Group Head of L&D Academy

Job Description

As Group Head of MBDA Academy (L&D), reporting to the VP of HR Learning and Development, you will play a central role in defining and structuring the company's Academy model.

Salary: Circa £75,000 - £90,000 depending on experience

Dynamic (hybrid) working: As and when necessary. Frequent overseas travel will be required.

Language: Fluency in English and French is essential

Security Clearance: British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship.

Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you:

• Company Bonus: Bonus of up to 50% of base salary
• Car Allowance: £680 per month
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…
• Private Medical Insurance: Eligible employees are enrolled as standard into the company funded Private Medical Insurance benefit

The opportunity:

Your role will be to build and implement a Group (International) Academy focused on developing employees in strategic areas such as culture, leadership, transformation, technical excellence, and preparing for the skills of the future.

This position is essential for fostering a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation, enabling MBDA to become a learning organisation.

What you’ll be doing:

• Defining and leading the Academy's strategy in alignment with business objectives, developing a learning organisation geared towards performance and the future.
• Structuring and deploying governance, tools, and processes (LXP, LMS, TMS, etc.) to ensure the consistency and effectiveness of training initiatives.
• Managing and developing a multicultural European team (approximately 25 people), fostering engagement, performance, and operational excellence.
• Designing high-impact learning solutions in partnership with HR, business units, and experts, covering onboarding, leadership, transformation, and key skills.
• Accelerating pedagogical innovation and digitalisation (AI, digital tools, data) to offer engaging and distinctive learning experiences.
• Managing the Academy's overall performance (budget, suppliers, ROI, KPIs). and ensure the dissemination of knowledge to support future strategic priorities.

What you’ll need:

A solid background in Learning, Talent Management, or Academy management, gained in complex and international environments.

Demonstrable ability to lead high-stakes Learning & Development projects

Experience managing international teams, with inclusive leadership and genuine intercultural sensitivity.

Strong expertise in skills and leadership development, as well as in designing impactful learning programs.

Comfortable with learning ecosystems (LMS, LXP, TMS, etc.), you are also recognised for your passion for pedagogical innovation, particularly in digital learning, AI, experiential approaches, and coaching.

Regular travel within Europe to the group's subsidiaries, training providers, and/or program locations is required.

Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given

MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more…

We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.