Role summary/purpose of job
The Global Head of Learning & Development (L&D) at one of the world’s leading global Law Firms is responsible for the holistic learning experience of all Counsel, Associates and Business Services colleagues, from on-boarding through their entire employment lifecycle. As a Centre of Expertise within the People function, they will partner closely with senior business leaders, partners, Global and Regional Heads of HR, working to understand talent needs and collaborate to deliver L&D requirements across all regions, ensuring cost-effective solutions that meet business needs.
This role holds full leadership responsibility for L&D for Counsel, Associates and Business Services, and provides guidance and support for Early Careers development, with US location as matrix management.
Key Responsibilities
Learning & Development Strategy
- Evolve and develop the L&D infrastructure to ensure continued alignment to changing business needs; identify, evaluate, implement and optimise 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
Delivery Model
- 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.
Team Management
- 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.
Key Skills & Qualifications
Essential
- 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.
Desirable
- Bachelor's degree in Law, Business or Psychology or equivalent is preferable although not essential. Master’s degree in an equivalent discipline would be desirable.
- Proven discipline in managing and operating complex budgets.
- Experience driving and participating in large scale HR and organisational transformations.
Inclusion
Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered on the basis of their merit alone. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK in the role in question and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.
Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only if and when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of relevant factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.
