Head of Learning & Development (Any office Location)

Role Location - This role can be based from any of our Freeth office locations. About the role We are seeking an experienced Head of Learning & Development to lead our L&D function through an exciting period of change.

As part of the Future Ready Talent initiative, you'll build and lead our L&D team, set the strategy and standards for learning across the firm, and work hand in hand with our Learning Leaders - the experienced colleagues in every part of the business who design, deliver and champion learning locally. This is a rare opportunity to help shape an L&D function rather than inherit one.

You'll own the L&D strategy, plan and budget, aligned to the firm's 2030 strategy; you'll establish the governance that makes prioritisation transparent and supplier spend demonstrate its worth; and you'll report progress and impact. You'll also keep your hand in where it counts most: senior leadership development, facilitation and trusted-adviser conversations with our practice groups.

Key responsibilities To own the L&D strategy, annual plan and budget, aligned to the firm's 2030 strategy and Future Ready Talent commitments. To establish and run the governance framework: policies, decision rights, spend thresholds, the L&D risk register and the annual review cycle.

To lead the rhythm of the function: preparing and presenting to the quarterly Steer Co, running the monthly Learning Leaders Network with the team, and holding a monthly People Team update. To own prioritisation: a single intake channel and a transparent method for deciding what we must, should and could do, so effort and investment follow firm priorities.

To own sourcing: the make-or-buy framework, the preferred supplier list and our supplier relationships, consolidating spend and evidencing return on investment. To sponsor the Learning Leaders network: its mandate, membership, support and recognition. To lead, develop and manage the L&D team, building our internal design and delivery capability over time.

To report impact against agreed KPIs, and to reassess our L&D maturity regularly to evidence progress. To design and deliver at a senior level: leadership development, facilitation and advisory work with practice groups and business services. To develop and design training to our clients.

Your skills and qualifications Candidates must have senior L&D leadership experience within, ideally law firms, including designing or significantly reshaping an L&D function or operating model. You'll need to be credible with partners, Exec and a Steer Co, comfortable making the case for investment with evidence, and equally at home coaching a team, chairing a governance meeting or facilitating a senior workshop.

Required experience includes Leading an L&D function or major L&D transformation, including strategy, budget and governance Building prioritisation, supplier management and measurement from a low base and demonstrating ROI Strong grasp of learning practice: 70:20:10, learning in the flow of work, and evaluation through to impact Leading, developing and managing a team Influencing at Board, Exec or partnership level; excellent communication skills Experience of communities of practice or networked/distributed delivery models is highly desirable Commercial and budget management skills; confident with data, KPIs and learning systems Business psychology and behavioural change expertise is desirable Smart.

Bold. Together. We Are Freeths. Become part of the team at Freeths. View some of our recent highlights on our website here. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you. We’re 1000+ Freethinkers, striving to create a better place.

We’re committed to living our values – smart, bold, together – and making a positive change at every touchpoint for our colleagues, clients and communities. We’ve built our law firm on solid foundations of integrity, entrepreneurialism and expertise. This has helped us grow into one of the largest full-service law firms in the UK, with 13 offices and over 1000 colleagues, and counting. 1.

Think Ambition: We’ve built our law firm on solid foundations of integrity, entrepreneurialism and expertise. This has helped us grow into one of the largest full-service law firms in the UK, with 13 offices and over 1,000 colleagues, and counting. Matching individual ambition and our firm’s ambition matters.

That’s why we develop our people by making sure every one of our team feels connected through a clear progression pathway and leadership support. It’s helped us to grow an award-winning reputation in the eyes of our clients and competitors that each and every one of the Freeths team works hard to uphold in everything we do. 2. Think Recognition: Sharing success matters to us.

We love to showcase excellent work across the firm and celebrate our people through our employee awards. We recognise our teams work hard together to deliver the best solutions for our clients. That’s why great work is well rewarded - our rewards and benefits are among the best in the business. 3. Think Together: Our people are at the heart of what makes Freeths such a great place to be.

We’re a firm where people care about each other and employee wellbeing is high on the agenda. Our firm is set up to ensure everyone’s voice is heard, and mutual respect is shown by all. We understand that differences add strength, which means we maintain a diverse culture where everyone has the freedom to be themselves and thrive. We're committed to championing diversity and building an inclusive culture.

We want to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people, regardless of their background. We welcome applications from everybody, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds. We celebrate difference, encourage diversity of thought and are dedicated to continually challenging our processes to maintain fairness, equity and transparency.

If you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact !recruitmentfreeths@freeths.co.uk and we will be happy to discuss. We are committed to sourcing candidates directly where possible. For particular roles, we may work with preferred suppliers who will be invited by our resourcing team to support us.

We may also agree to accept CVs from other suppliers on an ad hoc basis (to be agreed in writing). We will not be responsible for fees in relation to CVs or profiles submitted directly to our partners or other employees or for any applications not submitted via our portal. Agencies should contact our recruitment team before submitting unsolicited applications.