Head of Learning & Development

Red Ember Recruitment (PTY) Ltd Permanent

Somerset West, South Africa Posted on 20/05/2026

Red Ember Recruitment is seeking to appoint a commercially focused and execution-driven Head of Learning & Development based in the Somerset West area to support a rapidly expanding restaurant group operating across 100+ restaurants.

The successful candidate will be responsible for building and scaling capability across the business by developing high-impact learning frameworks, leadership pipelines, and operational training solutions that directly improve restaurant performance, consistency, and readiness for expansion.

This role requires a strategic yet hands on leader who can translate business objectives into practical, scalable learning interventions across entry level, supervisory, and management levels within a high volume operational environment.

• Develop and execute a group-wide Learning & Development strategy aligned to organisational growth objectives.
• Build structured learning pathways across operational, supervisory, and management roles.
• Design competency frameworks that support career progression and leadership readiness.
• Align learning initiatives with operational performance requirements and future business needs.
• Establish scalable learning models that support rapid business expansion.

• Oversee the delivery of onboarding, operational skills, compliance, and leadership development programmes.
• Ensure consistent training standards and execution across all restaurant locations.
• Drive operational readiness for new store openings through structured training interventions.
• Monitor training effectiveness and implement continuous improvements.
• Ensure learning delivery supports operational efficiency, customer experience, and service excellence.

• Lead and manage the Learning & Development function, including:
• Training Administration
• Management Trainers
• Skills Trainers
• Early Talent Pipelines
• Build a coaching led culture focused on capability development and operational excellence.
• Mentor and develop internal training teams to improve delivery quality and consistency.
• Drive accountability and performance within the L&D department.
• Oversee the development and standardisation of training content and learning materials.
• Ensure all learning content is operationally relevant, scalable, and aligned to business standards.
• Support the digitisation of learning content and blended learning methodologies.
• Ensure learning interventions remain current, engaging, and commercially effective.
• Collaborate with operational leadership to identify training gaps and capability requirements.
• Partner with Performance & Talent teams to strengthen leadership pipelines across the business.
• Support succession planning initiatives and Individual Development Plans (IDPs).
• Build development programmes that accelerate internal growth and promotion readiness.
• Contribute to long term workforce capability planning.

• Align training interventions to operational KPIs including:
• Labour productivity
• Audit and compliance outcomes
• Customer experience metrics
• Operational consistency
• Management capability
• Use learning initiatives to improve operational execution and business performance.
• Support restaurant leadership teams through targeted capability interventions.

• Manage learning systems, reporting structures, and training tracking processes.
• Provide Exco and operational leadership with training insights and performance analytics.
• Monitor training completion rates, competency progression, and capability outcomes.
• Use data driven insights to improve learning effectiveness and operational performance.
• Build scalable training infrastructure to support ongoing expansion and new store openings.
• Ensure learning capability evolves alongside business growth requirements.
• Support high volume operational environments through agile and practical training solutions.

• Alternatively: CIPD Level 5 or 7 or CPTD (ATD) with exposure to QCTO/SETA environments
• Minimum 7-10 years' experience within Learning & Development.
• Proven experience leading multi site training teams.
• Experience within QSR, retail, FMCG, hospitality, or other high volume operational environments essential.
• Proven track record building scalable leadership pipelines and operational capability frameworks.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel between sites if required.
• Strong focus on practical implementation and measurable delivery.
• Ability to move strategy into operational execution effectively
• Strong understanding of operational environments and business realities.
• Ability to develop training solutions that improve operational performance.
• Uses reporting, analytics, and business insights to improve capability outcomes.
• Influence & Stakeholder Management.
• Strong ability to influence across Operations, HR, and Executive leadership teams.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
• Commercial Mindset
• Understands the commercial impact of capability development on operational performance and growth.

• Training completion rates.
• Time-to-competency.
• Operational performance improvements.
• Training quality and consistency.
• New store readiness and onboarding success.
• Internal promotion and succession metrics.