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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead impactful learning initiatives for Warehouse and Head Office teams.
- Company: Join Waterstones, a beloved bookshop dedicated to exceptional customer experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, team collaboration, and exclusive employee discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in a friendly team while fostering a culture of continuous learning.
- Qualifications: Experience in learning methods, project management, and stakeholder engagement required.
- Other info: Flexible working style and coaching approach are essential.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Learning & Development Manager
Permanent
Based in Burton Upon Trent / Hybrid (3 days in the office in Burton / 2 days at home)
We are looking for a Learning & Development Manager to join our friendly and collaborative team here at Waterstones in Burton Upon Trent. You will be fully responsible for the development of impactful L&D initiatives to drive learning for our Warehouse employees and Head Office Teams based in Burton Upon Trent and Piccadilly, London.
As a Learning & Development Manager for the Warehouse and Head Office, you will be a key strategic partner in fostering a culture of continuous learning, excellence and belonging. You will design and implement learning experiences that align with our organisational goals for the Warehouse and support teams, support delivery of strong performance, developing management and leadership capability and maximising use of tools and resources to deliver cost effective solutions to meet a variety of learning needs.
What you will be doing
- Understand The Warehouse and Head Office business priorities and challenges to deliver effective development initiatives that are operationally relevant for a variety of stakeholder requirements
- Work with the Warehouse leadership team to create and deliver an effective onboarding development programme to ensure new employees are trained well.
- Create and deliver effective career development programmes for The Warehouse and Head Office teams to ensure retention and succession of our employees
- Create and deliver management and leadership programmes.
- Manage apprenticeship providers, explore and implement programmes that maximise our usage of the apprenticeship levy whilst delivering value to the business.
- Effective use of variety of development techniques, tools and opportunities to meet requirements, such as networking events, use of our e-learning platform, creative development events, building video content etc to self-directed learning, fostering continuous growth and development.
- Regularly review, maintain and update learning libraries.
- Oversee the approval of training materials, ensuring consistency and accuracy for The Warehouse & Head Office.
- Provide guidance on designing training for key business processes and systems.
- Stay up to date with trends in learning, growth and development to ensure our programs evolve in line with business needs.
- Where appropriate sharing resources and collaborating on corporate initiatives and content with the Retail L&D Team to maximise our development offering.
What we need from you
- Knowledge of effective learning and development methods.
- Experience of delivering development activities, ideally within a Warehouse environment.
- Design and delivery of effective development solutions to meet business needs
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
- Project management expertise.
- Strong influencing skills.
- Skills Gap analysis experience.
- Experience engaging with a variety of different stakeholders.
- Utilising apprenticeship levy and managing providers.
- Knowledge of delivering solutions to non-native English employees would be advantageous
Person Profile
- You will be confident at building trusting relationships and have a coaching style/approach.
- Confidence in handling and analysing data to make recommendations or decisions.
- You will have excellent organisational skills.
- Confident in delivering training face to face.
- Have a flexible working style and able to adapt to different audiences.
- Be a starter / finisher.
Why work for Waterstones
At Waterstones, everything we do is about our customers, and we work hard to provide them with the best possible shopping experience, one that will make them want to visit time and time again. We strive to consistently deliver fantastic customer service, whether recommending a book or a gift, keeping our shops beautifully stocked, helping out in our lovely Café W’s, or keeping the wheels turning efficiently behind the scenes. Working with us, you will get to use your expertise and enthusiasm to bring to our customers the irreplaceable pleasures of a good bookshop (including a virtual one).
In return, you will be working in a role that can make a real difference to Waterstones, work in a friendly and dynamic team and get to benefit from our excellent discount in shops and waterstones.com.
If you have the relevant essential experience and you are interested, we would love to hear from you.
Learning and Development Manager employer: Waterstones
Contact Detail:
Waterstones Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Learning and Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the specific learning and development needs of both Warehouse and Head Office teams. Understanding their unique challenges will help you tailor your approach and demonstrate your strategic thinking during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your experience in designing onboarding and career development programs. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully implemented these initiatives in previous roles, especially in a warehouse environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Highlight your project management skills by discussing past projects where you effectively managed multiple stakeholders. This will illustrate your ability to influence and collaborate with various teams, which is crucial for this role.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on the latest trends in learning and development. Being knowledgeable about current best practices will not only impress the interviewers but also show your commitment to continuous improvement in the field.
We think you need these skills to ace Learning and Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take the time to thoroughly read the job description for the Learning & Development Manager position. Make sure you understand the key responsibilities and required skills, as this will help you tailor your application.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasize your experience in learning and development, particularly in a Warehouse environment. Provide specific examples of successful initiatives you've led or contributed to that align with the role's requirements.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since exceptional communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for this role, make sure to highlight instances where you've effectively communicated with various stakeholders or delivered training sessions.
Tailor Your Application: Customize your cover letter to reflect your understanding of Waterstones' values and how your background aligns with their goals. Mention your enthusiasm for fostering a culture of continuous learning and how you can contribute to their team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Waterstones
✨Understand the Company Culture
Before your interview, take some time to research Waterstones' culture and values. Familiarize yourself with their commitment to customer service and continuous learning, as this will help you align your answers with what they value in a Learning & Development Manager.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your ability to design and implement effective learning initiatives. Highlight any relevant projects you've managed, especially those related to warehouse environments or onboarding programs.
✨Emphasize Communication Skills
Since exceptional communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for this role, be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully engaged with various stakeholders. Discuss your approach to building relationships and fostering a collaborative environment.
✨Discuss Trends in Learning and Development
Stay updated on the latest trends in learning and development. During the interview, share your insights on innovative training methods and tools that could benefit Waterstones. This shows your commitment to evolving their programs in line with business needs.
