Senior Manager Business Service Learning and Development Practice

PwC Careers Africa; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 000 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in Johannesburg seeks a Senior Manager for Learning & Development. You will oversee a diverse team and enhance employee skills through innovative training programs. The ideal candidate has 5-8 years in L&D, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and experience leading diverse teams. This role supports a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence across the organization, contributing to strategic growth and development goals.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Opportunity for professional growth

Engaging workplace culture

Qualifications

• 5-8 years' experience in L&D roles, managing teams.
• Proven track record of stakeholder relationships.
• Experience in a global delivery environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of the L&D team.
• Act as advisor to senior stakeholders.
• Drive culture of collaboration and innovation.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Operational management

Stakeholder engagement

Coaching and mentoring

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Education, Business Administration or equivalent

Master's degree (MBA) or Diploma in Leadership, Business Management

Job description

Overview

Management Level
Senior Manager

Job Description & Summary
At PwC, our people in talent and development focus on finding, deploying, training and enabling talent through talent identification and enhancing employee skills and knowledge, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth. These individuals collaborate with subject matter specialists and project teams to strategize effective ways to locate, assess, educate and train employees, in line with market developments and firm strategy.

As a learning and development generalist at PwC, you will focus on designing and delivering innovative training programmes to enhance employee skills and knowledge. You will play a crucial role in fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth within the organisation.

Growing as a strategic advisor, you leverage your influence, expertise, and network to deliver quality results. You motivate and coach others, coming together to solve complex problems. As you increase in autonomy, you apply sound judgment, recognising when to take action and when to escalate. You are expected to solve through complexity, ask thoughtful questions, and clearly communicate how things fit together. Your ability to develop and sustain high performing, diverse, and inclusive teams, and your commitment to excellence, contributes to the success of our Firm.

Examples of the skills, knowledge, and experiences you need to lead and deliver value at this level include but are not limited to:

About PwC SATIC and the role

At PwC's South Africa Technology & Innovation Centre (SATIC), a hub for technological advancement and innovative solutions, the Senior Manager, Business Service L&D for the UK territory. Responsible for leading the senior stakeholder engagements and daily operations of the Learning & Development practice, this role involves managing a diverse team and fostering an inclusive, engaging culture. The manager builds strong relationships with all stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the territory and Acceleration center (SATIC’s) objectives. Focused on operational excellence, optimization and quality delivery, the role supports all PwC service lines driving innovation and leveraging technology to enhance all aspects of the learning and development service.

Summary: The role of Senior Manager Business Service L&D Practice involves executing on the territory learning initiatives, driving innovation, and ensuring operational excellence. The candidate will engage with senior UK territory stakeholders, maintain compliance, and act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture of continuous improvement. The ideal candidate should have experience leading L&D programs in large organizations, with strong skills in strategic thinking, operational management, and stakeholder engagement. This role is for someone passionate about driving change, managing a complex stakeholder environment, dealing with ambiguity and inspiring teams.

Qualifications / Certifications required:

A relevant Bachelor's degree (NQF Level 6 or 7) in Human Resources, Education, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or equivalent. A Diploma or Master's degree (NQF Level 8) in Leadership, Business Management (MBA) would be advantageous.

Experience required: 5-8 years’ experience in leading multi-disciplinary Learning and Development teams in a Global delivery environment. Proven track record in global cultivation of stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities of role

• Business Leadership: Manage the daily operational service delivery of a diverse team of L&D professionals.
• Act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders.
• Champion innovation and challenge the status quo.
• Drive a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and openness.
• Support the growth of the Learning & Development through the introduction of new services and headcount.
• Spearhead the development and execution of the L&D strategy aligned to firm-wide business goals and growth areas.
• Active member of the SATIC Business Service Management committee (Senior management team).

Operational Excellence

• Manage offshore day-to-day operations: recruitment, allocations, development, and wellbeing.
• Ensure adherence to Service Level Agreements aligned to territory expectations.
• Deliver monthly L&D reporting to track progress and outcomes. Enabling reporting at board and executive committees.
• Ensure compliance with territory requirements and operational standards.

Workforce Management

• Track utilization rates to ensure efficiency and balanced workloads.
• Establish quality measurement frameworks and SOPs to monitor service excellence.
• Define and track KPIs to measure impact, performance, and continuous improvement.
• Build scalable systems and processes that position SATIC as a benchmark for global L&D delivery.
• Develop data-led tools to measure delivery performance.

People & Performance Management

• Coach and mentor the SATIC L&D team.
• Handle performance issues, conduct reviews, and manage employee relations.
• Provide pastoral care, resolve team conflicts, and support wellbeing.
• Write end-of-year summaries, input ratings, and advocate for promotions through talent mapping.
• Drive team engagement through team days, regular L&D meetings, and check-ins.
• Lead teams through organizational and technological change.
• Develop structured change management plans to minimize disruption.
• Act as a role model for adaptability and resilience.
• Ensure continuous improvement cycles are embedded in operations.
• Link L&D outcomes to business performance and client value.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Communicate effectively with varied stakeholders and territory leaders.
• Actively drive collaborative outcomes and ensure effective team integration.
• Act as communication conduit between local teams and UK stakeholders.
• Act as escalation point for all matters relating to the service function.

Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with PwC policies, legal requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Proactively identify risks in delivery, resourcing, or employee relations and mitigate them.
• Establish escalation frameworks for sensitive issues.

Continuous Improvement & Strategic Initiatives

• Coordinate development opportunities for the SATIC team.
• Promote best practices in processes and training.
• Lead and support SATIC-related initiatives that strengthen the centre’s role in PwC’s global network.
• Drive qualitative staff engagement and action planning.
• Adapt to rapid technological and business changes.

Desirable skill sets

• Strategic thinking and planning
• Operational management
• Workforce planning and allocation
• Performance and people management
• Effective verbal and written communication
• Public speaking and presentation
• Relationship building
• Negotiation and conflict resolution
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Risk management and mitigation
• Continuous improvement methodologies
• KPIs and performance metrics tracking
• Creative problem solving
• Adaptability to technological and business changes
• Ability to deal with ambiguity
• Stakeholder management

Role related attributes

• Strategic Leadership: Visionary approach to align L&D strategy with business goals.
• Operational Oversight: Management of daily operations and service delivery.
• Stakeholder Management: Acting as a trusted advisor and communication conduit.
• Innovation Advocacy: Champion for challenging the status quo and promoting innovation.
• Collaboration Promotion: Driving a culture of inclusion, openness, and teamwork.
• Continuous Improvement: Commitment to enhancing processes, outcomes, and service excellence.
• Compliance and Risk Management: Ensuring adherence to policies and mitigation of risks.
• People Development: Coaching, mentoring, and managing performance and wellbeing.
• Change Facilitation: Leading teams through organizational changes effectively.
• Global Perspective: Ability to integrate global standards and practices.
• Analytical Acumen: Utilizing data to track KPIs and evaluate performance.
• Ambiguity Navigation: Comfort with and adaptability to uncertain situations.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Demonstrating flexibility and strength in evolving environments.
• Result-Orientation: Focused on achieving measurable outcomes and business value.

Industry Experience

• Learning and Development (L&D) Experience: Design, development, and implementation of L&D programs and strategies; proven track record in leading L&D teams in large organizations or consulting firms; experience with modern L&D technologies.

Management and Leadership Experience

• Several years in a leadership or senior management position, overseeing diverse teams and complex projects.
• Experience in leading organizational change and transformation initiatives.

Operational Management Experience

• Experience managing daily operations, particularly with offshore or outsourced components.
• Familiarity with SLAs and compliance with operational standards.

Business and Strategy Development

• Experience aligning L&D initiatives with broader business goals and strategic planning.
• Experience driving new service offerings or expanding team headcount.

Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management

• Proven ability to work with and advise senior stakeholders, clients, and executives.
• Experience in change management and acting as a liaison between different business areas.

Governance and Risk Management

• Experience ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory standards within an industry.
• Experience identifying risks and developing mitigation strategies.

Industry Specific Knowledge

• Relevant experience within the specific industry of the organization (e.g., consulting, technology, finance) understanding its challenges, trends, and operational nuances.
• Familiarity with specific compliance requirements of the industry sector.

Global and Cross-Cultural Experience

• Experience working in or managing global teams and understanding cross-cultural dynamics.
• Adaptability to different regional business practices and compliance requirements.

Travel Requirements: Up to 20%

Available for Work Visa Sponsorship? No

Job Posting End Date: February 4, 2026