Head of Talent & Development

The Head of Talent and Development is responsible for shaping and executing the talent management and development game plan at NEXT. This role requires a strategic thinker who can drive initiatives related to learning and development, leadership programs, succession planning, and performance management.

About the role

This role is about more than just learning; it's about nurturing talent throughout the employee lifecycle. It’s about building a rich network of skilled individuals that enables our diverse teams to succeed in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment. We’re seeking a dynamic individual to evolve our talent development and progression strategies. You’ll spearhead the creation of inspiring talent pathways and career journeys, ensuring they align with our dynamic culture and cater to our diverse workforce.

Your focus will be on fostering a high-performance culture where individuals can excel, and you’ll be instrumental in measuring the impact of our development initiatives on overall talent effectiveness. A key aspect will be establishing robust succession planning processes to identify and nurture future leaders, proactively addressing critical skills gaps, and implementing strategies to retain our high-potential talent.

You and the team will design impactful development solutions that span the entire talent journey, from onboarding new hires to enhancing leadership capabilities and driving performance. Furthermore, you’ll be pivotal in facilitating internal mobility, creating opportunities for career growth through mentoring and social learning programmes and strategic succession planning. Developing frameworks and ensuring we’re proactively building the skills needed for future organisational success will be central.

You’ll leverage technology to deliver engaging talent experiences and stay abreast of cutting-edge talent management trends. Attracting and nurturing future talent is a core priority. You’ll champion our Early Careers programmes, ensuring they provide meaningful opportunities and build a strong future talent pipeline.

But your vision extends beyond this. You’ll also be instrumental in fostering a learning culture that embraces the diverse experiences and ambitions of our multigenerational workforce. From tailored development pathways that recognise different career stages to inclusive leadership programmes and mentoring opportunities that bridge experience levels. We believe in empowering every individual to reach their full potential, and you’ll be key in making that a reality.

This role is critical to our business, given its scale and complexity. You will be central in fostering a unified approach across all departments and levels. You’ll champion collaborative efforts, facilitate cross-functional discussions, and ensure everyone is working toward the same talent development and progression goals, ultimately creating a cohesive and high-performing organisation.

About you

• HR/Business degree, CIPD preferred; expert in adult learning, instructional design, and modern learning methods.
• Adept at building, leading and motivating a high-performing team.
• Proven success in budget management, talent development, digital learning strategies, and delivering organisational development in complex environments.
• Demonstrates commercial understanding and effective project management across multiple initiatives.
• Experience in coaching at various levels and leading comprehensive training portfolios.
• An innovative thinker who drives change and brings fresh perspectives.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing at executive level.
• Bold, balanced, and able to work at pace with limited resources.