Group Head of Learning & Leadership (GHL001)

Foreground

  • Abu Dhabi
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 25 days ago
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 PurposeTo 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

Foreground