Senior Assistant VP-Learning and Development

EXL; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in South Africa is seeking a Senior Assistant Vice President (SAVP) to drive learning initiatives and capability development across business units. This role involves designing training programs and aligning L&D frameworks with strategic business goals while ensuring compliance with national standards. Ideal candidates must have extensive experience in leadership development and instructional design.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in L&D with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Experience in building large scale leadership development programs.
• Familiarity with South African education compliance bodies.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute the capability development roadmap.
• Develop bespoke curriculums for senior leaders.
• Monitor L&D impact via dashboards and present insights.

Skills

Adult Learning Principles

Curriculum Design

Stakeholder Engagement

Leadership Development

Performance Consulting

Education

Postgraduate qualification in HR, Education, Psychology

Job description

Role Overview:

We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Senior Assistant Vice President (SAVP) – Training & Capability Development to lead enterprise-level learning initiatives. This role is responsible for building future-ready leaders by driving capability development across all business units, with a focus on structured learning paths, leadership training, and compliance with national and global L&D standards.

The ideal candidate will bring a deep understanding of adult learning principles, strong experience in curriculum design for mid-to-senior leadership, and a proven track record in aligning L&D frameworks to business transformation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and execute the organization's capability development roadmap, including leadership, behavioral, and functional training programs.
• Develop bespoke curriculums and interventions for senior leaders in line with business priorities and succession planning needs.
• Partner with HRBPs, business heads, and global stakeholders to identify capability gaps and co-create strategic learning solutions.
• Oversee LMS governance, learning analytics, training effectiveness measurement, and audit-ready documentation aligned with SETA/QCTO (where applicable).
• Lead internal and external facilitator networks, managing partnerships with content providers, universities, and subject matter experts.
• Monitor L&D impact via dashboards and present insights at an executive level to drive decisions.
• Support DEI, digital transformation, and future-of-work initiatives through adaptive learning strategies.

Candidate Profile:

• 12+ years in L&D, with 5+ years in a senior leadership or Head of L&D role.
• Demonstrated experience building leadership development programs at scale.
• Strong understanding of instructional design models, competency frameworks, and performance consulting.
• Familiarity with South African education and training compliance bodies (e.g., SETA, QCTO) and global standards (e.g., ISO, Kirkpatrick).
• Postgraduate qualification in HR, Education, Psychology, or related field; certifications in OD, L&D, or coaching are advantageous.
• Strong business acumen, analytical mindset, and exceptional stakeholder engagement skills.