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Freshfields · 3 hours ago

Global Head of Learning and Development

New York, NY

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

$250K/yr - $400K/yr

Freshfields is one of the world’s leading global Law Firms, seeking a Global Head of Learning & Development to oversee the holistic learning experience for Counsel, Associates, and Business Services colleagues. This role involves developing L&D strategies, managing a global team, and ensuring alignment with business needs across regions.

ConsultingLegal

Responsibilities

Evolve and develop the L&D infrastructure to ensure continued alignment to changing business needs; identify, evaluate, implement and optimize cutting-edge learning technologies, including AI, for design and innovation of learning solutions

Determine L&D strategy and thought leadership to reflect the development needs of Practice Groups, Regions and Business Services, and identify resources required to meet future global demands and opportunities

Oversee the design, development, and curation of a comprehensive global L&D curriculum, covering the full employment lifecycle from on-boarding through advanced career stages for Business Services, Associates, and Counsel. This also includes guiding and delivering our AI Academy and future AI-related development, embedded into the overall learning strategy

Partner with the business and with HR leads to understand regional/practice group L&D needs and ensure appropriate strategies are in place to address skills gaps

Provide strategic direction and oversee policy for use of external firms; partner with Procurement to develop and maintain relationships with key vendors

Ensure global coordination and local relevance: Establish a global L&D framework that ensures consistency in quality and strategic alignment, while allowing for appropriate localisation to meet specific regional legal, cultural, and business needs; Oversee cross-border development programs to drive business priorities and enhance global integration

Build and nurture a strong global L&D network, fostering collaboration and sharing of best practices across offices and regions. This includes ensuring coordination and support for the US team on L&D delivery and strategy, and close collaboration with the Senior Manager for Partner Development

Act as a member of the People Leadership Team (PLT), contributing to the overall People strategy as well informing on key developments in the L&D space internally and externally

Create and manage the firm's internal Career Advisory/Coaching office, providing dedicated support and guidance for career progression across the firm

Lead the design and delivery of comprehensive learning programs to upskill and enhance the People team

Own the provision of an efficient, cost effective and sustainable global L&D function, ensuring all repeatable content is supported by People Shared Services and integrated with appropriate technology solutions

Oversee L&D budget from both a fiscal and headcount perspective

Establish clear governance structures and strong stakeholder engagement with firm committees, practice group leaders, and People team colleagues

Partner with the People Brand and Experience team to develop and execute a compelling communication strategy to promote L&D initiatives, foster a culture of learning, and celebrate success throughout the firm

Ensure diversity and inclusion is considered appropriately at all levels of L&D and that all relevant initiatives are executed in partnership with the Culture & Community team and key senior sponsors within the firm

Accountability for the production of regular reporting and metrics for attendance at training initiatives; analyse and present key statistics to CPO, Global and Regional Heads of HR and Senior leaders from a regional/country/business area perspective

Provide comprehensive day-to-day leadership and management for Freshfield’s L&D team that mirrors the Being Freshfields values

Motivate and lead a high-performance global team across several geographies, ensuring tailored support for L&D activities for Business Services, Associates, and Counsel

Develop diverse succession planning and lead the ongoing development of talent within the function. Continually build team capability for instructional design, digital learning solutions (including AI enabled tools), assessment, team and leadership development, facilitated delivery and building relevant simulations and case studies

Set strategic and operational goals for the team that are aligned to the wider People priorities and firm goals

Partner with the wider People team to ensure there are effective links and communications between L&D, performance, recruitment and talent strategies

Qualification

L&D leadership experienceAdvanced learning technologiesPeople managementStrategic thinkingAgile leadershipBudget managementFacilitation skillsCommercial acumenCollaborationIntegrity

Required

Demonstrated experience in having led an L&D function or a business at a senior level

Expert knowledge of L&D market practices, processes, and delivery, including expertise in leveraging advanced learning technologies and AI for design, innovation, and efficient delivery

Agile leader who thrives in a complex, matrixed environment, demonstrating resilience through business change in a global network with challenging stakeholders

Strong people management experience of global teams, with proven ability to lead diverse teams across different regions and manage varying scopes of responsibility

Advocate for working collaboratively across the People community to strengthen the function's reputation and its relationship with the business, acting as a trusted advisor to colleagues and stakeholders

Strong strategic thinking skills to identify and understand issues, problems, and opportunities and can create strategic options for addressing problems/opportunities and achieving desired outcomes

Experienced facilitator, adept at leading high-impact learning experiences across diverse audiences, fostering engagement, collaboration, and actionable outcomes in both virtual and in-person environments

Expert use of a range of influencing styles and skills; a strong track record of building strong relationships with business leaders

Ability to operate with a sense of urgency and prioritise work on an autonomous basis

Commercially astute, decisive and quick-thinking

Possesses personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to Freshfield's values and goals