Job Introduction
Group Learning & Development Manager
Location: Manchester (with regular travel to our branch network)
Department: Value Creation Team
Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer
At Operam Education Group, what drives us isn't just growth - it's impact.
As our business continues to grow, so does our investment in our people. That's why we're creating this brand-new Learning & Development Manager role, that reflects our ambition to build exceptional careers, strengthen leadership capability, and create a consistent, high-performing learning culture across our Group.
Every consultant we develop, every manager we coach, and every capability we build has a direct impact on how we support schools and deliver meaningful outcomes in education.
This is a unique opportunity to shape our learning and development function from the ground up. You'll have the autonomy to design scalable learning programmes, influence how we develop talent across multiple brands, and work alongside senior leaders to build the capability that will support the next stage of our growth.
This is where you will add real value…
As our Learning & Development Manager, you'll be responsible for creating, delivering and continuously evolving learning across our education recruitment businesses.
You'll combine structured programme design with hands-on coaching, ensuring learning is practical, commercially focused and embedded into everyday recruitment activity. Whether you're facilitating a workshop, coaching consultants on live desk activity or partnering with leaders to improve performance, your work will directly influence individual success and business growth.
This isn't a role where learning sits in a classroom. It's about being visible, building credibility with recruitment teams, and creating development that genuinely improves performance.
What you'll be doing
Design learning that drives performance
You'll create structured, engaging learning programmes that support every stage of the recruitment journey, including:
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Consultant onboarding and inductions
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Core recruitment capability
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Sales and business development skills
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Leadership and management development
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Clear learning pathways that support career progression
You'll continually review and enhance programmes based on business priorities, performance data and industry trends, ensuring learning remains relevant, engaging and commercially impactful.
Deliver learning that people enjoy
You'll facilitate high-quality learning experiences across the Group, including:
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Classroom and workshop delivery
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Small group learning sessions
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Structured onboarding programmes
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Leadership development
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Team development sessions
You'll adapt your approach to suit different audiences, creating an engaging learning experience for both new starters and experienced recruiters.
Coach where it matters most
You'll spend time alongside our recruitment teams, helping translate learning into improved performance by:
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Coaching consultants and managers through regular one-to-one development
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Supporting live desk activity through call listening and observation
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Delivering role plays and practical coaching
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Providing real-time feedback
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Working with high performers to capture and share best practice
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Supporting underperforming colleagues with targeted coaching and development plans
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Helping managers strengthen their own coaching capability
Partner with leaders across the business
Working closely with managers and senior stakeholders, you'll identify capability gaps, recommend development solutions and act as a trusted partner on learning, coaching and performance improvement.
You'll also support compliance and process training where required, ensuring consistent standards across the Group.
What we're looking for
We're looking for someone who understands recruitment, enjoys developing people and wants the opportunity to build something with real influence.
You'll already have experience designing and delivering learning within a recruitment environment and be equally comfortable facilitating a workshop as you are coaching consultants on a live desk.
You'll bring:
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Proven experience in a Learning & Development or Training role within recruitment
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Experience designing and delivering structured learning programmes
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A strong understanding of recruitment processes, sales performance and consultant development
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A successful track record of coaching individuals to improve on-desk performance
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Excellent facilitation, communication and influencing skills
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The ability to build credibility with consultants, managers and senior leaders
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A practical, commercially focused approach to learning
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A proactive, adaptable mindset with a passion for developing people
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A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle
It would be great if you also have…
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A background as a recruiter or billing manager
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A CIPD or equivalent Learning & Development qualification
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Experience supporting multiple brands or regional teams
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Exposure to compliance or regulated recruitment sectors
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Experience designing onboarding academies or structured development programmes
Why Operam Education Group?
This is more than a Learning & Development role.
It's an opportunity to build a function, influence how people develop across our Group, and create learning that has a measurable impact on performance, culture and business success.
As a newly created position, you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of learning at Operam Education Group, working closely with senior leadership to establish best practice and create development programmes that will support our people for years to come.
If you're passionate about helping people achieve their potential, enjoy working closely with operational teams, and want to play a key role in the next chapter of our growth, we'd love to hear from you.
