Head of Learning, Leadership and Development

Waythrough 12 Month Fixed Term Contract Circa £60,000 Hybrid with weekly presence in Bowburn, North East

Sarah McKenna HR is delighted to be partnering with Waythrough on the recruitment of this key appointment. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced L&D leader to join a large national charity at a really exciting point in its journey.

About Waythrough

Waythrough is a large national charity supporting people with substance misuse, mental health challenges and complex needs. With a workforce of nearly 4,000 people across a wide range of services, the organisation is committed to making a real difference to the lives of the people it supports.

Waythrough was formed through the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship and is now focused on bringing the best of both organisations together. The L&D function plays a central role in that, and we are now looking for an interim Head of Learning, Leadership and Development to lead the team through the next stage of that journey.

The role

This is a hands on senior leadership role with full responsibility for the day to day running of the L&D function. You will lead a team of 18 with 3 direct reports, manage a budget of around £1m and be the key L&D contact for senior leaders and operational managers across the organisation.

Post merger, there is still work to do to align training materials, systems and processes into a single coherent offer, and you will lead that work alongside the ongoing operational delivery. You will also provide strategic oversight of key projects including leadership development, talent and succession planning and a competency framework linked to pay progression.

As an interim appointment, you will also be asked to bring a fresh perspective on how the function is structured and what it needs to look like in the longer term, feeding back your recommendations to the Director of Culture and Workforce Development.

What we are looking for

We need an experienced L&D leader who has run a function before and can demonstrate a genuine track record of operational delivery alongside strong people leadership. You will be comfortable working in a complex, fast paced environment and will have the skills to build relationships quickly, provide clear direction and bring a team with you.

Sector experience in charity, health, social care or housing is an advantage but is not essential. What matters most is your depth of L&D knowledge, your leadership ability and your collaborative approach.

Essential experience and skills

• Significant experience in a senior L&D leadership role within a large, complex multi-site organisation
• A strong track record of managing and developing L&D teams including managers and specialist trainers
• Solid operational experience running an L&D function including mandatory training, scheduling, evaluation and quality
• Experience of working through organisational change or post-merger environments
• Strong stakeholder management and the ability to influence and advise at a senior level
• Experience of managing budgets and overseeing external training providers and contracts
• Good knowledge of digital learning, blended delivery approaches and learning management systems
• Ability to attend our Bowburn office in the Northeast on a weekly basis

Desirable

• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent professional qualification
• Experience of designing competency frameworks or talent management programmes
• Background in the charity, health, social care or housing sectors

What Waythrough offers

• Salary of circa £60,000
• 27 days annual leave rising to 32 days after one year, plus an additional birthday leave day
• Enhanced sick pay of up to 6 months full pay depending on length of service
• Defined contribution pension with 4.5% employer contribution matched up to 6.5%
• Life assurance at 3 times annual salary
• Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay
• Blue Light Card reimbursement, Cycle to Work scheme, Recommend a Friend bonus of 500 pounds and a range of retail discounts

How to apply

This role is being recruited on a confidential basis. To find out more or to register your interest please contact Sarah McKenna. All enquiries will be treated in strict confidence.