Cognition Learning Group
Manchester, Lancashire
Group Director, People and Organisational Development Full time Cognition Learning Group United Kingdom Posted On 16/02/2026 Job Information Education Administration Programmes City Manchester Province Greater Manchester Postal Code M1 Job Description Group Director, People and Organisational Development Location: Manchester office (Hybrid) Salary: £TBD plus bonus and performance incentive Contract Type: Permanent, full-time Cognition Learning Group is a leading provider of education, training, consultancy, and digital learning solutions. With offices around the globe, we proudly deliver knowledge to communities in more than 30 countries worldwide. We offer a wide range of services, designed to improve learning outcomes, create opportunities, and change lives for the better. The Group Director, People & Organisational Development (POD) provides strategic leadership for the organisation's global People agenda. This role shapes the culture, capability, and organisational effectiveness needed to deliver long term success across multiple regions. Operating as a trusted advisor to the Board and Leadership Team, the post holder drives a cohesive global People strategy while ensuring local relevance, compliance, and cultural sensitivity for our teams based in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and the Pacific Islands. What you'll be doing in a nutshell: Leading the development and delivery of the Group's people, organisational development and culture agenda, ensuring alignment with the Group's strategy, growth priorities and operating model. Providing executive leadership and expert advice to the CEO, Executive, GSLT and Board on workforce strategy, organisational effectiveness, talent, capability and change. Building and embedding robust people systems, policies and practices that enable high performance, leadership capability, effective change and long term organisational sustainability across the Group. Requirements We're seeking someone who brings Qualifications Degree level qualification in Human Resources, Organisational Development, Business, Psychology or a related discipline. Post graduate qualification (or equivalent professional experience) in HR (MCIPD), OD, Leadership, or Learning & Development. Formal training or accreditation are desirable, including human resource management, organisational change, leadership development or executive coaching. Knowledge Deep understanding of people strategy, organisational development and workforce planning in complex organisations. Strong working knowledge of employment legislation, employee relations and health & safety governance, including operating across multiple jurisdictions, particularly the UK. Strong knowledge of TUPE and equivalent workforce transfer frameworks, including their application in complex, multi jurisdiction operating environments. Knowledge of organisational design, performance management, talent management and succession planning. Understanding of corporate governance, Board and committee operations, including remuneration and risk oversight. Sound understanding of change management and organisational transformation in growth or scaling environments. Knowledge of operating in international, donor funded or regulated environments. Understanding of culture, values and leadership behaviour as drivers of organisational performance. Familiarity with people analytics and workforce insight to inform executive decision making. Experience Proven experience in a senior, enterprise level People, HR or OD leadership role within a complex organisation. Demonstrated experience developing and delivering Group wide people and organisational strategies aligned to business objectives. Experience advising CEO, Executive and Board on people, capability, culture and organisational risk. Proven experience leading organisational change, workforce redesign or transformation initiatives. Experience overseeing employee relations, performance management and sensitive people matters, including acting as an escalation point. Experience operating across multiple jurisdictions or geographically dispersed organisations. Experience supporting or servicing Board committees, including Remuneration or Health & Safety. Experience chairing or contributing to governance or assurance committees. Experience in organisations undergoing growth, diversification or international expansion. Skills Executive leadership and judgement, with the ability to operate credibly at CEO and Board level. Strong strategic thinking and problem solving skills, with the ability to translate strategy into deliverable outcomes. High level influencing, negotiation and advisory skills, including managing complex or sensitive issues. Ability to lead complex workforce transfer processes i.e. TUPE, providing executive level advice on risk, consultation, employee relations and post transfer integration. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, suitable for Board papers, executive reporting and organisational communication. Strong governance and assurance capability, including policy development, risk management and compliance oversight. Strong facilitation and coaching skills. Capability to lead effectively across cultures and diverse operating contexts. Experience using people data and insight to inform strategic decisions. 25 days annual leave - plus bank holidays An annual day off for birthday leave, a wellbeing day and a day off for volunteering Life Assurance Employee Assistance Programme How to apply Please submit: Your CV Cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification Applications close Wednesday 4th March 2026 by 5pm. Interviews to be held week commencing 9th March. Please Note - vacancies may close prior to the expiry date displayed, subject to the volume of applications received.
Group Director, People and Organisational Development Full time Cognition Learning Group United Kingdom Posted On 16/02/2026 Job Information Education Administration Programmes City Manchester Province Greater Manchester Postal Code M1 Job Description Group Director, People and Organisational Development Location: Manchester office (Hybrid) Salary: £TBD plus bonus and performance incentive Contract Type: Permanent, full-time Cognition Learning Group is a leading provider of education, training, consultancy, and digital learning solutions. With offices around the globe, we proudly deliver knowledge to communities in more than 30 countries worldwide. We offer a wide range of services, designed to improve learning outcomes, create opportunities, and change lives for the better. The Group Director, People & Organisational Development (POD) provides strategic leadership for the organisation's global People agenda. This role shapes the culture, capability, and organisational effectiveness needed to deliver long term success across multiple regions. Operating as a trusted advisor to the Board and Leadership Team, the post holder drives a cohesive global People strategy while ensuring local relevance, compliance, and cultural sensitivity for our teams based in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and the Pacific Islands. What you'll be doing in a nutshell: Leading the development and delivery of the Group's people, organisational development and culture agenda, ensuring alignment with the Group's strategy, growth priorities and operating model. Providing executive leadership and expert advice to the CEO, Executive, GSLT and Board on workforce strategy, organisational effectiveness, talent, capability and change. Building and embedding robust people systems, policies and practices that enable high performance, leadership capability, effective change and long term organisational sustainability across the Group. Requirements We're seeking someone who brings Qualifications Degree level qualification in Human Resources, Organisational Development, Business, Psychology or a related discipline. Post graduate qualification (or equivalent professional experience) in HR (MCIPD), OD, Leadership, or Learning & Development. Formal training or accreditation are desirable, including human resource management, organisational change, leadership development or executive coaching. Knowledge Deep understanding of people strategy, organisational development and workforce planning in complex organisations. Strong working knowledge of employment legislation, employee relations and health & safety governance, including operating across multiple jurisdictions, particularly the UK. Strong knowledge of TUPE and equivalent workforce transfer frameworks, including their application in complex, multi jurisdiction operating environments. Knowledge of organisational design, performance management, talent management and succession planning. Understanding of corporate governance, Board and committee operations, including remuneration and risk oversight. Sound understanding of change management and organisational transformation in growth or scaling environments. Knowledge of operating in international, donor funded or regulated environments. Understanding of culture, values and leadership behaviour as drivers of organisational performance. Familiarity with people analytics and workforce insight to inform executive decision making. Experience Proven experience in a senior, enterprise level People, HR or OD leadership role within a complex organisation. Demonstrated experience developing and delivering Group wide people and organisational strategies aligned to business objectives. Experience advising CEO, Executive and Board on people, capability, culture and organisational risk. Proven experience leading organisational change, workforce redesign or transformation initiatives. Experience overseeing employee relations, performance management and sensitive people matters, including acting as an escalation point. Experience operating across multiple jurisdictions or geographically dispersed organisations. Experience supporting or servicing Board committees, including Remuneration or Health & Safety. Experience chairing or contributing to governance or assurance committees. Experience in organisations undergoing growth, diversification or international expansion. Skills Executive leadership and judgement, with the ability to operate credibly at CEO and Board level. Strong strategic thinking and problem solving skills, with the ability to translate strategy into deliverable outcomes. High level influencing, negotiation and advisory skills, including managing complex or sensitive issues. Ability to lead complex workforce transfer processes i.e. TUPE, providing executive level advice on risk, consultation, employee relations and post transfer integration. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, suitable for Board papers, executive reporting and organisational communication. Strong governance and assurance capability, including policy development, risk management and compliance oversight. Strong facilitation and coaching skills. Capability to lead effectively across cultures and diverse operating contexts. Experience using people data and insight to inform strategic decisions. 25 days annual leave - plus bank holidays An annual day off for birthday leave, a wellbeing day and a day off for volunteering Life Assurance Employee Assistance Programme How to apply Please submit: Your CV Cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification Applications close Wednesday 4th March 2026 by 5pm. Interviews to be held week commencing 9th March. Please Note - vacancies may close prior to the expiry date displayed, subject to the volume of applications received.