Head: Learning & Leadership (PPB Pan-Africa)

Absa is seeking a dynamic and strategic individual to lead their learning and leadership initiatives across the Pan-African region, focusing on translating overarching strategies into actionable plans that equip the workforce for future success. This pivotal role requires a seasoned professional to ensure that capability-building interventions are not only aligned with enterprise-wide frameworks but also responsive to the unique needs and growth ambitions of individual business units across Africa.

Understanding the Pan-African Context

The core of this position lies in bridging the gap between global learning strategies and their practical application within diverse African markets. The Head: Learning & Leadership will be responsible for tailoring and implementing enterprise learning and leadership frameworks to foster workforce readiness and strengthen critical capabilities. This involves embedding established models for leadership development and establishing business unit academies that drive consistency and effectiveness. A key aspect of the role is to diagnose specific learning and leadership needs within these markets, aiming to enhance productivity, improve customer experiences, and bolster risk management.

This leader will champion the "Skills First" approach, ensuring that development programmes directly address the skills gaps identified and contribute to the overall strategic objectives of the business units. They will oversee the implementation of scalable learning and leadership solutions, ensuring they meet enterprise standards while remaining relevant to local contexts. Furthermore, the role demands a strong analytical approach, using data and insights to inform decisions regarding learning interventions and investments. Partnering closely with Pan-African business unit leaders is crucial to ensure that all learning and development initiatives are intrinsically linked to business priorities and contribute to sustainable growth and organisational effectiveness.

Driving Capability and Effectiveness

The responsibilities extend across several key domains, including strategy formulation, execution, and operational effectiveness. This involves setting a clear direction for integrated learning and leadership development plans, complete with measurable outcomes and defined accountabilities. The successful candidate will be adept at diagnosing capability needs by analysing strategies, workforce plans, and productivity goals. A significant part of the role will involve embedding the "Skills First" strategy, prioritising critical skills development that aligns with enterprise frameworks.

Innovation and change management are also central to this position. The Head: Learning & Leadership will drive the adoption of new and innovative learning solutions, including digital and skills-based models, enhancing the speed and scale of capability building. This will necessitate leading change management efforts to embed new practices and secure buy-in from leaders regarding enterprise frameworks and behavioural shifts.

Operational effectiveness will be maintained through strict adherence to enterprise standards, controls, and operating discipline. This includes directing the execution of Pan-African capability plans, ensuring alignment with delivery models. The role demands seamless integration with various Human Resources functions, including HC Partners, Workforce Planning, Talent Acquisition, and Centres of Excellence, to ensure cohesive people solutions. Driving the adoption of enterprise learning technologies and supporting digital, blended learning enablement solutions will also be a key focus.

Furthermore, a strong emphasis is placed on good governance, risk, and compliance. This involves ensuring business unit compliance with enterprise learning and leadership governance frameworks, policies, and standards. Overseeing mandatory and regulatory learning requirements, driving skills reporting, and leading skills gap analysis are critical components.

Key Accountabilities and Impact

The Head: Learning & Leadership will be accountable for the comprehensive measurement of learning and leadership metrics, assessing the impact of interventions on productivity, workforce readiness, and business outcomes. Generating insights and providing data-led recommendations on skills readiness, learning adoption, and leadership capability will empower business units to make informed decisions about capability-building investments. This role is instrumental in nurturing leadership talent, driving the adoption of enterprise leadership development programmes, embedding leadership principles, and ensuring consistent application of learning and development practices by managers. Ultimately, this position plays a vital part in shaping a capable, agile, and future-ready workforce across Absa's Pan-African operations, directly contributing to the organisation's strategic growth and customer-centric vision.

In South Africa, roles at this senior leadership level, focusing on learning and leadership development within large financial institutions, typically command competitive remuneration packages. Experience in managing multi-country operations and driving strategic initiatives within the financial services sector is highly valued. Career progression from such a role could lead to broader HR leadership positions or executive roles within talent management and organisational development.

 

Qualifications and Work Experience:

Education/Qualifications:

• Post Graduate Degree: Honours Degree, Post Graduate Diploma and Professional Qualifications [NQF8] in Human Capital Strategy / Organisational Development / Learning Sciences and Adult Education / Leadership Development / Workforce Planning and Skills Strategy

 

Work Experience:

• 12 – 15 years experience in learning, leadership development or organisational development, including 3–5 years in a leadership role within a large enterprise.
• Proven ability to translate business strategy into BU learning and leadership plans that build capability and workforce readiness.
• Pan-African/Multi Market Leadership - Proven track record of leading, scaling and aligning the function across diverse geographic markets.
• Cross industry versatility - Experience driving innovation in non-banking sectors (e.g. FinTech, Telecoms, FMCG, or Tech (advantageous)
• Strong background in implementing enterprise learning frameworks, leadership development models and critical skills initiatives.
• Exposure to digital learning platforms, workforce analytics and data-led decision-making.
• Skilled in partnering with senior stakeholders to align people priorities, investments and outcomes to business needs.
• Experience operating across multiple markets or complex multi-country business environments, with the ability to balance enterprise standards, BU priorities and local market requirements.

Competencies:

Leadership Competencies: 

• Strategic Thinking
• Business Acumen
• Communication
• Influence
• Leadership
• Creativity and Innovation
• Delivering Results
• Adaptability
• Collaboration

Education

Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications: Human and Social Studies (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised