Head of Learning and Organisation Development

Role: Head of Learning and Organisational Development
Location: University of Oxford
Reports to: Director of Talent and Deputy Director of HR
Terms: Full-time
Salary: Grade 10, Competitive salary commensurate with experience

Are you a passionate leader with a vision for transformative learning and development in higher education? The University of Oxford is seeking a Head of Learning and Organisational Development to lead its Learning and Organisational Development Team.

The University

The University of Oxford aims to be a world leader in both research and education for the benefit of society globally. Oxford’s researchers engage with academic, commercial, and cultural partners across the world to stimulate high-quality research and enable innovation through a broad range of social, policy and economic impacts.

Whilst retaining traditions of scholarship, Oxford is forward-looking, creative, and cutting-edge. Oxford is one of Europe’s most entrepreneurial universities and ranks first in the UK for university spinouts. In recent years Oxford has typically incubated and spun out 15-20 new companies every year, whilst being recognised as a leader in the support of social enterprise.

Our ambition is clear; to maintain our position as the leading University in the world, while fostering an inclusive, diverse and values-driven culture, in partnership with the colleges. We are already making strides towards achieving this.

The Role

The Head of Learning and Organisational Development is a pivotal role which will contribute to delivering the Strategic Plan and People Strategy and ensure that the portfolio of Learning offerings, aligns with the institution’s goals.

The successful candidate will develop the learning and development strategy and lead the strategic planning and implementation of comprehensive learning and development programs that align with the University’s mission. Collaborating with senior stakeholders across the University’s Divisions and Departments to enhance leadership and management capabilities will be essential. Key responsibilities include designing, implementing, and evaluating innovative learning initiatives such as workshops, seminars, blended learning options and online courses, while utilising assessment tools to measure effectiveness and promote continuous improvement.

The role requires experience in developing Employee Engagement initiatives with departmental stakeholders and overseeing the implementation of a Learning Management System to deliver high-quality professional learning solutions. The ideal candidate will possess significant experience in learning and organisational development, in a large and complex setting. Higher Education experience is not required, but relevant transferable experience and an understanding of the complexities of an academic environment would be helpful. Additionally, they will demonstrate strong collaborative skills and a proven ability to align strategic learning programs with institutional goals.

With excellent analytical skills and a focus on data-driven decision-making, the successful candidate will enhance the overall experience for staff.

The University is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment, and the candidate’s expertise will contribute to building a thriving educational community that meets the needs of staff and enriches the educational experience.

Applications should consist of:

• A full CV.
• A covering letter (maximum of two pages) outlining your motivations to apply for this role, your relevant experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
• Please include details of two referees on your CV, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

The closing date for applications is noon on Thursday 3^rd April 2025.