Head of Talent & Development

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Job Description

The Head of Talent and Development is responsible for shaping and executing the talent management and development game plan at NEXT. This role requires a strategic thinker who can drive initiatives related to learning and development, leadership programs, succession planning, and performance management. Based at Head Office, offering a starting salary of £60,446 alongside great benefits such as a company car, private medical insurance and Management Share Options, to name a few.

About the role
This role is about more than just learning; it's about nurturing talent throughout the employee lifecycle. It's about building a rich network of skilled individuals that enables our diverse teams to succeed in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment.

We're seeking a dynamic individual to evolve our talent development and progression strategies. You'll spearhead the creation of inspiring talent pathways and career journeys, ensuring they align with our dynamic culture and cater to our diverse workforce. Your focus will be on fostering a high-performance culture where individuals can excel, and you'll be instrumental in measuring the impact of our development initiatives on overall talent effectiveness.

A key aspect will be establishing robust succession planning processes to identify and nurture future leaders, proactively addressing critical skills gaps, and implementing strategies to retain our high-potential talent. You and the team will design impactful development solutions that span the entire talent journey, from onboarding new hires to enhancing leadership capabilities and driving performance. Furthermore, you'll be pivotal in facilitating internal mobility, creating opportunities for career growth through mentoring and social learning programmes and strategic succession planning.

Developing frameworks and ensuring we're proactively building the skills needed for future organisational success will be central. You'll leverage technology to deliver engaging talent experiences and stay abreast of cutting-edge talent management trends.

Attracting and nurturing future talent is a core priority. You'll champion our Early Careers programmes, ensuring they provide meaningful opportunities and build a strong future talent pipeline. But your vision extends beyond this. You'll also be instrumental in fostering a learning culture that embraces the diverse experiences and ambitions of our multigenerational workforce. From tailored development pathways that recognise different career stages to inclusive leadership programmes and mentoring opportunities that bridge experience levels. We believe in empowering every individual to reach their full potential, and you'll be key in making that a reality.

This role is critical to our business, given its scale and complexity. You will be central in fostering a unified approach across all departments and levels. You'll champion collaborative efforts, facilitate cross-functional discussions, and ensure everyone is working toward the same talent development and progression goals, ultimately creating a cohesive and high-performing organisation.

About you

• HR/Business degree, CIPD preferred; expert in adult learning, instructional design, and modern learning methods.
• Adept at building, leading and motivating a high-performing team.
• Proven success in budget management, talent development, digital learning strategies, and delivering organisational development in complex environments.
• Demonstrates commercial understanding and effective project management across multiple initiatives.
• Experience in coaching at various levels and leading comprehensive training portfolios.
• An innovative thinker who drives change and brings fresh perspectives.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing at executive level.
• Bold, balanced, and able to work at pace with limited resources.

About Us

You know Next, but did you know we're a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 35,000 people across the UK and Ireland? We're the UK's 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we're the market leader. At the last count we have over 500 stores, plus the Next Online and it's now possible to buy on-line from over 70 countries around the world! So we've gone global!

About some of our Benefits

• 25% off most NEXT, MADE , Lipsy , Gap and Victoria's Secret products ( when purchased through NEXT)
• Company performance based bonus
• On-site Nursery available; OFSTED outstanding in all areas
• 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
• Early VIP access to sale stock
• Access to fantastic discounts at our Staff Shops
• Restaurants with great food at amazing prices
• Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services
• Free on-site parking
• Financial Wellbeing - Save, track and enhance your financial wellbeing
• Apprenticeship - Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification
• Direct to Work - Discount online and instore, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
• Support Networks - Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
• Wellhub - Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more

Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.

We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on and leave a voicemail.

Job Info

• Job Identification 70147
• Job Category Human Resources
• Posting Date 04/22/2025, 02:52 PM