Head of Learning & Development

The Head of Learning and Development provides strategic leadership for the ICRC’s Learning and Development function, ensuring the organization builds the capabilities required to deliver its mission today and in the future. The role leads the L&D team, shapes the organizational learning strategy and ecosystem, and acts as a strategic advisor to senior leaders on capability development.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement a Learning and Development vision and strategy aligned with the ICRC’s Institutional Strategy, Staffing model, operational realities and future capability needs.
• Translate organizational priorities into clear capability priorities, learning solutions and development pathways for today and the future.
• Lead the Learning and Development team across the organization, managing 65 staff across 6 locations.
• Chair and lead the Learning Council, ensuring alignment between organizational priorities, learning investments and operational needs.
• Accountable for all aspects of learning defined within the Learning Council Workplan and advocate for a global standard learning culture.
• Build a balanced learning ecosystem combining formal learning, experiential learning, coaching, peer learning, knowledge sharing and on-the-job development.
• Ensure quality, impact and value of the learning portfolio using data, learner insights and measures of effectiveness to improve solutions and prioritize investments.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Directorate, senior leaders and key stakeholders on learning, capability and organizational development matters.
• Lead, inspire and develop the Learning and Development team, creating a high-performing, collaborative and learning-oriented culture.
• Set clear priorities, accountabilities and standards while empowering team members to innovate and take ownership.
• Manage the L&D budget and be accountable for workforce planning and allocation of L&D resources.
• Lead the digital and AI-enabled evolution of the ICRC’s learning ecosystem leveraging AI to tailor learning, identify capability gaps and improve learner experience.
• Promote innovative approaches such as adaptive learning, micro-learning, simulations, communities of practice, peer learning and experiential development.
• Stay abreast of external developments, emerging learning technologies and future-of-work trends and assess their relevance to the ICRC.
• Ensure learning and development work closely with Global HRBP and Métiers to shape and oversee learning strategies for critical organisational capabilities including leadership, management, digital and AI capabilities, financial literacy, risk, operational and people management.
• Partner with Talent Management, Global HRBPs and the metier to strengthen leadership pipelines, succession and career mobility.
• Ensure learning opportunities contribute to development and retention of critical talent.
• Equip People teams and line managers in taking greater ownership of people development and creating learning environments within their teams.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, Business Administration or a related discipline.
• Minimum 12 -15 years of experience in Learning & Development, Talent Management, Organizational Development or a related field, preferably in a complex international organization.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing organization-wide learning and capability strategies.
• Strong experience leading and developing high-performing, diverse teams.
• Proven experience acting as a strategic advisor and consultant to senior leaders.
• Demonstrated understanding of current and emerging trends in digital learning, AI, skills-based organizations and future capabilities.
• Experience using data and evidence to assess learning needs, measure impact and inform decision-making.
• ICRC field experience is an asset.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of French is an asset.

Skills

• Learning and Development
• Talent Management Expertise
• Organisational Development
• Capability Strategy Design
• Strategic Leadership
• Team Leadership
• Strategic Advisory
• Digital Learning
• AI in Learning
• Skills-based Organization
• Learning Needs Assessment
• Impact Measurement
• Data Driven Decision Making
• Consulting to Senior Leaders
• Organizational Learning

Languages

English, French