AVP, EMEA Head of Learning & Development

Requirements

Description and Requirements

The Team You Will Join

The EMEA Head of Learning & Development will be a core member of the Enterprise L&D (EL&D) Leadership team and member of the extended EMEA HR team, responsible for setting strategic direction and leading the design and delivery of scalable, high-impact learning solutions across the EMEA region for both professional development and our distribution teams. This strategic role involves team leadership, influencing, consulting on and addressing business learning and development needs in partnership with the HRBP team, business and relevant partners. The leader ensures that proposed interventions are outcomes-driven, leverage enterprise offerings where available, designed with relevance for the enterprise strategy and regional/business goals, have measurable learning objectives, and are delivered in accordance with the operating model.

• Reports To: Global Head of Enterprise Learning & Development
  
  
  

How You’ll Help us Build a Confident Future (Key Responsibilities)

• Lead and coach regional team including both direct and matrix reports to ensure delivery of learning and development solutions in alignment with enterprise strategy and annual HR/talent goals.
• Builds relationships, consults and strategizes with the EMEA Head of HR, Enterprise L&D leadership team, Distribution COE, HR Business Partners, LoB/Function business partners, and other partners to deliver quality, consist, and effective L&D solutions that mean business objectives.
• Activate MetLife’s portfolio of global L&D programs, including career initiatives, performance development/compensation process-related learning, coaching and feedback programs, leader capability building, distribution academies, etc.
• Provide strategic input to HR/talent strategy discussions ensuring leverage across region and globally as possible while ensuring local relevancy and impact. Align regional L&D strategies with MetLife’s New Frontier commitments and EL&D’s enterprise priorities.
• Conduct holistic learning needs analysis using Enterprise Learning & Development consulting process, tools, and templates.
• Ensure direct and matrix reports utilize and maintain Enterprise Learning & Development governance standards.
• Inform CoE learning curricula based on strategy insight, business knowledge, and regional needs.
• Manage L&D delivery cycle from strategy to execution through multiple networks and resources.
• Manage L&D finances and budgets for the region in coordination with Enterprise L&D.
• Maintain a deep and holistic understanding of the business and advanced consulting skills.
• Leverage workforce analytics and data insights to proactively identify skill gaps and inform learning pathways.
• Lead regional organization design and change initiatives to optimize L&D delivery and impact.
• Champion scalable, relevant L&D solutions that support employee career growth and business performance.
  
  
  

What You Need To Succeed (Required Qualifications)

• 10+ years of experience in leading, managing, coaching, and inspiring direct line and matrix reports
• Experience consulting to assess needs using a data-driven approach to design and implement scalable, personalized learning solutions where appropriate
• Cross-functional project management
• Expert relationship building and collaboration
• Proven ability to link learning outcomes to business performance metrics
• Bachelor’s degree
• Language Skills – English required
• Familiarity with AI-enabled learning tools and digital adoption strategies
  
  
  

What Can Give You An Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Insurance distribution experience
• Financial services experience
• MBA/Master’s degree preferred in adult learning, education, psychology or related field
• Multiple languages proficiency
• Consulting experience
• Coaching certification
• Change management certification
  
  
  

Key Skills

• Strategic thinking
• Change management
• People leadership
• Collaboration
• Influencing skills
• Data literacy
• Digital fluency
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability
  
  
  

Location

Brighton, UK, Dublin, Ireland, or Dubai, UAE preferred

Travel

Occasional travel as required to support initiatives (up to 10%)

Benefits We Offer

MetLife UK offers a range of benefits to deliver value to our employees and their families, supporting their health, wellbeing and financial security. Our flexible benefits offering provides freedom, choice, and flexibility in the way that you receive your benefits to better suit your lifestyle, meet some of your practical needs, and provide advantages in terms of tax and National Insurance savings. Our core benefits include 9% employer pension contributions with up to 4% matching available, comprehensive private medical insurance, income protection insurance, and life insurance. We offer a host of additional benefits that you can choose to buy including critical illness/dental/travel/gadget insurance, annual leave buy/sell, partner life insurance and more. All employees receive a £20 benefits allowance per month to spend on any additional benefits they select.

About MetLife

Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the 2025 "World's Most Admired Companies" and Fortune World’s 25 Best Workplaces™ for 2024, MetLife , through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by empathy, we’re inspired to transform the next century in financial services.

At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!