Manager, Chair Learning & Development in Southampton

The Manager of Chair Enablement equips Vistage Chairs (CEO Coaches) with the skills, tools and community needed to deliver exceptional value to their members and sustain high‑performing practices. This leader ensures Chairs are not only successful in launching and growing their groups, but also continually deepen their mastery of the art and business of Chairing. The Manager will design and operationalise a holistic Chair enablement system encompassing training, upskilling, community engagement and ongoing performance support. Success in this role is measured through outcomes such as increased Chair productivity, member retention and group growth. The role balances strategic leadership with hands‑on execution; the Manager leads cross‑functional initiatives, shapes programmes and engages directly with Chairs as peers and partners in success. The Manager reports directly to the UK Managing Director and leads a team of two reports.

Vistage is the world’s largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organisation for small and medium‑size business (SME) leaders. We offer the most effective approach for SME enterprises to achieve better results, grow faster and for SME leaders to maximise their impact. With 45,000+ members, Vistage serves MDs/CEOs, owners and executives across the UK and worldwide. Members spend a day or more with Vistage each month to immerse themselves in a platform for better decisions, results and leadership. The platform features three core elements: peer perspectives, professional guidance and meeting facilitation from an accomplished Chair, and deep insights from subject‑matter experts. Founded over 65 years ago, Vistage has grown every year by innovating at the cutting edge of business and relentlessly delivering value to members. Vistage member companies grow 2.2× faster than non‑Vistage peers.

Welcome to our home. Our UK office sits in Hedge End, Southampton while our US headquarters sits in San Diego, California. The Hedge End office features an open, modern aesthetic with collaborative spaces and free coffee. We invest in your career. Each employee has an actionable career progression plan developed with their manager. We focus on promoting from within and complement staff development days with access to individualised resources and a tuition reimbursement programme. We invest in you. Our benefits programme is generous: life insurance of four times your base salary up to £1,250,000; a pension plan with automatic 5% contribution and 4% matching; 20 days annual leave plus additional paid days based on tenure. All employees also have access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Travel Emergency Service and more. We keep it fun! Whether celebrating office events or our annual holiday party, we take fun seriously. The office vibe is business casual with flexible, hybrid schedules, splitting time between office and home. We value mutual respect, laughter and ditch stiff formality. More than half our staff has been with Vistage for five years or longer, reflecting strong employee loyalty.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Chair Success Enablement: Develop and lead a comprehensive enablement strategy that drives Chair performance, satisfaction and long‑term retention.
• Programme Design & Execution: Create, refine and deliver learning pathways, workshops and experiences that elevate Chairs’ mastery of both the art (coaching and facilitation) and business (practice growth and member engagement) of Chairing.
• Performance Outcomes: Partner cross‑functionally with Marketing, Growth and Operations to track, analyse and improve Chair productivity, member retention and group expansion.
• Community Engagement: Foster connection and knowledge‑sharing across the Chair community through events such as ChairWorld, National Chair Meetings and VCGs.
• Enablement Systems: Develop and operationalise an annual enablement calendar with aligned content, cadence and communication strategies.
• Continuous Improvement: Use data and feedback to assess enablement impact, identify gaps and iterate quickly to enhance programme effectiveness.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Serve as a trusted thought partner to senior leadership, modelling accountability, executive presence and a deep understanding of Chair needs and motivations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years in leadership roles spanning enablement, learning & development or performance consulting.
• Proven success designing programmes that drive measurable behaviour change and performance outcomes.
• Deep understanding of executive coaching, leadership development or peer advisory models.
• Experience collaborating cross‑functionally across business units to deliver scalable, high‑impact programmes.
• Strong analytical, communication and project management skills.
• Expertise in facilitation, instructional design and programme evaluation.
• Experience working with independent contractors or franchise‑style networks is a plus.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Focused on outcomes over effort.
• Treats Chairs as entrepreneurial partners, not customers or employees.
• Demonstrates executive presence and a growth mindset.
• Collaborates cross‑functionally and challenges constructively.
• Delivers consistently and with polish.

JOB LOCATION London OR Hybrid in Hedge End; a mix of on‑site and off‑site days.