Head of Learning & Development

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been safeguarding human dignity and delivering life‑saving assistance since 1863. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, the Head of Learning & Development will steer the ICRC's learning function, turning strategic and operational priorities into a coherent capability agenda that equips staff to fulfil the humanitarian mission now and in the years ahead. In this senior role the incumbent will shape and execute the Learning & Development vision, aligning it with the ICRC's Institutional Strategy and operational realities. Responsibilities include converting organisational priorities into clear capability goals and learning pathways, overseeing a team of 65 professionals across six sites, and chairing the Learning Council to ensure investment decisions match field needs. The leader will build a balanced ecosystem that blends formal courses, experiential learning, coaching, peer sharing and on‑the‑job development, while using data and learner insights to gauge impact and continuously improve the portfolio. Managing the L&D budget, driving AI‑enabled digital learning, and advising senior leaders on capability development are also core duties. The position requires an advanced university degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, Business Administration or a closely related discipline. Candidates must bring 12‑15 years of experience in Learning & Development, Talent Management, Organizational Development or a comparable field, with a proven track record of designing and rolling out organisation‑wide learning strategies. Strong leadership experience is essential, demonstrated by the ability to build and nurture high‑performing, diverse teams. The role also demands a history of acting as a strategic advisor to senior executives, a solid grasp of emerging digital learning and AI trends, and the capability to use data and evidence to assess needs, measure outcomes and guide decisions. Fluency in English is mandatory. Additional assets include prior field experience with the ICRC, knowledge of French, and experience working in a complex international organisation. The Head of Learning & Development will join a global People division that values innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement. The position offers the chance to influence the learning culture of a world‑renowned humanitarian agency, lead a sizable multi‑location team, and shape the future of digital and AI‑driven learning in a mission‑critical environment. What the role asks for: - Advanced university degree in HR, OD, Education, Business Administration or related field - 12‑15 years experience in Learning & Development or related discipline - Proven design and implementation of organisation‑wide learning strategies - Demonstrated leadership of high‑performing, diverse teams - Experience as strategic advisor to senior leaders - Strong understanding of digital learning, AI and future‑of‑work trends - Skilled in using data/evidence to assess learning needs and impact - Fluency in English - ICRC field experience (nice‑to‑have) - Knowledge of French (nice‑to‑have) - Experience in complex international organization (nice‑to‑have)