Head of Learning and Development

Job Introduction

Head of Learning and Development

Location: Hybrid - Sheffield

Annual Salary: Competitive

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

About Us

Trusted by teaching communities worldwide, Twinkl provides instant access to a complete range of teaching, planning and assessment materials that support learning from birth through to secondary education and beyond.

We believe every child deserves to feel loved, supported and inspired to learn. That’s why we’re passionate about creating engaging, high-quality educational resources that make a genuine difference to teachers, schools and families across the globe.

Our library of over 1,000,000 teaching and learning resources has been created by experienced educators to support learning both inside and outside the classroom.

From planning and assessment tools to leadership and wellbeing resources, we help educators focus on what matters most-inspiring learners.

As Twinkl grows, we’re looking for a Head of Learning and Development to help our people build the skills we need for our next stage of growth.

About the Role

How do you help a business build the capability it needs before skills gaps hold it back? As our Head of Learning and Development, you’ll turn Twinkl’s strategy into a clear view of the skills we need today and in the future, then work with senior leaders to decide how best to develop or bring in that capability.

You’ll own our talent and capability strategy, connecting internal development, hiring, career moves and external partnerships. Working closely with Talent Acquisition and the wider People team, you’ll help build succession for critical roles and create opportunities for colleagues to apply their skills where the business needs them most.

A central part of your role will be making learning something colleagues can confidently drive for themselves. You’ll develop the frameworks, curated resources, peer learning and AI tools that help people learn as they work, and equip managers to coach their teams. You’ll also own the Career Framework and performance management process, making both clear, accessible and useful.

You’ll lead and develop the L&D team, prioritise investment and stay close to delivery. Structured programmes will have a clear purpose, with success measured through stronger capability, better performance and career mobility.

In this role you will

• Shape the talent and capability strategy, mapping future skills needs and partnering with Talent Acquisition and People colleagues to close gaps through development, hiring, internal moves or external partnerships.
• Lead and coach the L&D team to enable self-directed learning through accessible pathways, curated resources, peer learning and practical support in everyday work.
• Own the Career Framework and performance management process, equipping managers to coach their teams and connecting development with succession, stretch assignments and career mobility.
• Design and deliver targeted leadership, onboarding and mandatory learning programmes, and build capability through AI adoption and organisational change.
• Set the direction for learning platforms and AI-enabled tools, testing approaches that personalise learning and simplify self-service before scaling those that demonstrate value.
• Use capability, performance and mobility data to evaluate impact and guide investment, managing budgets, suppliers and apprenticeship levy funding to deliver value for the business.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

You’ll bring a commercial understanding of capability and a practical approach to helping people grow. You’ll be curious about new ways of learning, comfortable challenging established approaches and able to turn business priorities into action.

• Experience delivering a talent or capability strategy linked to business goals, including workforce planning, skills mapping and succession planning, with evidence of the gaps you helped close.
• A track record of enabling people to own their learning, supported by expertise in performance consulting, needs analysis and practical development pathways.
• Experience owning and improving career frameworks and performance management processes, making them accessible and useful to managers and colleagues.
• Strong people leadership and coaching skills, with the confidence to influence senior leaders and agree clear priorities for development and investment.
• The ability to use data to demonstrate improvements in capability, performance and internal mobility, and inform decisions about what to continue, change or stop.
• Experience with learning platforms and AI-enabled learning tools, alongside effective programme, budget and supplier management.
• Experience with skills or talent management systems, apprenticeship levy funding and the Apprenticeship Service digital account (DAS) would be advantageous.

How We Will Look After You

• Westfield Health Cash Plan: Claim money back, up to set limits, for everyday healthcare expenses such as dental check-ups, optical care and therapy treatments.
• Annual Leave: 33 days inclusive of bank holidays, pro rata.
• Me Day: A dedicated “Me Day” each year for yourself.
• Volunteering: A paid charity volunteering day each year.
• Twinkl Perks: Free Twinkl subscriptions for you and your family.
• Culture: A friendly, welcoming and supportive environment where collaboration and kindness matter.
• Flexibility: Flexible working with opportunities to work from home.
• Inclusion: Our Employee Network Programme includes groups focused on LGBTQ+, People of Colour, Disabilities (visible/invisible), Women in Tech and Working Parents.
• Financial Security: Enhanced pension contributions and life insurance.
• Family Support: Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay.
• Loyalty: Long service awards and additional annual leave.

Join Us

If you’re excited by the opportunity to shape how Twinkl builds future skills and help colleagues take ownership of their growth, we’d love to hear from you.

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