Job summary
The Learning and Development Lead is responsible for the co-design and co-delivery of high-quality, professional learning and development provision for all staff across West Suffolk Foundation Trust, and other partners as required.
This role has a particular focus on leadership, management, team development, coaching and mentoring, and non-clinical skills development in line with the Trust's strategy and national workforce priorities.
The postholder will manage a diverse portfolio of learning and development activities, including the design, delivery, and evaluation of programmes that support individual and group learning. Key areas include leadership and management, career development, change management, behavioural and cultural change, and wellbeing and inclusion.
The role also involves planning and facilitating training events, curating and creating learning materials, commissioning externally accredited programmes (excluding apprenticeships), and ensuring an excellent staff learning experience through data-driven evaluation.
All activities must align with Trust and national strategies to support the organisation's current and future workforce ambitions.
Main duties of the job
* Lead the design, delivery, and evaluation of high-quality learning and development programmes for staff across West Suffolk Foundation Trust and partner organisations.
* Focus on leadership, management, coaching and mentoring, team development, and non-clinical skills aligned with Trust and national workforce strategies.
* Manage a portfolio of development activities including face-to-face and virtual training, creation of learning materials, and commissioning of accredited programmes.
* Develop strategic approaches to leadership and coaching, including tools and interventions that support workforce planning, performance, and career development.
* Provide expert guidance to teams and managers on change management and team effectiveness.
* Analyse feedback and data to ensure excellence in the staff learning experience and inform continuous improvement.
* Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to deliver inclusive, impactful development solutions.
* Support individual and team development through coaching, mentoring, diagnostics, and tailored interventions.
* Lead procurement and budget management for learning and development services.
* Promote a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and continuous professional development across the organisation.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Details
Date posted: 19 November 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 179-7575508-P
Job locations: West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2QZ
Person Specification
Education & Qualification
* Essential: Master's degree, or equivalent experience
* Essential: Qualification in HRM, business management, learning and development, or organisational development-based field
* Essential: Coaching experience
* Desirable: Coaching qualification at ILM level 5 or above, or equivalent
* Desirable: Professional body qualification e.g. CIPD / CMI
* Desirable: MBTI qualified
Experience & Knowledge
* Essential: Current or previous experience in a learning and development or organisational development role/function
* Essential: Proven track record of leading and delivering cost‑effective high‑impact learning and development projects/programmes, demonstrating achievements and impacts, that have added value to the organisation
* Essential: Experience of using personal diagnostic and evaluation tools
* Essential: Experience of using on‑line learning technologies
* Essential: Experience of working in a complex and dynamic organisation that is undergoing change
* Essential: Experience of engagement with senior and middle managers
* Desirable: Experience of working in the NHS
* Desirable: Substantial experience in a management role
* Desirable: Significant experience of developing and delivering learning and development activities for organisations undertaking change
* Desirable: Experience of leading coaching and mentoring development activities
Skills & Abilities
* Essential: Demonstrable knowledge of management / leadership development issues, learning methods and technologies
* Essential: Ability to demonstrate strategic thinking and effective decision‑making
* Essential: Ability to communicate effectively with staff at all levels
* Essential: Ability to work effectively, collaboratively and consultatively
* Essential: Excellent facilitation skills, including effective presentation of learning materials in differing forms
* Essential: High degree of initiative, responsibility and self‑motivation and a professional pro‑active approach to problem‑solving
* Essential: Ability to work effectively under pressure to meet demanding and sometimes conflicting deadlines
* Essential: Effective project management and prioritisation skills
* Essential: Ability to build psychological safety with individuals and teams to support trust and role‑model desired behaviours
Personal Qualities
* Essential: Excellent verbal and written communication skills
* Essential: Excellent organisation skills
* Essential: Time management skills
* Essential: Ability to prioritise and work under pressure
* Essential: Ability to manage own workload
* Essential: High level of integrity and confidence
* Essential: Courage and resilience
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
Employer details
Employer name: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address: West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2QZ
Website: https://www.wsh.nhs.uk
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