South Africa: Senior Learning and Development Specialist

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Learning and Development Specialist to lead our organisation’s learning strategy, driving workforce capability development and business growth. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing Workplace Skills Plans, Annual Training Reports, and SETA engagement, with expertise in developing and maintaining Skills Matrices and competency frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of the organisation’s Learning & Development strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and workforce capability needs.
• Manage WSP and Annual Training Report in alignment with relevant SETA requirements, ensuring compliance and maximising available funding opportunities.
• Develop and maintain a company-wide Skills Matrix, tracking competency levels, identifying capability gaps, and informing targeted development interventions across departments.
• Conduct organisational training needs analyses and skills-gap assessments to inform strategic learning initiatives and workforce development planning.
• Design, implement, and oversee comprehensive onboarding and induction programmes to ensure effective integration of new employees.
• Develop and deliver soft skills, product, sales, and operational training programmes that support employee performance and business growth.
• Create and manage cross-functional development programmes that promote internal mobility, succession planning, and capability building across the organisation.
• Design and deliver leadership development programmes for team leaders, supervisors, and emerging managers, focusing on coaching, performance management, communication, and people leadership.
• Partner with senior leaders and department heads to identify leadership development needs and implement targeted interventions.
• Provide coaching and development support to leaders and supervisors, enabling them to effectively manage and develop high-performing teams.
• Facilitate leadership workshops, management training sessions, and talent development initiatives to build organisational leadership capability.

Requirements

• Facilitator and/or Assessor Qualification (ETDP or equivalent preferred).
• 57 years of experience in Learning & Development, Training, or Talent Development, with at least 3 years in a senior or strategic L&D role.
• Proven experience managing Workplace Skills Plans (WSP), Annual Training Reports (ATR), and SETA engagement.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining Skills Matrices and competency frameworks.
• Strong experience designing and delivering leadership development, soft skills, and operational training programmes.
• Experience working within telecommunications, BPO, or contact centre environments is highly advantageous.
• Experience training UK or international campaigns with an understanding of cultural nuances and customer expectations.

Qualifications

• Formal education/certifications (Bachelor’s, LLB, Matric, etc.) not specified in the original job description.