Group Head of Learning & Leadership

Client of Foreground

Job Description:
Foreground is partnering with a progressive and talent-centric investment group headquartered in Abu Dhabi to appoint a visionary yet grounded Group Head of Learning & Leadership . The role carries a group-wide mandate to design and institutionalize learning systems, leadership development frameworks, and cultural alignment initiatives across a portfolio that spans healthcare, financial services, industrials, and digital ventures.
Role Purpose
To design and deliver a scalable, future-ready learning and leadership architecture that accelerates capability development, builds internal succession pipelines, and drives a culture of high performance and continuous growth across a diversified business environment.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead the group-wide learning and development strategy, including enterprise learning models, learning experience platforms, and digital content ecosystems.
• Design and oversee group-level leadership development programs tailored to different career stages, from frontline managers to CXOs, ensuring measurable ROI and long-term impact.
• Collaborate with HRBPs, CEOs, and functional heads to identify capability gaps, build learning roadmaps, and align development with business strategy.
• Establish and manage a group learning academy, incorporating blended learning, microlearning, coaching frameworks, and cohort-based programs.
• Partner with external providers, academic institutions, and executive coaches to curate content and elevate leadership readiness across the group.
• Introduce learning analytics dashboards, behavioral assessment tools, and feedback loops to measure program impact and support evidence-based talent decisions.
• Design cultural transformation programs that support shared values, inclusion, agility, and ethical leadership across diverse operating environments.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CHRO on workforce development policy, succession planning, and executive pipeline visibility.
Ideal Candidate Profile
• 12+ years of experience in L&D, organizational development, or leadership development, including at least 5 years in a group or regional leadership role.
• Proven experience designing enterprise learning frameworks and building executive-level development programs in complex, multi-sector organizations.
• Bachelors degree in HR, Psychology, Education, or Organizational Development; Masters or certifications (e.g., Hogan, Korn Ferry, SHRM-SCP) strongly preferred.
• Experience working in or with GCC-based conglomerates, family businesses, or holding groups with decentralized talent systems.
• Strong understanding of modern learning technologies, LMS platforms, and behavioral assessment tools.
Preferred Skills & Traits
• Strategic thinker with deep empathy for human development and change journeys.
• Influential communicator capable of inspiring buy-in across executive and frontline populations.
• Highly collaborative and structured, with the ability to balance creative design with operational delivery.
• Fluent in English; Arabic is highly advantageous for cultural alignment and regional communication.
Required Skills:
Readiness
Leadership Development
Organizational Development
Succession Planning
Balance
Pipelines
Financial Services
Arabic
Business Strategy
Healthcare
Psychology
Architecture
Coaching
Analytics
Strategy
Education
Planning
Design
Business
English
Leadership
Communication