Skills Design Specialist in London

Our team develops training for every person you interact with at TfL – from train drivers to engineers during upgrades. The training you receive is the result of this work.

As a skills design specialist, you will analyse, design and deliver high‑quality learning solutions that meet organisational needs and drive meaningful learning outcomes. You will create and enhance both new and existing learning programmes, focusing on innovative, engaging, blended learning journeys that address key skills issues and compliance within the Transport for London Operations Group.

The role involves leading the training assurance approach across Operational Training (Competency‑Based), challenging traditional learning approaches to meet industry standards, embedding evidence‑based methods through market research, and ensuring that learning solutions transform the business’s capabilities to meet current and future challenges.

• Lead the innovation of training and competence approaches to create a consistent and quality‑assured method for developing operational training across a multi‑modal organisation.
• Collaborate across Specialists to design and implement comprehensive learning programmes based on clear, measurable, and impactful learning objectives and outcomes that integrate diverse instructional strategies, digital tools, and delivery formats to enhance the learner experience and maximise business impact.
• Project‑manage the full project lifecycle of training design programmes, from inception to implementation, ensuring high‑quality training across modes and that learning programme designs are consistent and efficient based on competencies and skills.
• Collaborate with content developers to ensure materials are engaging and aligned with modern learning principles, delivering value to both learners and the business.
• Foster strong relationships with key areas of the business to influence and align support for training assurance programmes and approaches that are industry‑leading and meet the wider needs of the whole of Operations.
• Collaborate directly with frontline/operational employees, team leads, and subject matter experts to conduct role‑specific gap, and training needs analyses. Gather detailed insights to ensure learning solutions are targeted, practical, and aligned with immediate performance challenges. Engage stakeholders to validate findings, address concerns, and ensure training initiatives are relevant, scoped appropriately, and deliver measurable impact at the team or departmental level.
• Continually monitor market trends and research into training and competence approaches, assessing how these could benefit our operational environment.
• Collaboratively lead the vision for a competency‑based approach to training and assessment across all Operational modes with a 3–5 year forward view of continuous improvement, drawing on industry best practice.

• Ability to design engaging and interactive learning journeys using diverse formats (in‑person, virtual, on‑demand).
• Skilled in developing clear and measurable learning objectives aligned with business goals.
• Strong ability to build relationships and act as a trusted advisor to internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficient in conducting training needs analyses and identifying skill gaps.
• Adept at leveraging feedback to refine learning journeys and improve learner engagement.
• Responsible for processes, systems and procedures and ensuring they are accurately completed.
• Proven ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, to drive continuous improvements, and maintain consistent positive perceptions of the organisation.

• Strong understanding of adult learning principles (e.g., Andragogy, ADDIE model, Kirkpatrick's Evaluation Model).
• Familiarity with modern instructional design models, including blended and experiential learning strategies.
• Knowledge of digital learning tools and platforms (e.g., LMS, e‑learning authoring tools).
• Insight into how learning supports change initiatives and aligns with organisational goals.
• Working knowledge of project management and planning techniques to achieve continuous improvement (including risk management).
• Knowledge of training quality assurance techniques and processes.
• Knowledge of best practice training standards and competence techniques across safety‑critical industries.

• Extensive experience in Learning and Development, including designing, implementing, and evaluating learning solutions.
• Proven track record in using instructional design models and digital learning tools.
• Experience working across diverse customer groups, ensuring adaptability to different business needs.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting needs analyses and collaborating with cross‑functional teams to deliver results.
• Experience managing end‑to‑end skills projects, including resource allocation and delivery timelines.
• Experience in using data and metrics to measure training impact and improve organisational performance.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. We are a disability‑confident employer and guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

• Final salary pension scheme
• Free travel on the TfL network
• Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28‑day flexi ticket
• 30 days annual leave plus public and