Head of Learning & Leadership Development

Dis-Chem Pharmacies; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent retail company in Midrand seeks a Head of Learning & Leadership Development to drive an integrated learning strategy. This role involves shaping successful leadership practices and ensuring alignment with business objectives. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's Degree and significant experience in Learning & Development, particularly in large entities. This position offers a market-related salary alongside medical aid and provident fund benefits.

Benefits

Market-related salary

Medical aid

Provident fund

Staff account

Qualifications

• 10+ years in Learning & Development, with at least 5 years in healthcare or similar large entity.
• Proven success in leading national learning teams across multi-site environments.
• Expertise in developing learning strategies aligned to business goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of group-wide learning strategy aligned to business priorities.
• Integrate learning into performance and succession plans for talent readiness.
• Define and implement a modern leadership development pipeline.

Skills

Leadership development frameworks

Adult learning principles

Instructional design

SETA compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in HR, Learning & Development, or related field

Job description

Overview

Dis-Chem Pharmacies in Midrand has an opportunity for a Head of Learning & Leadership Development to join the team. The main purpose is to architect and drive an integrated learning and leadership development strategy that strengthens Dis-Chem’s capability pipeline, supports long-term career growth, and enables operational excellence through future-ready, digital-first learning solutions. This role provides strategic leadership to learning and training objectives across Dis-Chem, ensuring alignment of learning pathways to the Employee Value Proposition (EVP), organisational development priorities, and digital transformation. A key focus is on embedding modern leadership practices that support Dis-Chem’s growth, innovation, and culture transformation.

Minimum Requirements

Essential:

• Bachelor’s Degree in HR, Learning & Development, Organisational Psychology, or related field
• Minimum 10 years in Learning & Development, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role, preferably in a large entity
• Proven success in leading national learning teams across multi-site environments (retail, FMCG, or healthcare preferred)
• Deep understanding of leadership development frameworks, adult learning principles, instructional design, and SETA compliance

Roles & Responsibilities

Learning Strategy & Organisational Capability Building

• Lead the development of a group-wide learning strategy aligned to business priorities, growth targets, and talent needs across retail, healthcare, distribution, and support functions.
• Integrate learning into performance, transformation, and succession plans to ensure talent readiness and depth across all levels.
• Translate business challenges into learning solutions that drive productivity, compliance, innovation, and employee experience.
• Identify and embed future-fit metrics to ensure the positive impact of learning experiences, value, cost effectiveness, learner engagement and satisfaction, and business outcomes.

Leadership Development & Future-Fit Capabilities

• Define and implement modern leadership development practices grounded in inclusive, empathetic, and agile leadership models.
• Oversee the design and delivery of leadership journeys for frontline, mid-level, and executive leaders, ensuring alignment with organisational culture and strategic priorities.
• Build a future-fit leadership pipeline through immersive learning experiences, mentorship, and coaching frameworks.

Learning Pathways & Career Development Enablement

• Develop structured, integrated learning pathways that connect roles, skills, qualifications, and progression across all job families.
• Partner with Talent & Culture, Total Rewards functions to embed learning into career architecture, internal mobility, and EVP value drivers.
• Ensure learning is visible and accessible to employees, supporting self-directed development through clear pathways and recognition systems.

Digital Learning & Innovation

• Oversee the development and curation of scalable, high-impact digital learning content and platforms (LMS, microlearning, mobile-first tools).
• Drive adoption of blended, social, and AI-powered learning models that enhance learning agility and accessibility across the workforce.
• Leverage data analytics to measure learning impact, engagement, and learning ROI, continuously improving through agile experimentation.

People Leadership

• Establish a high-performing, collaborative, and accountable culture within the P&C retail team that reflects the organisation’s values and drives business impact.
• Ensure the P&C team is equipped with the necessary skills, agility, and leadership capabilities to support a fast-paced and evolving retail environment.
• Provide clear leadership and direction to the P&C team in delivering people priorities that enable retail operations and business performance.
• Ensure the P&C team is structured and resourced effectively to meet the current and future needs of the retail business.

Competencies

• Commercial Acumen
• Execution Orientation
• Strategic Influence
• Digital Learning Transformation
• Resilience and Agility
• Stakeholder Engagement
• People Leadership

Special conditions of employment

• South African citizen
• MIE, clear criminal and credit
• Driver’s license and/or own reliable transport
• Occasional travel

Remuneration and benefits

• Market-related salary
• Medical aid
• Provident fund
• Staff account

Only successful applicants will be contacted. If you haven’t been contacted within two weeks after the closing date, consider your application as unsuccessful.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies is an equal opportunity employer. Dis-Chem’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process aligned to Dis-Chem’s Employment Equity & Transformation Strategy. Dis-Chem actively supports the recruitment of People with Disabilities.