Head of L&D

Head of L&D

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Dawsongroup

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Shape learning strategy and build capability across a nationwide workforce.
  • Company: Dawsongroup, a leading asset rental business with a strong focus on growth and innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, funded training, 24 days leave plus birthday off, and life assurance.
  • Other info: Join a family business that values its people and invests in future growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on leadership and organisational effectiveness in a supportive environment.
  • Qualifications: Senior experience in L&D or Organisational Development with a commercial mindset.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Are you an experienced Head of Learning & Development, Organisational Development leader, or senior Talent and Capability professional looking to shape learning strategy in a commercially focused business? This role at Dawsongroup offers the opportunity to build capability across a nationwide, operational workforce while directly influencing performance, leadership strength, engagement, and long term business growth.

You will work closely with senior leaders across the business to create practical, accessible, and commercially valuable learning solutions that support both frontline operational teams and professional populations. This is a highly visible role with real influence, balancing strategic thinking with hands on delivery across onboarding, leadership development, succession planning, capability frameworks, and organisational effectiveness.

  • Lead and deliver a business aligned L&D and OD strategy focused on operational excellence and measurable business impact
  • Design end to end learning frameworks covering onboarding, leadership, line management, specialist capability, and CPD
  • Partner with operational and senior leadership teams to strengthen leadership depth and reduce skills gaps
  • Use workforce insight and data to measure ROI, improve learning effectiveness, and prioritise high value activity
  • Build a culture of continuous learning that works for both desk based and frontline employees

About You

You could already be operating as a Head of L&D, Head of Organisational Development, Senior Learning Partner, or Workforce Development leader, ideally within a multi site or operational environment. You understand how learning drives commercial performance and can confidently balance long term strategy with practical execution.

You will bring credibility with senior stakeholders while still being comfortable rolling up your sleeves to build frameworks, challenge thinking, and improve organisational capability. We know no candidate ticks every box, so if your experience is transferable and you can see yourself succeeding in this environment, we would encourage you to apply.

  • Senior level experience within Learning & Development, Organisational Development, or Workforce Capability
  • Strong understanding of leadership development, capability frameworks, change, and organisational effectiveness
  • Experience supporting operational, frontline, or geographically dispersed workforces
  • Commercial mindset with the ability to prioritise learning investment against measurable outcomes
  • Confident influencing leaders and building engagement across multiple stakeholder groups

About Us

Dawsongroup is one of Europe’s leading asset rental businesses, operating across sectors including trucks, vans, buses and coaches, material handling, temperature control, municipal, and energy solutions. Operating for over 90 years as a family business, we still adhere to the values that steered us for so long, now under the ownership of KKR, with continued investment in our people, infrastructure, and future growth.

Our people strategy is built around growth, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. With operations across 11 countries and a strong focus on leadership, wellbeing, and development, this is an opportunity to shape learning within a business that genuinely invests in its people and future capability.

  • 2x life assurance scheme
  • Funded training and internal progression opportunities, both nationally and internationally
  • 24 days standard leave allowance + Birthday

Head of L&D employer: Dawsongroup

Dawsongroup is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its employees, offering a dynamic work culture where innovation and accountability thrive. With a strong commitment to continuous improvement, employees benefit from funded training, internal progression opportunities, and a generous leave allowance, all while shaping impactful learning strategies within a leading asset rental business. This role not only provides the chance to influence organisational capability but also fosters a supportive environment for both personal and professional growth.
Dawsongroup

Contact Detail:

Dawsongroup Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of L&D

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how important it is to build relationships that could lead to job opportunities.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their learning strategies and think about how you can contribute. We recommend practising common interview questions and having your own questions ready to show your interest.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your skills through real-life examples. When discussing your experience, focus on measurable outcomes and how your contributions have made a difference. We want to see how you’ve driven change and improved organisational capability.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and genuinely interested in joining our team.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of L&D

Learning & Development Strategy
Organisational Development
Talent and Capability Development
Leadership Development
Capability Frameworks
Change Management
Operational Excellence
Data Analysis for ROI Measurement
Stakeholder Engagement
Continuous Learning Culture
Commercial Mindset
Influencing Skills
Onboarding Processes
Succession Planning

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in Learning & Development and Organisational Development. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t be shy about showcasing relevant achievements!

Showcase Your Impact: When detailing your past roles, focus on the measurable outcomes of your initiatives. Use data and examples to illustrate how you've influenced performance and engagement in previous positions. We love seeing numbers that tell a story!

Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who can connect with our team and stakeholders, so don’t hesitate to share your passion for learning and development. Authenticity goes a long way!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it’s super easy!

How to prepare for a job interview at Dawsongroup

✨Know Your Learning Strategies

Before the interview, dive deep into the latest trends in Learning & Development. Be ready to discuss how you would design end-to-end learning frameworks that align with Dawsongroup's operational excellence. Show them you understand the balance between strategic thinking and hands-on delivery.

✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills

Prepare examples of how you've successfully influenced senior leaders and built engagement across various teams. Highlight your experience in partnering with operational leadership to strengthen capabilities and reduce skills gaps. This will demonstrate your credibility and ability to drive change.

✨Bring Data to the Table

Familiarise yourself with workforce insights and data analysis. Be ready to discuss how you've measured ROI on learning initiatives in the past. This shows you can prioritise high-value activities and improve learning effectiveness, which is crucial for the role.

✨Emphasise Continuous Learning Culture

Talk about your strategies for building a culture of continuous learning, especially for both desk-based and frontline employees. Share specific examples of how you've fostered this environment in previous roles, as it aligns perfectly with Dawsongroup's people strategy.

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