Head of Learning & Development

Job Description

About us  

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.  

About the Job

Lead UKAEA’s approach to learning and capability development, turning workforce priorities into a clear and integrated strategy. You’ll set professional standards, oversee a portfolio of programmes and ensure learning investment delivers measurable organisational value. As UKAEA’s senior L&D specialist, you’ll lead the team, budget and continuous improvement of learning services.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and deliver an organisation-wide learning and capability strategy aligned with workforce and people priorities.
• Translate future capability requirements into a prioritised portfolio of learning and development activity.
• Identify capability risks and advise senior leaders on investment priorities.
• Establish the operating model, professional standards, governance and quality assurance arrangements for learning.
• Ensure learning activity meets legislative, accessibility, funding and professional requirements.
• Manage the learning portfolio, budget and resources, monitoring value, benefits and return on investment.
• Approve learning solutions, programmes and external partnerships.
• Represent L&D at senior governance forums and influence organisation-wide workforce decisions.
• Build strategic relationships with professional bodies, learning providers and academic partners.
• Lead and develop the L&D team while improving the quality, efficiency and maturity of learning services.

What You’ll Bring

• Degree-level education or equivalent, alongside a recognised professional qualification in L&D or HR, such as CIPD Level 7.
• A recognised coaching qualification, such as ILM Level 5 or Level 7 in Coaching and Mentoring.
• Extensive experience leading an L&D function within a complex organisation.
• A strong track record of developing and delivering organisational learning strategies and programmes within time, cost and quality requirements.
• Expert knowledge of learning methodologies, digital learning, programme evaluation, accessibility requirements and relevant legislation.
• Previous responsibility for managing teams, budgets, resources and senior stakeholder relationships.

Benefits 

We have a generous range of benefits (see the full list here) and highlights include:   

• A salary of £64115
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus 
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution  
• 25 days annual leave plus 2.5 'privilege' days; 8 Bank Holidays
• Additional 3 days of site closure over Christmas break  
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions  

Our commitment to ED&I 

UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. 

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or require adjustments to help you participate fairly in our recruitment process, for example changes to the way we interview or share information. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates. 

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All appointments are made on merit and further information can be found here.   

Qualifications

Additional Information

Salary: £64,115 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension