This is a pivotal role in the People and Talent team. We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Senior Learning & Development Manager to join our team during an exciting period of growth and transformation. You will play a critical role in contributing to the firm’s talent development strategy in pursuit of our strategic ambition and delivery of Excellence for Our People. This is a greenfield opportunity to shape and scale a best-in-class L&D function from the ground up. You’ll work closely with the Head of People & Talent to design and deliver a holistic, future-focused learning strategy and capability that supports and empowers our people at every level.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in taking strategic thinking through into hands-on execution, and who is passionate about building innovative, award-winning learning and development programs.
Overall purpose of the job:
- Lead the end-to-end design of development programs and learning journeys that are experiential, outcome-focused, and aligned to organisational priorities – for lawyers, business teams and leadership - in collaboration with the Head of People & Talent and the L&D team.
- Responsible for annual training needs analysis, program design and development of effective solutions for training requirements identified across the business – both for groups and for individuals – working with internal and external providers and capabilities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Design & Leadership
- Co-create and implement a comprehensive L&D strategy aligned with business goals and talent priorities.
- Develop a scalable L&D architecture that supports learning across all levels—from early careers to leadership.
- Partner with senior leaders and stakeholders to embed learning into the fabric of the organisation.
Program Development & Delivery
- Primarily responsible for the design, enhancement, and delivery of engaging learning programs, frameworks, and development pathways for all employees.
- Establish success criteria and evaluation methods to assess the effectiveness of design in achieving measurable leadership and organisational development outcomes.
- Developing relationships, and meeting regularly, with practice group partners and PSLs, to plan regular practice-area specific and cross-practice area practice of law (technical legal) training programs.
- Oversee the implementation of L&D programs and resources that form part of our learning offering, including business skills programmes for business team and those in leadership and management roles.
- Act as a senior learning professional and thought partner to the business, influencing the design of learning experiences across change, culture, and talent development initiatives.
- Introduce innovative learning methods (e.g., digital, social, experiential, coaching, mentoring).
- Source, negotiate, and manage relationships with external learning providers and platforms.
- Ensure value for money and alignment with strategic learning goals.
Operational Excellence
- Regularly review and evolve content based on business feedback, facilitator insight, and participant data to maintain relevance and excellence.
- Lead or contribute to the creation of materials including facilitator guides, case studies, reflection tools, simulations, and follow-up content.
- Facilitate internal focus groups, compiling and analysing feedback, and recommending learning and development program delivery innovations.
- Serve as the Firm's subject matter expert on current programmes and work with and advise the Recruitment and Marketing teams on external promotion of these programs.
- Collaborate with the L&D Manager to evolve current offerings and bring them to life with creativity and impact.
- Collaborate with our Knowledge team on the delivery of technical learning support to our legal professionals.
- Use data and analytics to identify skill gaps and opportunities for new learning initiatives, ensuring programmes are tailored to meet evolving business and employee development needs.
- Establish metrics and feedback loops to measure learning impact and continuously improve offerings.
- Support the implementation and optimisation of a Learning Management System (LMS) (experience helpful but not essential).
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SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in L&D, ideally within a scaling organisation, and a professional services Partnership environment a plus.
- A full understanding of routes to legal qualification and career pathways for lawyers is beneficial.
- Strong track record of designing and delivering end-to-end learning strategies and programs, a completer/finisher.
- Self-staring, with ability to drive programs forward with autonomy.
- Strong presentation skills. Experience of training delivery and/or programme facilitation would be desirable.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and business partnering skills.
- Experience managing external vendors and negotiating contracts.
- A creative, forward-thinking mindset with a passion for innovation in learning.
- Ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on delivery.
- Experience working with or implementing an LMS is a plus.
- Strong project management and communication skills.
- A collaborative, ambitious, and people-first approach.
- Accuracy and attention to detail. Ensuring projects and daily operational tasks are completed in a timely manner.
- Flexibility is important, as there will occasionally be the need to work outside of standard office hours
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Stevens & Bolton – making a positive difference to your career
You’ll work with people who listen, and who actively and willingly support one another within a collaborative and engaging environment. We genuinely care about our people and strive to build and maintain a diverse, inclusive and happy workforce.
We are recognised as a top firm in The Times Best Law Firms 2024 and shortlisted for ESG Initiative of the Year at the Women, Influence & Power in Law UK 2024 Awards. We were highly commended for both “Regional/Offshore Firm of the Year” – Legal Business Awards 2023 and “Law Firm of the Year” – SLS Legal Awards 2023, commended for “Law Firm of the Year: The Independents” – The Lawyer Awards 2023, and were shortlisted for “UK Law Firm of the Year - Small/Mid Sized Firm” – The British Legal Awards 2023 and “Workplace Fit-out of the Year” – Insider South East Property Awards 2023. Our refurbished office has been awarded a RICS SKA silver certificate and a 2 star Fitwel accreditation.
We’ve made excellence the hallmark of our firm: in the clear advice we give, in the enduring client relationships we build and in our proactive and highly responsive service. We seek to recruit people who will help us maintain and build on this, and in return we offer excellent long-term career and development opportunities.
Diversity & Inclusion
We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I). This drives a strategy which focuses on constant promotion of an inclusive culture that encourages everyone to realise their full potential and be themselves at work. Previously we have been shortlisted for “Best D&I Initiative” at The HR Awards and for “Best Talent and Inclusion Initiative” at The Lawyer Awards. |