Learning & Development Manager
BH-318932-1
Posted: 12/01/2026
- Competitive
- Remote work
- Contract
-
Oil & Gas
Position: Learning & Development Manager
Category: HR Group, Talent & Learning
Location: Remote with frequent travel to Iraq
Duration: 12 months renewable
Travel: 30-40%, as required for partnership, vendor, and operational site visits
Role Synopsis
The Learning & Development Manager is responsible for establishing, operationalizing, and continuously improving the learning and development (L&D) function. The role will drive a holistic, continuous professional development approach aligned to strategic business objectives, compliance requirements in support of the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the oilfields. The Manager will ensure the delivery of a robust L&D strategy, the implementation of the 3E learning model (Experience, Exposure, Education), competence assurance, and the modernization of L&D systems, facilities, and partnerships. This position will engage collaboratively with internal stakeholders, local educational partners, and external vendors to build a capable, self-sufficient workforce and maximize impact for both and the broader professional ecosystem.
This role is responsible for designing, delivering, and sustaining the L&D strategy, ensuring the workforce is equipped for operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and future capability needs. The L&D Manager will embed a culture of continuous professional development, support the implementation of advanced learning systems, and establish effective partnerships to achieve measurable improvements in workforce capability, safety, and business outcomes.
Key Accountabilities
• Establish and lead the Learning & Development function, ensuring alignment with business objectives, safety, reliability, and compliance goals.
• Develop, implement, and evolve a holistic L&D strategy grounded in the 3E learning model (Experience, Exposure, Education) and continuous professional development (CPD) philosophy.
• Oversee the creation and execution of targeted training programs, including on-the-job training, competence assurance, and risk-based mandatory training for all employees and critical roles.
• Lead efforts to modernize and upgrade L&D facilities and infrastructure across the professional development value chain, including practical training sites, classrooms, and digital learning spaces.
• Implement a learning management system to plan, assign, track, and administrate all training activities, competence assessments, and performance metrics.
• Develop comprehensive curricula to address operational needs, Article 26 requirements, and future skills gaps, with a strong emphasis on technical, safety, leadership, digital, and language capabilities.
• Foster strategic partnerships with local educational institutions and select commercial and delivery partners to enhance training quality, scalability, and industry alignment.
• Operationalize competence assurance processes based on risk assessment, providing actionable data for targeted capability building and closing the L&D feedback loop.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on the effectiveness, impact, and return on investment of all L&D initiatives, adjusting strategy and delivery based on data-driven insights.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual, and social performance commitments, partnering with business leaders and external stakeholders as required.
• Support the recruitment, development, and performance of the L&D team to ensure sustainable organizational learning capability.
• Champion the adoption of CPD and the 3E learning model throughout the organization, coaching leaders and employees to maximize engagement and impact.
• Contribute to scholarship allocation strategies, technology adoption, and institutional research partnerships aligned with workforce development needs.
• Manage budgets and resource allocation for L&D activities in line with fund guidelines and operational priorities.
Criteria & Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
• Certifications in learning & development, project management, or related disciplines are highly desirable.
• Minimum 8–10 years’ experience in L&D, HR, or workforce capability management roles, ideally within large matrix or technical organizations
• Proven track record in designing and implementing multi-modal learning strategies (including OJT, formal education, and experiential learning)
• Experience working with or within oil & gas, heavy industry, or similar operational environments is highly advantageous.
• Experience building L&D teams and managing multi-stakeholder projects.
• Familiarity with international best practices in learning, safety, and compliance
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder L&D or organizational transformation projects.
• Designs and oversees L&D programs that result in improvement in workforce capability metrics over a defined period.
• Establishes robust measurement frameworks, ensuring learning programs demonstrate direct business impact.
• Arabic language skills are highly desirable.
• Has demonstrated continual use of people, HR and learning analytics tools to track workforce capability trends, providing insights that influence L&D decisions.
• Develops L&D investment cases, with demonstrable ROI across skills area/audience, linking workforce development to revenue or efficiency gains.
With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.
Category: HR Group, Talent & Learning
Location: Remote with frequent travel to Iraq
Duration: 12 months renewable
Travel: 30-40%, as required for partnership, vendor, and operational site visits
Role Synopsis
The Learning & Development Manager is responsible for establishing, operationalizing, and continuously improving the learning and development (L&D) function. The role will drive a holistic, continuous professional development approach aligned to strategic business objectives, compliance requirements in support of the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the oilfields. The Manager will ensure the delivery of a robust L&D strategy, the implementation of the 3E learning model (Experience, Exposure, Education), competence assurance, and the modernization of L&D systems, facilities, and partnerships. This position will engage collaboratively with internal stakeholders, local educational partners, and external vendors to build a capable, self-sufficient workforce and maximize impact for both and the broader professional ecosystem.
This role is responsible for designing, delivering, and sustaining the L&D strategy, ensuring the workforce is equipped for operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and future capability needs. The L&D Manager will embed a culture of continuous professional development, support the implementation of advanced learning systems, and establish effective partnerships to achieve measurable improvements in workforce capability, safety, and business outcomes.
Key Accountabilities
• Establish and lead the Learning & Development function, ensuring alignment with business objectives, safety, reliability, and compliance goals.
• Develop, implement, and evolve a holistic L&D strategy grounded in the 3E learning model (Experience, Exposure, Education) and continuous professional development (CPD) philosophy.
• Oversee the creation and execution of targeted training programs, including on-the-job training, competence assurance, and risk-based mandatory training for all employees and critical roles.
• Lead efforts to modernize and upgrade L&D facilities and infrastructure across the professional development value chain, including practical training sites, classrooms, and digital learning spaces.
• Implement a learning management system to plan, assign, track, and administrate all training activities, competence assessments, and performance metrics.
• Develop comprehensive curricula to address operational needs, Article 26 requirements, and future skills gaps, with a strong emphasis on technical, safety, leadership, digital, and language capabilities.
• Foster strategic partnerships with local educational institutions and select commercial and delivery partners to enhance training quality, scalability, and industry alignment.
• Operationalize competence assurance processes based on risk assessment, providing actionable data for targeted capability building and closing the L&D feedback loop.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on the effectiveness, impact, and return on investment of all L&D initiatives, adjusting strategy and delivery based on data-driven insights.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual, and social performance commitments, partnering with business leaders and external stakeholders as required.
• Support the recruitment, development, and performance of the L&D team to ensure sustainable organizational learning capability.
• Champion the adoption of CPD and the 3E learning model throughout the organization, coaching leaders and employees to maximize engagement and impact.
• Contribute to scholarship allocation strategies, technology adoption, and institutional research partnerships aligned with workforce development needs.
• Manage budgets and resource allocation for L&D activities in line with fund guidelines and operational priorities.
Criteria & Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
• Certifications in learning & development, project management, or related disciplines are highly desirable.
• Minimum 8–10 years’ experience in L&D, HR, or workforce capability management roles, ideally within large matrix or technical organizations
• Proven track record in designing and implementing multi-modal learning strategies (including OJT, formal education, and experiential learning)
• Experience working with or within oil & gas, heavy industry, or similar operational environments is highly advantageous.
• Experience building L&D teams and managing multi-stakeholder projects.
• Familiarity with international best practices in learning, safety, and compliance
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder L&D or organizational transformation projects.
• Designs and oversees L&D programs that result in improvement in workforce capability metrics over a defined period.
• Establishes robust measurement frameworks, ensuring learning programs demonstrate direct business impact.
• Arabic language skills are highly desirable.
• Has demonstrated continual use of people, HR and learning analytics tools to track workforce capability trends, providing insights that influence L&D decisions.
• Develops L&D investment cases, with demonstrable ROI across skills area/audience, linking workforce development to revenue or efficiency gains.
With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.