Title: Learning & Development Lead
Location: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Financial Services
Reporting Line: Manager of Talent Development & Rewards
Second Line: Chief Human Capital Officer
We are partnering with our exciting Abu Dhab based client to appoint a Learning & Development Lead. This role is within the Human Capital function, responsible for building high-impact learning solutions, driving performance excellence, and strengthening succession and talent pipelines across the organisation.
This role will suit a senior L&D or Talent professional with strong exposure to performance management frameworks, leadership development, and succession planning, ideally within a regulated or complex organisation.
Key Responsibilities
Learning & Development Strategy
- Lead the design and delivery of end-to-end learning and development programmes aligned with organisational strategy
- Conduct Training Needs Analysis (TNA) using job analysis, performance reviews and business priorities
- Develop and implement the annual training plan and learning strategy
- Design and deliver customised development programmes including:
- Leadership and executive development
- Competency and capability frameworks
- Talent and mentorship programmes
- Lead the creation and rollout of career development programmes to support internal mobility and leadership readiness
- Stay abreast of global L&D trends and continuously enhance learning methodologies and tools
Training Operations & Delivery
- Oversee coordination of all training activities including scheduling, communications, logistics and evaluations
- Manage onboarding and orientation programmes for new joiners
- Prepare, implement and track Individual Development Plans (IDPs)
- Maintain accurate learning records, dashboards and training analytics
- Manage summer internships and student placement programmes
- Draft RFPs and manage vendor selection for external training providers
- Review and evaluate training effectiveness and continuously optimise learning solutions
Performance Management
- Lead the design, implementation and continuous improvement of the end-to-end performance management cycle
- Policies, processes, timelines, scoring and calibration
- Manage the annual performance appraisal cycle across the organisation
- Partner with managers to address performance gaps and improvement areas
- Support the development and monitoring of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs)
- Support recognition and reward initiatives in collaboration with Compensation & Benefits teams
Succession Planning & Talent Development
- Design and maintain a transparent career pathing and internal mobility framework
- Establish and manage the organisational succession planning framework
- Identify critical roles and build internal successor pipelines
- Work with business leaders to identify high-potential talent
- Define development pathways for successors to ensure leadership continuity
- Ensure succession plans are aligned with wider talent and workforce strategies
Stakeholder Management & Reporting
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders across all business units
- Partner with HR, Talent and Leadership teams to align development initiatives
- Manage relationships with local and international training providers
- Prepare accurate and timely reports, insights and analytics for leadership
- Support positioning the organisation as an employer of choice through strong people development practices
Leadership & Governance
- Provide guidance, coaching and on-the-job development for junior team members
- Promote organisational values, ethics and a high-performance culture
- Support policy development and continuous improvement initiatives
- Ensure compliance with corporate governance, risk and business continuity frameworks
Mandatory requirements:
-Bachelors degree minimum qualifications
-Candidates preferred who are already in Abu Dhabi or willing to relocate
-Extensive experience in succession planning
-Minimum of 8 years experience in L&D
