Learning & Development Lead – Maldon District Council in Essex

Maldon District Council is working in partnership with Essex Shared Services to support the role of Learning and Development lead, a full-time position offering hybrid working. The Council offers hybrid working subject to business and role needs. This role will be expected to attend the office Tuesday for a team day and one other day as a minimum.

Role Purpose

• Working within a busy HR team to provide professional, pragmatic learning and development support to allocated services, delivering timely advice and guidance that supports effective people management and organisational outcomes.
• Oversee the Council’s e-learning platform and ensure all relevant training courses are sourced and delivered for mandatory and special tailored courses.
• Provide Induction and SMART (appraisal) documentation and training for Managers and all relevant employees.
• Provide administrative and coordination support to the Head of HR during the planning and implementation of change.
• Support in change management and employee relations processes.
• Work within the Council and across Essex on relevant Local Government Review (LGR) training needs and ensure that these are delivered to those within our Council.
• Ensure compliance with the Corporate Plan, employment legislation, council policies, procedures and good HR practice in all people-related activity.
• Undertake a training needs analysis and create a Workforce Strategy in year.
• Enable the delivery of service priorities through proactive HR advice, coaching and early intervention on people matters.
• Be familiar with the Apprenticeship Levy and ensure that the Council uses this to deliver training when available.
• Support and develop managers’ capability and confidence in managing their teams effectively, fairly and consistently.
• Ensure that learning and development enquiries and continuous learning is managed efficiently and records updated accordingly.
• Contribute to Department changes, HR projects, initiatives and policy development aligned to workforce priorities and the Council’s Corporate Plan.
• Be a role model for the service, demonstrating professionalism, integrity, resilience and compassion, with a strong focus on communication, continuous learning and wellbeing.

Accountabilities

• Learning Strategy Development: Design, implement and lead on delivering a comprehensive Workforce Strategy aligned with organisational goals and workforce needs. Use data to inform strategic decisions and demonstrate the value of L&D initiatives. Conduct regular training needs analyses to identify skill gaps and future capability requirements. Prepare and deliver regular reports and insights to the leadership team on learning outcomes, participation and impact when requested. Deliver training initiatives in preparation for the Local Government Review (LGR) and ensure this is linked with Learning and Development colleagues across the County.
• Program Design and Delivery: Develop, deliver, and evaluate learning programs, workshops, and e-learning initiatives across all levels of the Council. Ensure learning content is engaging, inclusive, and aligned with adult learning principles.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with colleagues across the Council and HR colleagues to understand development needs and co-create learning solutions. Act as a trusted advisor to managers on learning pathways, career development, and performance improvement.
• Leadership and Talent Development: Lead the design and execution of leadership development programs and succession planning initiatives. Support high-potential employee development and career progression frameworks. Support initiatives that promote career development and internal mobility.
• Measurement and Evaluation: Establish metrics to assess the effectiveness and return of investment of learning initiatives. Use data and feedback to continuously improve learning offerings and delivery methods. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of learning programs using feedback and performance data.
• Learning Technology and Innovation: Stay current with L&D trends and innovations to bring fresh ideas into the Council. Utilise learning platforms and tools to deliver scalable and accessible training.
• Compliance and Governance: Ensure all mandatory training is delivered and tracked in line with the Council and regulatory requirements. Supporting the Health and Safety Manager to ensure compliance of safety critical training is met. Maintain accurate records and reporting for audits and compliance reviews.
• Leadership and Development: Lead by example fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. Ensuring corporate induction is facilitated and maintained in line with corporate priorities and organisational structure.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Knowledge and Qualifications: A suitable candidate will have a strong understanding of adult learning, public sector learning needs, and local government structures, policies, and workforce regulations. They should be familiar with EDI principles, national and local government priorities, and modern L&D practices including LMS platforms, digital learning, microlearning, and AI-enabled approaches. The role requires relevant qualifications or extensive experience, supported by ongoing CPD and the ability to apply current L&D trends to practical workforce development.
• Experience: A strong applicant will have proven experience designing, delivering, and evaluating L&D programmes in a public sector or local authority context, with the ability to conduct training needs analyses and align learning to organisational goals. They should demonstrate effective collaboration with service managers, HR teams, and external providers, confidently report learning insights to senior leaders, and bring a solid background in facilitating workshops and development sessions for a diverse workforce, including frontline staff and Members.
• Skills and Ability: A strong candidate will bring excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, alongside the ability to plan and manage multiple projects effectively. They should demonstrate analytical capability to evaluate learning impact, confidently use digital learning and data tools, and translate strategic goals into practical learning solutions. Success in the role also requires working both independently and collaboratively across complex environments, adapting learning content for diverse roles, and maintaining confidentiality and integrity when handling sensitive workforce information.

Benefits

• The Local Government Pension Scheme
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Flexible and agile working
• Employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Discounted local gym membership
• Free parking

Equal Opportunities

Maldon District Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups including children, young people and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Disclosure and Barring checks will be undertaken according to the responsibilities of the role. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, culture and experience. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, sex, disability or marital status.

Disability Support

Maldon District Council is committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. To demonstrate our commitment, we have been accredited as a Disability Confident Employer. As a Disability Confident Employer we take various actions in order to successfully employ and retain disabled people and those with health conditions.