View Vacancy - Head of L&D Europe & EECAD (Diplomatic Academy Regional Teams) - based in Madrid (ESP271)
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is looking to recruit an energetic, enthusiastic, self starter and motivated Regional Learning & Development Head (RLDH) to be based at the British Embassy in Madrid.
The successful candidate will be the strategic L&D lead for staff at British Missions (Posts) in Europe. Reporting to the Head of Diplomatic Academy Regional Teams, the role of the Europe Head is to offer Posts expertise in Organisational Development (OD), L&D advice and support, and leadership of the team to deliver the Diplomatic Academy goal: Professional learning and development that builds expertise and agility, as part of Diplomacy 20:20, to enable Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) to be a world leader at operating internationally, such as:
- Lead the regional team providing support and ensure delivery of Europe priorities;
- Set direction and provide strategic OD advice to stakeholders within the region;
- Help partners and teams identify performance needs, work based learning (informal and formal learning) and L&D interventions;
- Deliver high quality, value for money, appropriate OD and L&D initiatives, making good use of virtual technology and innovative new delivery methods;
- Evaluate effectiveness of initiatives to build capability and develop a learning culture at Posts.
In more detail, responsibilities will include:
Leadership & Management
- Play an active part in the global leadership team; help set strategy and operational priorities, take ownership of themes as required, challenge colleagues to help promote excellence;
- Provide overall strategic direction for the Europe team in line with London and Network priorities to support senior management in the region;
- Be innovative and creative; share new ideas on L&D to promote the development of skills, knowledge and competence to build capability in the region;
- Promote FCO values of responsibility, creativity and collaboration;
- Line manage the team; provide strategic guidance, feedback on performance and effective delegation of work. Counter-sign other staff in the Network as appropriate.
- Oversight of resourcing in the region, ensuring the right skills and budgets are in place and ensure value for money.
Stakeholder management
- Oversight of account management in the region, ensuring effective prioritisation, development of performance consultancy skills in the team and innovative offers for smaller Posts;
- Act as a source of best practice, advising managers and leaders at all levels across the region, including on Organisational Development;
- Work with key stakeholders including key Whitehall partners in order to ensure L&D reflects their needs, and to influence policy development.
Design and Quality Control of L&D initiatives
- Overview of L&D interventions to ensure blended learning and a strong focus on identified needs;
- Design and deliver L&D initiatives to develop teams and leadership skills and/or provide essential cover;
- Deliver informal interventions based on need and prioritisation, including coaching and mentoring;
- Work closely with other global team members to ensure consistency and to share good practice;
- Keep professional knowledge up to date; follow trends, ideas and innovations occurring in L&D to ensure methods and materials are as effective as possible.
Account Management
- Partner with Senior Management at Posts and thematic leads to ensure delivery of key corporate messages;
- Support and advise Posts on identifying appropriate learning interventions:
- Fluency in English (both oral and written);
- Minimum 10 years in a L&D environment in either public or private sector;
- Minimum 5 years leadership and management experience;
- Experience of working in a multi cultural environment;
- Strong communicator and facilitator;
- Able to travel extensively across Europe and occasionally other regions;
- Professional qualifications in L&D, OD or equivalent;
- A passion and enthusiasm for developing people;
- Good IT skills.
All applicants should have the right to live and work in Spain. The British Embassy does not sponsor work permits.
This is a permanent full-time position of 5 working days (37.5 hours per week).
The successful candidate is subject to a confirmation of a background check, security clearance and the successful completion of a probationary period.
The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Spanish Social Security Scheme and will therefore not be entitled to any gratuity from the Embassy based on gross annual salary.
Regarding taxation, the Embassy is a Diplomatic Mission with tax exempt status and does not collect taxes for other States. Employees are fully responsible for payment of Spanish income tax at the legally required rate.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Spain are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Spanish employment law.
Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered. Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
Please be advised that the British Diplomatic Missions will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
