Head of Learning & Development in Manchester

An outstanding opportunity has arisen to join our global HR function as Head of Learning & Development (L&D). Based in one of our regional offices in Birmingham, Leeds, or Manchester, this is a global role and comes at an exciting time to join the firm as we deliver on our plans for development, growth and success.

Squire Patton Boggs is one of the world's strongest integrated law firms, committed to providing insight at the point where law, business and government meet. We deliver commercially focused business solutions by combining our legal, lobbying and political capabilities and invaluable connections on the ground to a diverse mix of clients, from long-established leading corporations to emerging businesses, start-up visionaries and sovereign nations.

More than 1,500 lawyers in 45 offices across 20 countries on five continents provide unrivalled access to expertise. In the UK, we have offices in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and London. The firm is committed to promoting a collaborative and supportive working environment. Embedded by local champions in each of our UK offices, our well-regarded family and carer, wellbeing and workplace culture and development programmes provide a variety of flexible working options to support individuals' life journeys, helping our people pursue their personal and professional goals.

Learning & Development plays a central role in enabling our people to build successful, sustainable careers and deliver excellence for our clients. Our success depends on collaboration, professionalism and the continuous development of our people.

As Head of Learning & Development, you will lead the firm's global L&D agenda while remaining closely involved in the design and delivery of learning. You will work closely with our partners and senior leaders, shaping learning solutions that directly impact the firm's global priorities, commercial objectives, and culture. This is a strategic yet hands-on role. You will be trusted to operate with autonomy, influence through expertise, and act as a credible adviser to senior leaders within the firm, whilst remaining actively involved in delivering key learning programmes.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Define and lead the global Learning & Development strategy, aligned to the firm's partnership model, values and long-term business priorities.
• Partner with senior leaders to understand global firm priorities, translating them into targeted, high-impact learning solutions.
• Position L&D as a trusted, value-adding function - providing insight, challenge and expertise.
• Champion inclusive, accessible learning that supports our Workplace Culture & Development ambitions, and reflects the strength of our global workforce.
• Retain full ownership of the design, delivery and evaluation of the firm's learning portfolio.
• Design and deliver selected programmes, particularly those aimed at senior lawyers, partners and future leaders.
• Oversee and evolve our blended learning offer, including in-house programmes delivered via live virtual, face-to-face and digital formats (including Articulate 360).
• Externally sourced and curated learning, managed through strong relationships with preferred suppliers.
• Learning developed in collaboration with subject matter experts, including professional support lawyers, finance, business development and regulatory and compliance teams.
• Ensure our learning platform and overall learner experience reflect the standards and professionalism expected within a partnership-led firm.
• Provide line management to L&D colleagues in the UK and US, building capability, setting clear expectations and creating a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Establish clear ways of working across regions, recognising cultural and practice-based differences while driving alignment to global L&D principles.
• Work in close partnership with HR colleagues to support broader talent and career development agendas, including leadership development, succession planning and career pathways.

To Succeed In This Role, You Will

• Be a credible and confident L&D leader, with experience in a similar role at a legal or professional services firm.
• Bring strong strategic judgement, combined with a willingness to remain hands-on in programme design and delivery.
• Have demonstrable experience designing, delivering and evaluating learning across multiple formats, including live virtual and face-to-face learning.
• Have experience leading and developing teams, ideally with an international dimension.
• Show excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust and long-term relationships with partners and senior leaders.
• Be highly organised, commercially aware and comfortable managing multiple priorities across a global remit.
• Bring a positive, improvement-focused mindset and a commitment to your own professional growth.
• Maintain excellent attention to detail and a strong focus on quality and reputational risk.

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, please visit our website at www.squirepattonboggs.com/join-us/ in the first instance. We are unable to process applications sent directly by email. Please complete an online application. We will be reviewing applications and interviewing on an ongoing basis. No agency CVs at this time, please.

We are an inclusive employer and aim to ensure our workforce is representative of our society. We welcome applications regardless of age, neurodiversity, disability, family or parental status, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression or other legally protected characteristics. We will make reasonable adjustments and adaptations to our recruitment process to ensure it is inclusive for anyone who wishes to apply.