Learning & Development Manager

Company Description

Are you an experienced Learning & Development Manager, or an aspiring Head of L&D, looking to build a career in the people profession, wanting to join an award-winning organisation? Or are you working in the Construction industry and are responsible for the competence and development of teams across your organisation?

Be Part of Something That Makes a Difference

At WJ Group, we’re passionate about keeping people safe on the roads. WJ Group are at the forefront of road safety and highways services, and we know our people are at the heart of what we do. As Learning & Development Manager, you’ll be at the heart of developing our people, empowering our teams, and shaping the next generation of talent across the highways sector.

This is a fantastic opportunity to lead training and professional development across a dynamic, safety-driven organisation.

This is a role where your leadership, technical knowledge, and passion for learning will directly contribute to safer roads and stronger teams. If you’re passionate about helping others grow and thrive, this role is made for you.

Job Description

What You’ll Do

Learning & Development Leadership

• Drive, coach and motivate the Training Team to fulfil their potential.  
• Crate  an industry leading L&D strategy that supports business goals, safety and compliance.
• Take ownership of financial forecasting and manage spend.
• Identifying and unlocking funding opportunities and optimising use of training levies and funds, and managing risks. 

Professional & Technical Training

• Oversee instructor qualifications (LGV, FLT, Manual Handling etc.) and support NVQ and accredited training delivery.
• Ensure compliance with Sector Scheme 7, maintaining both employee and trainer qualifications.
• Building clear career pathways by supporting continuous professional development, professional qualifications and memberships across all functions.

Future Skills & Workforce Development

• Identify skill gaps and developing and delivering engaging training through blended learning solutions.
• Anticipate future industry needs, creating programmes that build engineering, digital and technical capability.
• Develop frameworks that align competence with long-term career opportunities.

Highways Safety & Compliance

• Ensure drivers hold the correct licences, qualifications and CPC, delivering induction and safety training.
• Maintain accreditations proudly held by WJ including DVSA and FORS, keeping courses, instructors and standards fully compliant.

Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the implementation of a brand-new Learning Management System (LMS) and embed cutting-edge training methods.
• Ensure data integrity through accurate training records and meaningful reporting.

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience in learning and development management, ideally within highways, transport, or another safety-critical sector.
• Inspirational Leadership skills with the ability to engage and motivate across all levels.
• A passion for people development  and creating a culture of continuous learning.
• Ideally would have knowledge of transport legislation, safety standards, and training compliance.
• Recognised instructor/training qualifications (e.g. LGV Instructor, CPC, FLT, Manual Handling, DVSA/IAM) or equivalent industry knowledge.

Additional Information

What's in it for you?

If you want to be part of a team that enables you to drive your ideas and bring a fresh approach to people engagement and development, we will reward you with:

• Annual salary between £50,000 - £60,000 (dependent on experience)
• Company car or car allowance
• Benefits package, including but not limited to an annual bonus, pension, private medical insurance and travel expenses.
• Health Shield plan which provides money back on health expenses, access to a GP 24/7 and discounts on various products via the Breeze app.
• 25 Days annual leave + bank holidays
• Complete on-the-job training to gain insight into WJ's processes and procedures.
• Opportunity for external formal training to enable Continuous Professional Development
• An opportunity to be part of our industry-leading team.

Whilst based in Newcastle-under-Lyme this role will require nationwide travel.

If you’re ready to lead and develop a passionate team, inspire future talent and make a difference across the UK’s highways network, join WJ and drive the change.

Closing date for applications: Friday 28 November 2025

WJ Group is the UK’s leading specialist highway services and road marking business. We consistently provide high standards nationally whilst ensuring delivery of unrivalled local services from strategically located UK depots.

Experts in installation and removal of permanent and temporary road markings, road studs, high friction, and coloured surfacing, asphalt repair, surface retexturing and TASCAR average speed cameras. People, client, and supplier relationships are our strengths as well as our committed approach to sustainability and the communities in which we live. Together we have evolved WJ into the most successful innovator, manufacturer and provider of award-winning products and services in our sector.

Become part of a company that has led the road marking industry from our inception. Shape the future with WJ. Apply now!

WJ are a Disability Committed employer - If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application / recruitment process, please reach out to us directly at [email protected]

WJ is an Equal Opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. 

We reserve the right to close this advertisement before any stated closing date should we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage candidates to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. All applications received prior to the closing date will be considered equally, and the recruitment process will be conducted fairly and transparently.