At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Learning and Development team to shape skills for Twinkl's future growth.
- Company: Join Twinkl, a trusted name in educational resources worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive culture that values collaboration and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by empowering colleagues to own their learning journey.
- Qualifications: Experience in talent strategy, coaching, and using data to drive improvements.
The predicted salary is between 51648 - 63126 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid - Sheffield
Annual Salary: Competitive
Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
About Us
Trusted by teaching communities worldwide, Twinkl provides instant access to a complete range of teaching, planning and assessment materials that support learning from birth through to secondary education and beyond. We believe every child deserves to feel loved, supported and inspired to learn. That’s why we’re passionate about creating engaging, high-quality educational resources that make a genuine difference to teachers, schools and families across the globe. Our library of over 1,000,000 teaching and learning resources has been created by experienced educators to support learning both inside and outside the classroom. From planning and assessment tools to leadership and wellbeing resources, we help educators focus on what matters most—inspiring learners.
As Twinkl grows, we’re looking for a Head of Learning and Development to help our people build the skills we need for our next stage of growth.
About the Role
How do you help a business build the capability it needs before skills gaps hold it back? As our Head of Learning and Development, you’ll turn Twinkl’s strategy into a clear view of the skills we need today and in the future, then work with senior leaders to decide how best to develop or bring in that capability. You’ll own our talent and capability strategy, connecting internal development, hiring, career moves and external partnerships. Working closely with Talent Acquisition and the wider People team, you’ll help build succession for critical roles and create opportunities for colleagues to apply their skills where the business needs them most.
A central part of your role will be making learning something colleagues can confidently drive for themselves. You’ll develop the frameworks, curated resources, peer learning and AI tools that help people learn as they work, and equip managers to coach their teams. You’ll also own the Career Framework and performance management process, making both clear, accessible and useful. You’ll lead and develop the L&D team, prioritise investment and stay close to delivery. Structured programmes will have a clear purpose, with success measured through stronger capability, better performance and career mobility.
In this role you will:
- Shape the talent and capability strategy, mapping future skills needs and partnering with Talent Acquisition and People colleagues to close gaps through development, hiring, internal moves or external partnerships.
- Lead and coach the L&D team to enable self-directed learning through accessible pathways, curated resources, peer learning and practical support in everyday work.
- Own the Career Framework and performance management process, equipping managers to coach their teams and connecting development with succession, stretch assignments and career mobility.
- Design and deliver targeted leadership, onboarding and mandatory learning programmes, and build capability through AI adoption and organisational change.
- Set the direction for learning platforms and AI-enabled tools, testing approaches that personalise learning and simplify self-service before scaling those that demonstrate value.
- Use capability, performance and mobility data to evaluate impact and guide investment, managing budgets, suppliers and apprenticeship levy funding to deliver value for the business.
What You’ll Need to Succeed
- You’ll bring a commercial understanding of capability and a practical approach to helping people grow. You’ll be curious about new ways of learning, comfortable challenging established approaches and able to turn business priorities into action.
- Experience delivering a talent or capability strategy linked to business goals, including workforce planning, skills mapping and succession planning, with evidence of the gaps you helped close.
- A track record of enabling people to own their learning, supported by expertise in performance consulting, needs analysis and practical development pathways.
- Experience owning and improving career frameworks and performance management processes, making them accessible and useful to managers and colleagues.
- Strong people leadership and coaching skills, with the confidence to influence senior leaders and agree clear priorities for development and investment.
- The ability to use data to demonstrate improvements in capability, performance and internal mobility, and inform decisions about what to continue, change or stop.
- Experience with learning platforms and AI-enabled learning tools, alongside effective programme, budget and supplier management.
- Experience with skills or talent management systems, apprenticeship levy funding and the Apprenticeship Service digital account (DAS) would be advantageous.
How We Will Look After You
- Westfield Health Cash Plan: Claim money back, up to set limits, for everyday healthcare expenses such as dental check-ups, optical care and therapy treatments.
- Annual Leave: 33 days inclusive of bank holidays, pro rata.
- Me Day: A dedicated “Me Day” each year for yourself.
- Volunteering: A paid charity volunteering day each year.
- Twinkl Perks: Free Twinkl subscriptions for you and your family.
- Culture: A friendly, welcoming and supportive environment where collaboration and kindness matter.
- Flexibility: Flexible working with opportunities to work from home.
- Inclusion: Our Employee Network Programme includes groups focused on LGBTQ+, People of Colour, Disabilities (visible/invisible), Women in Tech and Working Parents.
- Financial Security: Enhanced pension contributions and life insurance.
- Family Support: Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay.
- Loyalty: Long service awards and additional annual leave.
Join Us
If you’re excited by the opportunity to shape how Twinkl builds future skills and help colleagues take ownership of their growth, we’d love to hear from you.
Head of Learning and Development in Sheffield employer: Twinkl
At Twinkl, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and growth. With a focus on professional development, our team enjoys flexible working arrangements, generous annual leave, and a supportive environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. Join us in making a meaningful impact in education while enjoying the benefits of a dynamic and rewarding workplace.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Learning and Development in Sheffield
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Learning and Development in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Leadership Skills:In the corporate leadership and management field, it's essential to highlight your leadership experience. Use your CV to flesh out examples of how you've led teams to success or managed significant projects. We want to see specific instances where your actions made a tangible difference in your previous roles!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers talk, especially in management! When detailing your achievements in your CV or cover letter, don’t just say you improved team performance. Instead, say you boosted productivity by 30% over six months through effective strategy implementation. This makes your application pop and shows us what you can bring to Twinkl.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to narrate your professional journey. We’re looking for motivation and a clear understanding of what corporate leadership means to you. Dive into your aspirations and how they align with the values and vision of Twinkl. Make it personal – we want to get to know you!
Tailor Your CV for Management Roles:Ensure your CV reflects the management skills that are essential for this role. Focus on competencies like strategic planning, team building, and problem-solving. Use a clean layout, and don’t forget to align your experiences with those keywords mentioned in the job listing. This will help you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at Twinkl
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
You’ll want to thoroughly convey your unique approach to leadership. During the interview with Twinkl, be ready to share real-life examples of how you've inspired and motivated teams in the past. Think about specific achievements that illustrate your strategic thinking and your ability to drive results.
✨Brush Up on Management Theories
Expect some technical questions related to management theories and practices. Brush up on concepts like transformational leadership, servant leadership, or situational leadership. Be prepared to discuss how you would apply these theories to the role at Twinkl, especially in the specific context of the challenges they’re currently facing.
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Since this is a full-time leadership role, spending time thinking about your vision for Twinkl could really set you apart. Consider potential strategies for growth and how you would lead teams towards achieving them. This shows not just enthusiasm, but also strategic foresight that they’ll likely be looking for in a candidate.
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