Requirements
Candidates should have a diploma or equivalent in HR, L&D, or business, with 1-3 years of experience in L&D, HR, or a people support role, preferably in retail. Proficiency in LMS and digital tools, strong organizational, planning, and communication skills are essential, along with adaptability to a fast-paced retail environment.
Description
Job description / Role
Job Type
Full Time
Job Location
UAE
Nationality
Any Nationality
Salary
Not Specified
Gender
Not Specified
Arabic Fluency
Not Specified
Job Function
HR, Recruitment & Training
Company Industry
Retail
Overview of the role
The learning & development specialist ensures the effective delivery of training solutions across stores and regional levels, aligning with the learning service level agreement (SLA). The role involves strategic planning, coordination, and monitoring of learning activities that support employee development, business priorities, and brand competency. The specialist works collaboratively with store management teams, HR business partners, facilitators, and subject matter experts to ensure that learning solutions are executed on time and with impactful outcomes. The role involves balancing strategic planning with operational execution, supporting mandatory and compliance requirements, behavioral development, and contributing to regional learning initiatives.
What you will do
Learning planning & SLA delivery
Translate business and training needs into annual and monthly learning plans aligned with regional priorities and SLA commitments.
Ensure learning activities are planned, communicated, and deployed within agreed timelines (monthly, quarterly, annual cycles).
Achieve stakeholder alignment across store management, HRBP, regional L&D.
Training deployment & coordination
Coordinate the end-to-end delivery of learning solutions including classroom, virtual, blended, and self-learning in line with learning pathways and priorities.
Ensure availability and readiness of facilitators, buddies, and learning resources to meet service expectations.
Maintain an active pool of facilitators and buddies.
Learning experience & engagement
Drive learning engagement through campaigns, communication, and social learning initiatives.
Promote a strong learning culture aligned with IKEA values and ways of working.
Execute engagement campaigns successfully and achieve high learning participation and completion rates.
Monitoring, reporting & quality assurance
Monitor learning delivery, completion, and certification through agreed platforms and dashboards.
Ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely reporting in line with SLA standards.
Deliver monthly learning dashboards on time and achieve certification and compliance targets.
Stakeholder partnership
Act as the learning consultant for line managers, HRBP, SMEs, and regional L&D.
Support managers in enabling development, performance cycles, and individual development plans (IDPs).
Ensure manager satisfaction and successful learning enablement during key people cycles.
Continuous improvement & regional & retail division contribution
Contribute to regional and retail learning initiatives, projects, and continuous improvement of learning solutions.
Share insights, best practices, and learning outcomes with regional stakeholders.
Participate actively in regional learning initiatives and ensure effective communication of best practices.
Required skills to be successful
Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
Proficiency in using digital tools and learning management systems (LMS) for tracking and coordinating learning activities.
Excellent communication skills, capable of building positive relationships with managers, HR, facilitators, and co-workers.
Adaptability to a fast-paced retail environment, maintaining flexibility and positivity in shifting priorities.
What qualifies you for the role
Diploma, higher diploma, or equivalent vocational qualification in human resources, learning & development, business, or a related field.
1-3 years of experience in learning & development, HR, or a people support role, preferably within a retail or operational environment.
Proficiency with learning management systems (LMS) and digital tools for learning delivery and coordination.
Strong organizational, planning, and follow-up skills, with experience in managing timelines, learning calendars, and coordination across multiple stakeholders.
About Al-Futtaim Retail
Al-Futtaim Retail has established itself as one of the leaders in retail across the Middle East, Africa & Asia over the past 30 years. We have developed partnerships with some of the biggest and most respected brands in the world including IKEA, ACE and Toys R Us in the Middle East and the Inditex Group of Brands (Zara, Mango, Bershka and P&B) across Asia. We are also one of the largest global partners of Marks and Spencer’s in both regions with over 75 stores offering both fashion & food options.
Most recently we have been responsible for bringing brands to the Middle East for the first time with the exciting launches of Watsons and B&Q and we aim to continue to be agile and adaptive to our markets with new launches and further development. For this to be possible we aim to recruit the best talent from all backgrounds who will continue to challenge and develop our diverse workforce which includes over 100 nationalities across 12 countries. Join us today and make a difference.
About the Company
Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.
The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.
The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.
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