Head of Learning & Development
North East | Hybrid Working | £65,000 – £82,000
About the Role
We are seeking a passionate and forward-thinking Head of L&D to lead the organisation's approach to learning, leadership, and capability development.
This is a highly visible leadership role with responsibility for shaping how development happens across CPI, ensuring our people have the skills, behaviours, and expertise needed to succeed today and in the future. You'll lead an established team of learning specialists while helping evolve the function beyond traditional learning and development into a broader organisational capability and development model.
We're looking for an individual who brings energy, enthusiasm, and fresh thinking—someone who can inspire others, challenge the status quo, and build a culture where learning is embedded into everyday work.
What You'll Be Responsible For:
Enterprise Capability & Organisational Development
- Define and lead CPI's approach to capability and development across the organisation
- Build clear capability frameworks aligned to business needs and future growth priorities
- Design and deliver organisational development initiatives that improve performance and capability
- Help move the organisation towards a more holistic approach to talent and development rather than standalone training interventions
Leadership & Professional Development
- Lead the design and delivery of leadership and management development programmes
- Create clear development pathways for key professional and technical communities
- Drive coaching, mentoring, knowledge-sharing, and self-directed learning initiatives
- Develop approaches that support future leaders, technical experts, and executive talent pipelines
Learning Strategy & Innovation
- Set the overall learning strategy and development approach across CPI
- Ensure learning is practical, impactful, and linked to business performance
- Champion modern learning methods, digital learning solutions, and innovative development practices
- Explore opportunities to leverage emerging technologies, including AI-enabled learning solutions
Leadership of the Capability & Development Team
- Lead and develop a team of specialist Learning & Development professionals
- Foster a high-performing, collaborative, and customer-focused culture
- Ensure the team delivers high-quality learning interventions across leadership, compliance, management, technical, and professional development programmes
- Manage the learning and development budget, ensuring effective use of investment and apprenticeship levy funding
Stakeholder Engagement
- Partner with senior leaders to identify capability priorities and performance challenges
- Translate business strategy into meaningful development activity
- Work closely with HR, Organisational Effectiveness, and Technology & Innovation teams to ensure capability initiatives align with organisational goals
About You:
You are an experienced learning, capability, or organisational development leader who thrives on helping people and organisations reach their potential.
You'll bring:
- Proven experience leading Learning & Development, Capability, or Organisational Development functions
- Strong experience translating business objectives into development strategies and programmes
- A passion for developing people and creating engaging learning experiences
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills
- The ability to operate strategically while remaining practical and delivery-focused
- Experience leading and developing teams
Most importantly, you'll bring:
- High levels of energy, positivity, and enthusiasm
- A people-first approach
- Curiosity, innovation, and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking
- A genuine passion for helping others grow and succeed
Desirable:
- Experience within scientific, technical, engineering, or innovation-led organisations
- Experience within regulated environments
- CIPD membership, coaching qualifications, or relevant organisational development credentials
- Exposure to leadership programmes, talent development, succession planning, or capability frameworks
Why Join?
- Opportunity to shape the future of organisational capability across a nationally significant innovation organisation
- Lead a well-established team of development specialists
- High visibility with senior and executive stakeholders
- Opportunity to influence culture, leadership, and long-term workforce capability
- Competitive salary package (£65,000–£82,000)
Location & Working Pattern
- Hybrid working arrangement
- Regular presence across company sites and stakeholder groups as required
- Flexible working culture focused on outcomes and collaboration
The Opportunity
This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of Capability & Development at a pivotal point in the company's evolution. You'll have the platform to build on strong foundations, influence organisational performance, and create innovative approaches that help develop future leaders, world-class technical experts, and high-performing teams.
If you're looking for a role where you can make a lasting impact across an entire organisation, we'd love to hear from you.