Outliers and outperformers wanted

Outliers and outperformers wanted

Uncork Capital-backed companies are building kick-ass teams in engineering, marketing, sales, operations and more.

Uncork Capital-backed companies are building kick-ass teams in engineering, marketing, sales, operations and more.

Director of Learning & Development-UK

Focal Systems

Focal Systems

Posted 6+ months ago

Note, we are looking to hire one Director of L&D either in North America or the UK

Director of Learning & Development

Remote in the UK


What we are looking for
Focal Systems is expanding globally, and we are looking for a Director of Learning & Development to lead the L&D function. This is a hands-on role requiring strategic thinking and the ability to see the big picture. To be successful, you’ll need to excel at delivering impact through others and be able to deliver impact yourself. The ideal candidate will possess up-to-date knowledge of best practices in organizational learning and a strong knowledge of business practices coupled with strong leadership ability.

What you will do

Reporting to the SVP of Operations and collaborating with teams across multiple time zones (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Poland), the Director of Learning & Development will be responsible for the strategy, execution, and measurable outcomes as it relates to Focal’s internal and external L&D programs. You will work closely with Talent Partners, HR, customers, and stakeholders to develop and continuously improve impactful solutions across the organization.

Responsibilities include:

  • Help the Company meet its objectives by developing & implementing high-impact L&D programs in line with business needs and priorities
  • Establish strong partnerships with the business to gain a strong understanding of current business issues and opportunities, as related to learning and development
  • Conduct organizational needs analysis and create training plans to ensure that all employees have the required competencies to excel in their roles
  • Review and revise course materials to ensure they align with operating processes, procedures, and systems
  • Deliver training to various parts of the business and working with various stakeholders to coordinate and organize training sessions
  • Collect feedback on completed training to evaluate and measure results and make improvements where required
  • Source and recommend vendors and other external partners to design, develop, and/or deliver learning solutions where applicable
  • Manage the L&D budget
  • Define and lead projects focused on continuous improvement
  • Craft and communicate a clear vision for the L&D function on Product Support
  • Empower our customers, from Direct Support to Community, to achieve success with their goals by ensuring they have the training and resources they need
  • Provide agile solutions to respond to the rapidly evolving learning and performance needs of the business
  • Design a robust maintenance and continuous improvement strategy to ensure content is relevant and consistently meets the evolving needs of the team
  • Partner with Product and Engineering to ensure internal teams are prepared to effectively support new product and feature launches
  • Define, implement, and report on key performance metrics for L&D, surfacing meaningful insights to our broader Product Support organization and cross-functional partners
  • Advocate for quality improvements in our product and operational processes through effective storytelling that is backed by qualitative and quantitative data
  • Partner with the People team to enhance our career development framework for our Product Support functions
  • Ensure the Operations team is equipped to handle critical escalations, providing swift customer responses and keeping our internal teams up to speed on progress and issue resolution


What you need to be successful

  • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, or a related field (advanced degree preferred)
  • 10+ years experience in talent development with proven expertise in building, scaling and refining impactful programs, products, processes, and frameworks
  • Strong project management skills, capable of coordinating multiple learning initiatives simultaneously
  • Possess in-depth knowledge of learning theories, instructional design principles, and adult learning methodologies
  • Proficient in using learning management systems (LMS) and other e-learning platforms to deliver and track training programs
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills; able to deliver engaging and impactful training sessions to diverse audiences
  • Leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate team members and learners
  • Data-driven mindset, using analytics and metrics to measure the effectiveness of training programs and identify areas for improvement
  • Adaptable and innovative; able to continuously update and evolve learning strategies to meet the changing needs of the organization
  • Possess exceptional interpersonal skills, fostering positive relationships with stakeholders and collaborating effectively across departments

Why Focal Systems

  • Strong Values & Mission: We are a tightly-knit team with an ambitious mission and a strong set of core values, which define our approach to business and have successfully guided us since inception
  • Exceptional Team: We are a team of hard-working, fun-loving professionals from some of the most eminent universities, research labs, and tech companies of our time. We pride ourselves on recruiting exceptional individuals to help us redefine the state-of-the-art
  • Outstanding Partners: We work with 10+ of the largest retailers in the world and have a world-class roster of investors, advisors and partners to support & advise us in our endeavors.


What we offer
We care deeply about the health, happiness, and wellbeing of all of our employees. We offer:

  • Competitive Salary & Attractive Stock
  • Catered lunches
  • Paid Time Off
  • Quarterly Team Retreats
  • Education grant