Head of Learning and Workforce Capability in London

Head of Learning and Workforce Capability in London

London Full-Time 50000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
the National Centre for Social Research

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the transformation of training for a national workforce using innovative digital learning solutions.
  • Company: Join NatCen, a leading social research organisation making a real impact.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, and a generous pension scheme.
  • Other info: Be part of a mission-driven team focused on improving lives through research.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of learning and workforce capability in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in leading training functions and understanding of digital learning technologies.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.

Location: Hybrid with travel to London and Romford required

Reporting to: Director of People and Culture

Team: Field Interviewer Trainers, Training Coordinator, E-Learning Content Creator

Key Responsibilities

  • Transform how we train, develop and equip one of the UK's largest research fieldwork workforces.
  • Lead the development of a modern, digitally enabled learning function that supports both our national Field workforce and our research and operational teams.
  • Modernise how training is designed, delivered and experienced.
  • Shape the future of learning across NatCen through digital learning, Learning Management Systems, onboarding, workforce readiness and capability development.
  • Lead the transformation of interviewer training towards scalable, technology-enabled learning solutions.
  • Prepare NatCen for the future of work through AI readiness, digital capability development, workforce upskilling and modern learning approaches.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

  • Experience leading learning, training or capability functions in complex organisations.
  • Understanding of digital learning, learning technologies and modern training approaches.
  • Ability to build scalable, high-impact learning programmes that deliver measurable outcomes.
  • Comfortable influencing senior leaders and working across multiple functions.
  • Understanding of workforce readiness, operational excellence and capability development.
  • Brings energy, innovation and a passion for improving how people learn.

This role offers the opportunity to shape learning at organisational scale, transform how a national workforce is trained and developed, and play a key role in building NatCen's future capability, digital readiness and organisational effectiveness. If you're excited by transformation, digital learning, innovation, AI readiness and making a real organisational impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Benefits

Why join NatCen? This role offers the chance to shape NatCen’s future learning model at a genuinely organisational level. You will lead a function that touches workforce readiness, operational quality, digital learning ambition and organisational capability, with the opportunity to build something more modern, scalable and impactful.

Benefits: As well as a competitive salary, NatCen offers 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, flexible working, a generous pension scheme, life insurance, a health cash plan, a Cycle to Work scheme, a season ticket loan and career development support including professional subscriptions and mentoring.

About NatCen

At the National Centre for Social Research, we believe social research has the power to make life better. By understanding people’s lives and views in depth, we help ensure the public has a powerful voice in shaping services and policy. As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, we focus on high-quality research that works for society.

Our Values & Behaviours

  • We Are Curious: Explores innovative learning approaches and digital opportunities, and uses insight and feedback to improve training effectiveness.
  • We Move with Purpose: Aligns learning activity to organisational priorities and delivery outcomes, ensuring interventions are focused, effective and impactful.
  • We Act with Integrity: Maintains high standards of quality, consistency and professionalism, and builds trust through transparency, accountability and collaboration.

Head of Learning and Workforce Capability in London employer: the National Centre for Social Research

At NatCen, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions innovation and transformation in learning. With a focus on modern, digitally enabled training solutions, our collaborative work culture fosters professional growth and development, ensuring that our employees are equipped to thrive in a technology-driven environment. Enjoy a competitive salary, generous benefits, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future of social research while working in the vibrant locations of London and Romford.

the National Centre for Social Research

Contact Details:

the National Centre for Social Research Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Learning and Workforce Capability in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around digital learning and workforce capability.

Tip Number 3

Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online platforms. The more comfortable you are, the better you’ll perform when it counts.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great way to reiterate your fit for the position.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Learning and Workforce Capability in London

Leadership in Learning and Training
Digital Learning Technologies
Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Scalable Learning Programme Development
Influencing Senior Leaders
Workforce Readiness
Operational Excellence

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in leading learning and training functions. We want to see how your skills align with our mission to transform training at NatCen!

Showcase Your Digital Savvy:Since we're all about modern, tech-enabled learning, don’t forget to mention any experience you have with digital learning tools or Learning Management Systems. We love innovation, so let us know how you've embraced it!

Be Impact-Focused:When describing your past roles, focus on the measurable outcomes of your training programmes. We’re looking for someone who can build scalable solutions that really make a difference, so share those success stories!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at the National Centre for Social Research

Know Your Stuff

Before the interview, dive deep into NatCen's mission and values. Understand their approach to social research and how they aim to transform learning. This will help you align your answers with their goals and show that you're genuinely interested in making an impact.

Showcase Your Experience

Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully led learning transformations or implemented digital learning solutions. Highlight measurable outcomes to demonstrate your ability to deliver high-impact programmes that resonate with their needs.

Be Ready to Innovate

Since this role is all about modernising training, come prepared with fresh ideas on digital learning and technology-enabled solutions. Think about how you can leverage AI and other tools to enhance workforce capability and readiness, and be ready to discuss these during the interview.

Engage with Questions

Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the organisation. Ask about their current challenges in training and development, and how they envision the future of learning at NatCen. This shows your enthusiasm and strategic thinking.