Head of Learning, Culture & Engagement
The Head of Learning, Culture and Engagement is a senior HR leadership role and a key member of the HR Senior Management Team, reporting to the Director of People and Learning.
The purpose of the role is to provide strategic leadership and direction for NI Water’s organisational culture, employee engagement and learning agenda, ensuring people capability, leadership and culture actively support the delivery of corporate priorities and long-term business sustainability.
The postholder plays a critical role in shaping NI Water as a great place to work by leading enterprise-wide people strategies that drive performance, enable change and support a healthy, inclusive and engaged workforce. As a senior HR leader, the role will contribute and coordinate across all areas of HR discipline with professional leadership, judgement and challenge across the wider people agenda, supporting organisational resilience and effective decision-making at senior levels.
The Head of Learning, Culture and Engagement holds professional responsibility for NI Water’s learning, culture and engagement portfolio and associated specialist teams. This includes strategic oversight of organisational learning and development, leadership and management development, employee engagement, organisational culture, health and wellbeing, diversity, equality and inclusion, corporate values and employer brand.
The role provides strategic leadership for NI Water’s capability-building activity, ensuring current and future workforce skills align with business needs. Working closely with colleagues across the HR Directorate, the postholder ensures that learning and engagement interventions are coherent, sustainable and aligned with wider people, reward and operational frameworks.
Applicants MUST be able to demonstrate in their application and where necessary at interview:
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
1. Possess a degree level qualification in a relevant discipline AND a minimum of three years’ senior leadership experience of:
a. the successful development and implementation of learning, culture and engagement people strategies, that support across all HR disciplines and support organisational performance, including learning & development, employee engagement and health & wellbeing.
b. developing and leading significant people strategies in a large, multi-disciplinary organisation*
c. contributing across a wide range of HR matters, including workforce planning, organisational change, leadership capability and employee relations.
OR (in the absence of a third level qualification)
Five years’ successful senior leadership experience of:
a. the successful development and implementation of learning, culture and engagement people strategies, that support across all HR disciplines and support organisational performance, including learning & development, employee engagement and health & wellbeing.
b. developing and leading significant people strategies in a large, multi-disciplinary organisation*
c. contributing across a wide range of HR matters, including workforce planning, organisational change, leadership capability and employee relations.
2. Hold Membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
3. Demonstrable experience of leading and managing HR teams, including direction setting and developing high-performing HR talent, build a strong professional HR team culture and ethos based on values.
4. Experience of relevant Stakeholder management including excellent interpersonal skills to manage relationships within and external to the organisation
5. Demonstrable experience of influencing and developing organisational people strategy at Executive level (Executive team and Board, or equivalent)
What is on Offer
Salary
This role offers a competitive remuneration package. Salary will be confirmed with the successful candidate on appointment.
Location
Westland House, Old Westland Road, Belfast, BT14 6TE and Antrim Learning & Development Centre, Antrim.
The successful candidate may be required to travel to other NI Water sites as and when required.
What we Offer
Generous annual leave and public/privilege holidays
Flexible working and family friendly policies
Hybrid Working (applicable to some of our roles after three months following onboarding and training)
Occupational sick pay
Employee assistance programmes
Cycle to work scheme
One of the largest corporate volunteering schemes in NI
Award winning health and wellbeing programme which focuses on supporting four key area of employee health; Physical, Mental, Social and Financial
How to Apply
To submit your application, please click the APPLY icon.
For additional information about the role please download a Candidate Brief, available below.
Closing date for submission of Applications: Monday 11th May 2026 10.00am
Interview Dates: Monday 25th May 2026