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- Tasks: Lead the global People strategy and shape organisational culture for long-term success.
- Company: Cognition Learning Group, a leader in education and digital learning solutions.
- Benefits: Generous leave, life assurance, and employee assistance programme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on people's lives through strategic leadership in a global context.
- Qualifications: Degree in HR or related field; experience in senior HR leadership roles required.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team with opportunities for growth and international collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Manchester office (Hybrid)
Salary: £TBD plus bonus and performance incentive
Contract Type: Permanent, full-time
Cognition Learning Group is a leading provider of education, training, consultancy, and digital learning solutions. With offices around the globe, we proudly deliver knowledge to communities in more than 30 countries worldwide. We offer a wide range of services, designed to improve learning outcomes, create opportunities, and change lives for the better.
The Group Director, People & Organisational Development (POD) provides strategic leadership for the organisation's global People agenda. This role shapes the culture, capability, and organisational effectiveness needed to deliver long-term success across multiple regions. Operating as a trusted advisor to the Board and Leadership Team, the post-holder drives a cohesive global People strategy while ensuring local relevance, compliance, and cultural sensitivity for our teams based in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and the Pacific Islands.
What you’ll be doing in a nutshell:
- Leading the development and delivery of the Group's people, organisational development and culture agenda, ensuring alignment with the Group's strategy, growth priorities and operating model.
- Providing executive leadership and expert advice to the CEO, Executive, GSLT and Board on workforce strategy, organisational effectiveness, talent, capability and change.
- Building and embedding robust people systems, policies and practices that enable high performance, leadership capability, effective change and long‑term organisational sustainability across the Group.
Requirements
We’re seeking someone who brings:
- Qualifications: Degree level qualification in Human Resources, Organisational Development, Business, Psychology or a related discipline. Post graduate qualification (or equivalent professional experience) in HR (MCIPD), OD, Leadership, or Learning & Development. Formal training or accreditation are desirable, including human resource management, organisational change, leadership development or executive coaching.
- Knowledge: Deep understanding of people strategy, organisational development and workforce planning in complex organisations. Strong working knowledge of employment legislation, employee relations and health & safety governance, including operating across multiple jurisdictions, particularly the UK. Strong knowledge of TUPE and equivalent workforce transfer frameworks, including their application in complex, multi‑jurisdiction operating environments. Knowledge of organisational design, performance management, talent management and succession planning. Understanding of corporate governance, Board and committee operations, including remuneration and risk oversight. Sound understanding of change management and organisational transformation in growth or scaling environments. Knowledge of operating in international, donor funded or regulated environments. Understanding of culture, values and leadership behaviour as drivers of organisational performance. Familiarity with people analytics and workforce insight to inform executive decision making.
- Experience: Proven experience in a senior, enterprise‑level People, HR or OD leadership role within a complex organisation. Demonstrated experience developing and delivering Group‑wide people and organisational strategies aligned to business objectives. Experience advising CEO, Executive and Board on people, capability, culture and organisational risk. Proven experience leading organisational change, workforce redesign or transformation initiatives. Experience overseeing employee relations, performance management and sensitive people matters, including acting as an escalation point. Experience operating across multiple jurisdictions or geographically dispersed organisations. Experience supporting or servicing Board committees, including Remuneration or Health & Safety. Experience chairing or contributing to governance or assurance committees. Experience in organisations undergoing growth, diversification or international expansion.
- Skills: Executive leadership and judgement, with the ability to operate credibly at CEO and Board level. Strong strategic thinking and problem solving skills, with the ability to translate strategy into deliverable outcomes. High level influencing, negotiation and advisory skills, including managing complex or sensitive issues. Ability to lead complex workforce transfer processes i.e. TUPE, providing executive‑level advice on risk, consultation, employee relations and post‑transfer integration. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, suitable for Board papers, executive reporting and organisational communication. Strong governance and assurance capability, including policy development, risk management and compliance oversight. Strong facilitation and coaching skills. Capability to lead effectively across cultures and diverse operating contexts. Experience using people data and insight to inform strategic decisions.
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave - plus bank holidays
- An annual day off for birthday leave, a wellbeing day and a day off for volunteering
- Life Assurance
- Employee Assistance Programme
How to apply
Please submit:
- Your CV
- Cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification
Applications close Wednesday 4th March 2026 by 5pm. Interviews to be held week commencing 9th March. Please Note - vacancies may close prior to the expiry date displayed, subject to the volume of applications received.
Group Director, People and Organisational Development in Manchester employer: Cognition Learning Group
Contact Detail:
Cognition Learning Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Director, People and Organisational Development in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the industry, attend events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how personal connections can open doors that applications alone can’t.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. We want you to align your experiences with what they stand for. Show them you’re not just a fit on paper but also in spirit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You never know when you’ll meet someone who could help you land that dream job. We suggest crafting a concise summary of your skills and experiences that you can share in casual conversations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Director, People and Organisational Development in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling CV: Your CV is your first impression, so make it count! Tailor it to highlight your experience in people strategy and organisational development, showcasing how you've driven change in complex environments.
Write a Strong Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell your story. Explain how your qualifications and experiences align with the role, and don’t forget to mention your understanding of cultural sensitivity across different regions.
Be Specific About Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, be specific about your achievements. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact on organisational effectiveness and workforce strategy.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you receive updates directly from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cognition Learning Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the key responsibilities and requirements for the Group Director, People and Organisational Development role. Brush up on your knowledge of people strategy, organisational development, and workforce planning, especially in complex organisations. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples of your executive leadership experience. Think about times when you've advised a CEO or Board on people strategy or led organisational change. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your impact.
✨Cultural Fit is Key
Cognition Learning Group values cultural sensitivity and alignment with their global teams. Be ready to talk about how you've navigated diverse work environments and adapted strategies to fit local contexts. This shows that you understand the importance of culture in driving organisational performance.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview. Inquire about their current challenges in people strategy or how they measure success in organisational development. This not only demonstrates your interest but also gives you valuable insights into their priorities and expectations.