Leadership & Business Principal Learning Specialist
Shape the Future of Leadership Development. Influence Organisations. Drive Impact at Scale.
Location: London / Hybrid
Department: Workforce Learning
Reporting to: Delivery Operations Manager
Working Pattern: Flexible, with virtual delivery and travel to QA centres and client locations as required
This role involves occasional delivery across multiple time zones and may require international travel when necessary. Flexibility to deliver training outside standard working hours is required to meet business and client needs. Where training delivery is scheduled during evening or night-time hours, compensation will be provided in accordance with company policy.
Join QA and Help Develop the Leaders of Tomorrow
At QA, we believe organisations thrive when people can learn, adapt and apply new skills at pace. As the UK's largest tech training company and one of the fastest-growing skills businesses globally, we work with 96% of the FTSE and many of the world's leading organisations to build the capabilities that drive transformation.
We're looking for an exceptional Leadership & Business Principal Learning Specialist to play a key role in shaping the future of leadership development across QA's client portfolio.
This is a unique opportunity for a highly experienced leadership expert, learning strategist and facilitator to influence organisations at the highest levels, develop innovative learning solutions, and help define QA's leadership proposition for the future.
The Role
As a Principal Learning Specialist, you will be recognised as one of QA's senior leadership and professional skills experts.
You'll combine exceptional facilitation expertise with strategic thinking, consultancy, thought leadership and programme innovation to create transformative learning experiences that drive measurable business outcomes.
Working with senior leaders, executives and organisations undergoing change, you'll help address critical leadership challenges, develop future-ready capabilities, and create sustainable behavioural change through high-impact learning solutions.
You will also play a pivotal role in mentoring colleagues, shaping portfolio strategy and strengthening QA's reputation as a trusted leadership development partner.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead Exceptional Learning Experiences
- Design, develop and deliver market-leading leadership and professional skills programmes.
- Facilitate immersive learning experiences across virtual, classroom and blended environments.
- Deliver programmes for audiences ranging from emerging leaders to executive teams.
- Integrate coaching, action learning, reflection and workplace application to maximise impact.
- Create engaging learning environments that challenge thinking, accelerate growth and drive behavioural change.
- Shape QA's Leadership Portfolio
- Provide strategic direction and insight to support the evolution of QA's Leadership & Business Skills portfolio.
- Identify emerging trends, organisational challenges and future leadership requirements.
- Help develop innovative programmes that address topics such as leadership effectiveness, organisational transformation, communication,
- influence, resilience and AI-enabled leadership.
- Contribute thought leadership and industry expertise to strengthen QA's market position.
- Design Innovative Learning Solutions
- Lead the creation of impactful and scalable learning programmes.
- Collaborate with Product, Design and Content teams to develop high-quality learning experiences.
- Create facilitator guides, learner resources and digital learning assets.
- Develop leadership academies, bespoke client solutions and scalable learning pathways.
- Ensure learning solutions are evidence-based, learner-centred and aligned to business outcomes.
- Influence Clients and Stakeholders
- Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders.
- Consult with organisations to understand leadership capability challenges.
- Recommend innovative learning solutions that support strategic priorities.
- Support proposition development, solution design and customer engagement activities.
- Represent QA at client meetings, industry events and leadership forums.
- Develop People and Capability
- Mentor and coach Senior Learning Specialists and Learning Specialists.
- Share expertise across the wider faculty and Learning function.
- Conduct quality observations and provide constructive developmental feedback.
- Champion best practice in facilitation, learning design and leadership development.
- Act as a recognised leadership subject matter expert across QA.
- Drive Excellence and Continuous Improvement
- Consistently achieve Trainer Satisfaction Scores (TSAT) of 92% or above.
- Analyse learner feedback, programme performance and business impact data.
- Identify opportunities to improve learner engagement and client outcomes.
- Maintain expertise through continuous professional development and ongoing engagement with emerging leadership trends.
About You
You'll be an accomplished leadership development professional with a passion for helping individuals and organisations achieve their potential.
You'll bring:
- Leadership & Facilitation Expertise
- Exceptional facilitation, coaching and consultancy skills.
- Extensive experience delivering leadership and professional skills programmes to diverse audiences.
- Confidence working with senior leaders, executives and organisational stakeholders.
- Expertise in driving behavioural change and workplace performance improvement.
- Learning Design Excellence
- Proven experience designing and developing leadership learning solutions aligned to business strategy.
- Strong understanding of adult learning theory, behavioural science and experiential learning methodologies.
- Experience developing leadership academies, learning pathways and bespoke organisational programmes.
- Ability to translate business challenges into impactful learning experiences.
- Strategic and Commercial Thinking
- Strong commercial awareness and understanding of organisational leadership challenges.
- Experience contributing to solution design, proposition development and business growth.
- Ability to identify emerging trends and convert insight into innovative learning products and services.
- Thought Leadership & Subject Expertise
- Deep expertise across leadership and professional skills disciplines.
- Strong interest in organisational transformation, future skills and AI-enabled leadership.
- Experience contributing to thought leadership through speaking engagements, publications, solution development or industry forums.
- People Development
- Experience mentoring, coaching and developing facilitators, trainers or learning professionals.
- A collaborative approach with a passion for building capability across teams.
Desirable Qualifications
We would particularly welcome applications from candidates with:
- ILM Level 7 qualification
- CIPD Learning & Development qualifications
- EMCC or ICF coaching accreditation
- Emergenetics accreditation
- PGCE or equivalent teaching qualification
- Degree (or equivalent experience) in Leadership, Organisational Psychology, Business, Coaching, HRD or a related field
What Success Looks Like
- As a Principal Learning Specialist, you will:
- Deliver exceptional learner and client experiences.
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders.
- Influence the direction of QA's leadership portfolio.
- Develop innovative learning solutions that solve real organisational challenges.
- Build capability across the wider learning community.
- Contribute to business growth through expertise and thought leadership.
- Consistently achieve outstanding quality and learner satisfaction outcomes.
- Help organisations prepare leaders for an AI-enabled future.
Why QA?
At QA, you'll have the opportunity to:
- Influence leadership capability across some of the world's most recognised organisations.
- Shape innovative learning solutions that deliver real business impact.
- Work alongside leading experts in learning, technology and leadership development.
- Contribute to one of the UK's most established and respected learning businesses.
- Engage in continuous professional development and thought leadership opportunities.
- Be part of a culture that values innovation, collaboration and lifelong learning.
Ready to Make an Impact?
If you're an experienced leadership development professional who combines strategic thinking, learning innovation and facilitation excellence, we'd love to hear from you.
Join QA and help organisations build the leaders they need for tomorrow's challenges.
QA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults with care and support needs. Successful candidates will be subject to the appropriate pre-employment screening and vetting checks in line with our safeguarding and safer recruitment practices.