story and you give people the training and feedback they need to develop and perform.