Head of Learning and Development

About the Role

Hybrid working arrangement (3 days in our Head Office in Accrington, 2 days working from home)

Salary £58,000 to £63,000

As CMAC continues to scale, our Head of People Development will play a pivotal role in building a high performing learning culture that equips our people with the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to support our ambitious growth plans.

This is a rare opportunity to build a People Development function from the outset, influence the future capability of the organisation and leave a lasting impact on how our people learn, grow and succeed.

You will be a hands on Learning & Development professional, responsible for designing and delivering engaging in-house learning solutions that build capability, improve performance, support succession planning and develop future leaders across the organisation.

Working closely with senior leaders and international stakeholders, you will ensure learning, development and engagement initiatives are aligned to organisational priorities, workforce planning and future capability requirements.

What Success Looks Like

• A practical and effective Learning & Development framework is established and embedded across the Group.
• Managers are equipped with the skills, tools and support they need to lead their teams effectively and help them succeed.
• High quality learning programmes are designed and delivered to support leadership, management, onboarding, compliance and operational capability.
• Learning Academies and development pathways are introduced across key business areas, creating clear opportunities for growth and progression.
• A consistent performance, appraisal and competency framework is successfully implemented and embedded across the Group.
• Training needs are identified and addressed through effective development planning and capability building initiatives.
• Training delivery has measurable impact, improving capability, performance, engagement and employee development.
• Training records and compliance requirements are effectively managed, with mandatory learning completed and accurately tracked.
• Future talent is developed through apprenticeships, leadership, talent and succession development initiatives.
• A culture of continuous learning is encouraged across the organisation, with employees supported to develop their skills and careers.

Core Responsibilities

Learning, Development & Capability Building

• Establish and lead the Group's People Development function, creating practical learning and development solutions that support business performance and employee growth.
• Identify learning and development needs through engagement with leaders, managers and employees across the business.
• Develop and deliver learning plans and initiatives aligned to operational and commercial priorities.
• Create and implement learning frameworks, development pathways and resources that support employee progression and capability development.
• Build a culture of continuous learning, knowledge sharing and self-development across the Group.
• Support initiatives that improve employee capability, engagement and retention.

Leadership, Management & Talent Development

• Design, develop and facilitate engaging in-house training programmes covering management, leadership, operational and professional development topics.
• Build and deliver management development programmes that equip managers with the skills, tools and confidence to lead their teams effectively.
• Develop structured onboarding, induction and role-specific training programmes that improve employee effectiveness and performance.
• Work closely with subject matter experts and operational leaders to create practical, business-focused learning solutions.
• Produce and maintain training materials, facilitator guides, work instructions and supporting resources.
• Measure the effectiveness of development activity and continually improve content, delivery methods and learner experience.

Performance Management, Competency Frameworks & Career Development

• Implement and embed a new Group performance management and appraisal framework.
• Develop competency frameworks that provide clear expectations and development opportunities across key roles and functions.
• Create career pathways that support progression, internal mobility and retention.
• Develop practical assessment and development approaches that support individual and team performance improvement.
• Coordinate talent development initiatives, including succession planning, high-potential programmes, apprenticeships and early careers development.
• Conduct training needs analysis and translate findings into practical learning and development solutions.

Compliance & Development Reporting

• Ensure mandatory, regulatory and contractual training requirements are delivered, monitored and accurately recorded.
• Maintain training records and support internal and external audit requirements.
• Monitor learning activity, participation and completion rates across the business.
• Evaluate and report on training outcomes, capability development and return on investment.
• Provide regular management information and recommendations to improve learning effectiveness and compliance.

Employee Engagement, Culture & Inclusion

• Support the embedding of CMAC values, behaviours and culture through learning, development and engagement initiatives.
• Develop and deliver initiatives that promote inclusion, belonging and equal opportunities.
• Deliver employee engagement activities and programmes that contribute to a positive, inclusive and high-performing workplace.
• Support employee feedback mechanisms, helping to translate insights into meaningful action plans.
• Use engagement and people data to identify trends, strengths and opportunities for improvement.
• Work with the wider People Team and managers to improve team engagement, wellbeing, collaboration and overall employee experience.
• Ensure L&D programmes are inclusive, accessible and support the growth of diverse talent across the Group.

Digital Learning & Learning Systems

• Lead the development of digital learning content, online inductions and development resources through HiBob and associated platforms.
• Manage learning systems, tools and resources to support effective delivery, administration and reporting.
• Support the digitalisation of training materials, work instructions and development content to improve accessibility and consistency.
• Maintain accurate learning records, compliance data and development reporting.
• Produce management reports and dashboards that provide visibility of training activity, ROI, compliance, engagement and capability development.
• Identify opportunities to improve the learner experience through technology, automation and digital content.

About You

This is a rare opportunity to shape the capability, culture and employee experience of a growing international organisation. You are an energetic, engaging and hands-on People Development professional who is passionate about helping people and businesses perform at their best. You bring credibility, enthusiasm and a practical approach, building strong relationships and creating learning experiences that have a real impact.

You understand how effective learning, strong leadership and engaged employees contribute to business success. Comfortable working with senior leaders, managers and frontline teams, you enjoy delivering training, coaching managers and turning development needs into practical, engaging solutions.

You are a confident communicator who can engage and influence stakeholders at all levels. Whether facilitating a workshop, supporting leaders, analysing development needs or launching a new learning initiative, you build trust quickly and bring people with you.

Commercially aware and highly collaborative, you can translate business priorities into learning and development activities that improve capability, performance and employee experience. You enjoy creating learning content, delivering training, developing career pathways and embedding development initiatives that support both individuals and the wider business.

You are also passionate about employee engagement, inclusion and creating a positive workplace culture. You believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed, and you actively promote environments where people feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their potential.

Most importantly, you are a visible advocate for learning and development, bringing energy, resilience and a real commitment to helping people grow while delivering practical outcomes that make a measurable difference to CMAC Group.

Your Expertise

• Significant experience in a senior Learning & Development, Talent Development or Organisational Development role.
• Experience establishing or developing L&D within a start up, growing organisation or SME.
• Proven experience designing, delivering and embedding learning, management and leadership development programmes.
• Strong knowledge of learning design, adult learning principles and development frameworks, with the ability to adapt approaches to different audiences and learning styles.
• Experience using psychometric and development tools such as Insights Discovery or similar frameworks.
• Experience supporting operational, frontline and geographically dispersed workforces.
• Strong understanding of Training Needs Analysis, competency frameworks, career pathways and capability development.
• Experience with LMS, digital learning tools and blended learning approaches.
• Experience developing performance, talent and succession development initiatives.
• Experience leading projects that improve capability and organisational performance.
• Strong stakeholder management, facilitation, coaching and influencing skills, with the ability to engage audiences at all levels.
• Commercially aware, with the ability to translate business needs into practical learning and development solutions.
• Experience supporting employee engagement, EDI and culture-building initiatives would be advantageous.
• A professional qualification in Learning & Development, Organisational Development or People Management (e.g. CIPD, ILM, CMI or equivalent) would be advantageous, however, senior experience will be equally valued.

About CMAC Group

We’re on a mission to keep the world moving - wherever, whenever people need it.

We believe disruption shouldn’t stop people in their tracks. From delayed flights to complex transport challenges, we make the complicated simple - getting people where they need to be safely and seamlessly.

Since 2007, we’ve built a technology-led platform connecting clients to a trusted global network, moving over 5 million passengers every year across the UK, Europe and beyond

We partner with airlines, rail providers, major corporations and emergency services, delivering 24/7 solutions through our family of brands when it matters most, with the scale and flexibility to handle even the most time critical journeys.

We’re not just moving people - we’re solving real world problems, creating calm in disruption and delivering exceptional service when it matters most.

CMAC Group actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

EDI is extremely important to us and we work hard to ensure that everyone connected with CMAC - whether employees, customers, Board Members, suppliers, or partners - has genuine and equal opportunities to participate in our organisation.

We welcome and support people of all backgrounds and identities, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to create an environment where everyone’s rights, dignity, and individuality are respected.

We value the unique contribution each person brings to our team and business, and we are committed to building an environment where everyone feels included and able to thrive.

CMAC Group is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and are committed to ensuring fair, accessible, and equitable treatment for all applicants and employees.

Salary £58,000 to £63,000

• Hybrid working
• Additional leave
• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Paid volunteer time