Learning & Leadership Development Director

PLEASE NOTE THIS ROLE IS FOR INTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY.

Hybrid – role can be based in the UK, Singapore or Dubai.

About Cognita

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 86 schools in 21 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 100,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, "Thrive in a rapidly evolving world".

Build the leaders behind every great school. Cognita's families of schools span the globe, and every one of them needs strong educators and school leaders to give children an amazing education. As our Learning & Leadership Development Director, you'll own the strategy that makes that happen, reporting to the Group Chief People Officer and leading our global Learning & Leadership Development Centre of Excellence.

Global role | Travel to schools and regions required | Reports to the Group Chief People Officer

About the Role

You'll set the direction for how Cognita learns, grows and leads. In practice, that means:

• Setting the strategy. Own our global learning and development framework and our skills and competency framework, so investment goes where it matters most.
• Growing our Heads of Schools. Build the development framework and succession pipeline that gives every school a ready-now leader, whether it's a brownfield, greenfield, turnaround or acquisition.
• Developing leaders at every level. Design and deliver programmes and academies for school leaders, aspiring leaders and employees, with Cognita's culture and mindsets built in.
• Raising the bar on performance. Set clear, fair criteria for performance management and equip managers to hold high-quality development conversations.
• Running learning at scale. Oversee training operations, learning content and technology, and make sure mandatory training, including safeguarding and health & safety, is completed on time.
• Partnering across the business. Work with Managing Directors, cluster People & Culture leads, Education teams and other Group CoEs to localise programmes so they work in every school's context.
• Leading the CoE. Build a high-performing team, own the L&D budget and vendors, and report on participation, capability growth and impact to Group leadership.

Who We Are Looking For

• You're an exceptional leader who spots talent, inspires people and turns learning into measurable impact. You'll bring:
• •10+ years of progressive learning & development experience, including leading an L&D or leadership development function at Group or global level
• •Deep expertise in K-12 education, leadership development and performance management best practice
• •A track record of designing and scaling leadership academies and learning technology platforms across multiple countries
• •Experience owning performance management frameworks and annual performance cycles
• •Strong instructional design and facilitation skills across in-person, virtual and digital learning
• •The ability to influence senior stakeholders and thrive in a global, matrixed organisation
• •Data-savvy instincts: you use learning and people data to measure impact and tell the story
• •Commercial astuteness: you manage budgets and vendors and can show return on investment
• •A growth mindset and a habit of improving how things are done
• •Flexibility to work across time zones and travel internationally to our schools and regions
• To view the role profile, click here.

Benefits at Cognita

As this role can be based either in the UK, Singapore or Dubai, the benefits will be aligned to that country.

How to Apply

Complete this application before the closing date. The Closing Date for Applications is: 23:59 GMT (UTC),Sunday 8th November 2026

Cognita Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check. Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available on the school website. Details on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders is included within the Application Guidance.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.

We understand the value of AI tools and recognise the benefits they can offer to people who may need support with their writing. However, please be aware that we are increasingly rejecting CVs, expressions of interest and applications where the use of AI has resulted in content that feels generic, lacks personality or is indistinguishable from other submissions.

By using your own words, experiences and ideas to demonstrate your motivation for applying and your alignment with the role, you will give yourself the best opportunity to stand out in a highly competitive field.

Early applications are encouraged, we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to closing date for the right applicant.