Application Open:
Full-Time
The Learning & Development (L&D) Senior Specialist is a new role designed to be the senior learning practitioner responsible for designing and delivering high-quality development programs that support MBZUAI’s talent mobility and performance impact objectives. The role provides expert facilitation, coaching, and program design aligned with the Talent and Performance roadmap. A key focus of the role is to champion practical coaching lead development across the university equipping managers and leaders with the tools needed to drive performance and culture.
The L&D Specialist also ensures that development programs are systematically aligned with MBZUAI’s cultural aspirations, reinforcing the tone, values, and behaviors required to support a high-performance, research-driven environment. The Lead shapes L&D practice by setting quality standards, advising on capability needs, and contributes to cross-functional HR initiatives, working in close partnership with the wider HR team to ensure an integrated employee experience.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the design, development, and delivery of learning programs, pathways, and frameworks that support MBZUAI’s strategic objectives, culture, and leadership expectations.
- Serve as the University’s primary facilitator for internal leadership, professional, and skills-based learning initiatives, using high-impact adult learning and facilitation methodologies.
- Champion and embed a coaching culture across MBZUAI by integrating coaching behaviors into leadership programs, manager toolkits, team workshops, onboarding, and development pathways.
- Equip managers and emerging leaders with practical coaching tools, techniques, and micro-learning resources to strengthen everyday people leadership, performance conversations, and feedback practices.
- Provide individual coaching to managers and high-potential talent to support development planning, leadership effectiveness, and career progression.
- Establish, coordinate, and continuously improve mentoring and coaching networks, including participant intake, matching processes, quality standards, ongoing support, and program evaluation.
- Design and develop learning materials, toolkits, session guides, and blended learning content in collaboration with the Digital Learning Specialist, ensuring adaptability to different audiences and needs.
- Shape and deliver capability-building initiatives for UAE National employees, ensuring learning programs actively support nationalization objectives, Emirati talent pathways, and career progression.
- Ensure all learning and development interventions consistently reinforce MBZUAI’s desired culture, values, leadership behaviors, and institutional messaging.
- Contribute expert input to the development of the annual learning calendar, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and workforce capability needs.
- Partner closely with Talent Acquisition, HR Operations, and the wider HR team to ensure learning interventions are integrated with onboarding, performance management, succession planning, engagement, and talent review processes.
- Monitor participation, feedback, and learning data to evaluate program effectiveness, enhance learner experience, and recommend continuous improvements, including innovative learning analytics approaches.
- Provide expert guidance on the selection and engagement of internal subject-matter experts and external facilitators when required.
- Stay current with best practices in learning and development, coaching, facilitation, and organizational development, particularly within higher education and the MENA region.
- Support cross-HR initiatives, communications, events, and projects where learning, development, or capability uplift is a core component.
Academic Qualifications Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
Professional Experience Required:
Essential
- Minimum of 4-6 years of progressive experience delivering client-focused HR services, with a strong emphasis on culture, employee engagement in complex organizations.
- Proven experience designing and delivering learning and development programs aligned with organizational strategy and culture.
- Experience facilitating leadership and professional learning using effective adult learning methods.
- Practical experience embedding coaching practices and equipping managers with tools to strengthen people leadership.
- Experience developing learning materials and blended learning content for diverse audiences.
Preferred
- Experience establishing or supporting mentoring and coaching programs.
- Experience delivering development initiatives for UAE Nationals or supporting nationalization objectives.
- Familiarity with learning and development in higher education or complex organizations.
