Role Location - This role can be based from either our Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool or Nottingham office.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Head of Learning & Development to lead our L&D function through an exciting period of change. As part of the Future Ready Talent initiative, you'll build and lead our L&D team, set the strategy and standards for learning across the firm, and work hand in hand with our Learning Leaders - the experienced colleagues in every part of the business who design, deliver and champion learning locally.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape an L&D function rather than inherit one. You'll own the L&D strategy, plan and budget, aligned to the firm's 2030 strategy; you'll establish the governance that makes prioritisation transparent and supplier spend demonstrate its worth; and you'll report progress and impact. You'll also keep your hand in where it counts most: senior leadership development, facilitation and trusted-adviser conversations with our practice groups.

Key responsibilities

To own the L&D strategy, annual plan and budget, aligned to the firm's 2030 strategy and Future Ready Talent commitments.
To establish and run the governance framework: policies, decision rights, spend thresholds, the L&D risk register and the annual review cycle.
To lead the rhythm of the function: preparing and presenting to the quarterly Steer Co, running the monthly Learning Leaders Network with the team, and holding a monthly People Team update.
To own prioritisation: a single intake channel and a transparent method for deciding what we must, should and could do, so effort and investment follow firm priorities.
To own sourcing: the make-or-buy framework, the preferred supplier list and our supplier relationships, consolidating spend and evidencing return on investment.
To sponsor the Learning Leaders network: its mandate, membership, support and recognition.
To lead, develop and manage the L&D team, building our internal design and delivery capability over time.
To report impact against agreed KPIs, and to reassess our L&D maturity regularly to evidence progress.
To design and deliver at a senior level: leadership development, facilitation and advisory work with practice groups and business services.
To develop and design training to our clients.

Your skills and qualifications

Candidates must have senior L&D leadership experience within professional services, ideally within law firms, including designing or significantly reshaping an L&D function or operating model. You'll need to be credible with partners, Exec and a Steer Co, comfortable making the case for investment with evidence, and equally at home coaching a team, chairing a governance meeting or facilitating a senior workshop.

Required experience includes

Leading an L&D function or major L&D transformation, including strategy, budget and governance
Building prioritisation, supplier management and measurement from a low base and demonstrating ROI
Strong grasp of learning practice: 70:20:10, learning in the flow of work, and evaluation through to impact
Leading, developing and managing a team
Influencing at Board, Exec or partnership level; excellent communication skills
Experience of communities of practice or networked/distributed delivery models is highly desirable
Commercial and budget management skills; confident with data, KPIs and learning systems
Business psychology and behavioural change expertise is desirable

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Do we sound like a match? If you’re someone who cares deeply, communicates openly and collaborates effectively, then we’d love to have you join our diverse, inclusive team.

Freeths

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Head of Learning & Development (Any office Location)