Regional Learning & Development Consultant

Job description / Role

Regional Learning & Development Consultant - Al Futtaim Training Centre - Al Futtaim Group - Dubai,

In Group Learning & Development (GL&D), our aim is to improve the performance of Al-Futtaim employees by providing the right learning solutions wherever and whenever they need it. To achieve this vision, we must ensure that our learning and development services directly address the needs of our businesses. We need to demonstrate how our learning investments improve both employee and company performance. To retain our best talent, we need to ensure our learning solutions help employees advance in their career aspirations. Finally, learning across Al-Futtaim must be delivered to all businesses and employees in a consistent way.

Value added services that businesses receive from GL&D include: Business- Driven Needs Analysis, On Demand Learning, 70/20/10 Learning, World-Class Leadership Development and Standard Al-Futtaim Group Learning. The Centre also offers courses in Leadership & Management, Personal Development, Sales and Marketing, Technical, Language, Communication and Information Technology.

Recently, Al-Futtaims Group Learning & Development Team received the prestigious award for Innovation in Learning & Development at the Middle East HR Excellence Awards for 2014. The award reinforces the strong partnership between the Group Learning and Development team and Al-Futtaim group companies. A key partnership with Plug Ins demonstrated successful collaboration to understand the retailer's strategic goals and identify performance gaps. Needs-based training solutions were developed and implemented to drive results, and Plug Ins' sales increased by over 34 per cent when compared with results three months prior to and after the program.

Al-Futtaim's Group Learning and Development team continues to work closely with each division and business to prioritize learning solutions which will drive business performance.

Role Purpose:
The Regional L&D Consultant diagnoses learning needs, identifies appropriate solutions and develops strategic learning plans and frameworks to facilitate the achievement of business goals in partnership with our clients and internal stakeholders. The focus of the role is on regional countries within the AFG, although based in Dubai extensive travel may be required.

Key Accountabilities:

* Training initiatives:
- Design, develops, implements & assesses training initiatives to ensure content is up to date and reflects best practice
- Ensures that content is up to date with group practices and processes in order to ensure alignment
- Researches and proposes blended training solutions
- Assesses career pathways in line with development and recommends individuals identified with high potential
- Drive Emiratisation development pathways and traineeships
- Engage when required with external consultants and specialists
- Deliver the core curriculum, training calendar and customised programs as scheduled
- Serve as a Learning and Development Trainer on key projects, cross functional teams and group rollouts

* Business solutions:
- Where required consult, recommend, design interventions and execute business solutions
- Ensures adherence to industry and government regulatory standards
- Partner with local governing bodies and HR country managers to leverage government learning funds for nationals
- Identify and improve operational systems & processes
- Research and formally recommend best practice or international standards that drive AFTC vision
- Ensure delivery metrics are adhered to

* Consulting:
- Identify Learning and Development needs within the group for specific business units
- Manage internal & external customer expectations especially in regards to assessment practices & reporting
- Consult with businesses to provide solutions and options, measuring customer satisfaction
- Prepare proposals & quotations in line with business plan objectives (increase revenues, provide access, support performance, increase commercial outcomes)
- Work inclusively with HR Business Partners, business trainers, Line Managers and Executives to deliver to gain agreement, share workloads and meet expectations

* Communication:
- Communicate recommended solutions to the business in order to gain buy-in and approval
- Ensure all AFG businesses and key stakeholders are aware of the AFTC products & Services
- Utilise tools and resources that will discover training needs or assess capability standards
- Maximise opportunities to communicate Group HR & AFTC achievements, initiatives and projects

* Reports:
- Maintain systems for collating and reporting on Development performance
- Manage & Analyse the Learning & Development performance
- Collate and report AFTC performance metrics
- Ensure key stakeholders in the business have up to date reports
- Providing Trainer delivery days and feedback data

* Projects:
- Manage projects to meet key objectives
- As required lead or partner AFTC, Group HR or business specific projects
- Ensuring project KPI's are met and exceeded

Requirements

Education:
- A Bachelor's degree and/or relevant Training certificates.

Minimum Experience and Knowledge:
- Arabic speaker.
- Regional GCC experience.
- Fluent written and spoken English.
- Curriculum design experience.
- Knowledge of Competency standards.
- A wide range of assessment design and delivery knowledge.
- Program facilitation experience.
- A high level of computer literacy.
- Experience of blended learning.
- Business operations, project management and Customer Service experience would be a distinct advantage.
- Extensive Sales experience, Relationship Management experience, project management, Customer Service & Sales.

Job-Specific Skills:
- Consulting skills.
- Curriculum design.
- Assessment methodologies.
- Project Management skills.
- Analytical skills.
- Excellent ability to design and facilitate a variety of creative learning interventions which bring lasting value.
- Deep knowledge of current training practices and methodologies.
- Proven ability to deliver competently to senior /board level delegates.
- Proactive thinking and problem solving skills.
- Proven ability to run projects within time, cost and quality constraints.
- Comprehensive knowledge and deep understanding of current leadership and management development techniques.
- Experience in design across a whole range of programmes.
- Experience in proposal design and client pitching.
- First class communication skills.
- Ability to multitask.
- Ability to work under tight timelines.
- First class relationship management skills.
- IT skills- across major tools- Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook.
- Coaching/mentoring skills.
- Commercial acumen and hunger for business success.
- Behaviour in line with our values at all times.
- Self starter and efficient time manager.
- High level of analysis & problem solving.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.