Training and Development Specialist

Location: Any of our offices

The OVO Group’s purpose is to drive progress towards net zero carbon living. To reach Plan Zero, we need everyone to come together - not just as customers buying energy, but as members with a common goal. As part of this ambitious plan, our goal is to become the ‘Best Employer in the UK’ by 2030. If you think you could be the talent we’re looking for, then come and join the adventure!

We launched in 2009 with a mission to change energy for the better. Since then, we’ve welcomed over a million members, planted a million trees, and set our sights on helping save the planet.

As a Group, we’re working to become a net zero carbon business by 2030, while helping our OVO Energy members halve their carbon footprints at the same time.

Green energy and technology are great tools to fight the climate crisis with. But it’s people power that will rewrite history.

So we’re building a zero carbon team inside and out. Of people who share our values, feel inspired by our mission, and want to make change happen. When you work for OVO, it’s not just a job. It’s the work of a lifetime. And we want the sharpest minds to help. 

Up for the challenge?

Where in the world of OVO will I be working? 

Working within Field Operations, you will act as a trusted Learning & Development subject matter expert, helping to create and deliver effective group and individual learning interventions and programmes. A ‘hands-on’ influencer, you will have the opportunity to add value across all aspects of L&D in collaboration with the wider leadership team. Utilising coaching and consultative approaches, you always try to find the root cause of any development required and deliver excellent initiatives.

What will I be doing?

We are looking for an L&D expert that enjoys embedding yourself into a business, uncovering and diving deep into employee, team and business area challenges, goals, skills and more. Day to day we want you to be solutions-led, committed to keeping open communication across
Field Operations, including feeling confident to challenging what we are doing and why. This is a visible role that requires a highly proactive approach, requiring a combination of analytical thinking alongside a creative, growth mentality.

Is this the job for me? 

Key Responsibilities
● Partner with the wider leadership team to proactively identify and implement relevant learning opportunities and interventions that meet the needs of Field Operations and provide interesting and stimulating growth for colleagues.
● Ensure that you understand what drives the business forward and how people development can influence the outcomes we achieve, liaising with the wider leadership team to scope out needs and embed learning & development best practice across Field Operations.
● Develop and promote the Learning Management System to ensure participation and adoption across Field Operations.

●Provide administrative support for all courses, training and learning & development interventions including placing announcements, booking individuals onto courses, creating, and sharing Joining Instructions, booking training facilities, arranging logistical support, booking and management of refreshments and collating feedback.
● Engage external providers, where appropriate, to support with the identification and implementation of innovative learning strategies, including negotiating contractual terms and driving continuous improvement.
● Create and maintain a 24 month forward looking training calendar that captures demand and commitments for technical training. Regularly publish a view of upcoming training required to keep engineers accredited and their skills & knowledge current.
● Work alongside our Central L&D team to co-create and deliver content that is role-specific within Field Operations.
● Own training needs analysis all the way through to evaluation for Field Operations
● Act as a first point of contact for training providers and those participating in training to resolve any queries or issues as they arise. Ensure all enquiries receive a professional and prompt response.
● Create purchase orders and validate invoices to ensure we are only paying for services provided at the rates previously agreed.
● Develop processes and standards to track data, analyse and produce management information reports.
● Engage both leaders, engineers (including Coaches) and other stakeholders, promoting the benefits of capability development, identifying learning requirements and the range of delivery options available to support required training interventions.
● Facilitate discussions with managers to identify learning needs, advising on solutions that will achieve desired outcomes for the best value available.
● Provide support to the Onboarding & Skills Development administrators when workloads peak with time critical deliverables.
● Coordinate team building events & Field Operations away-days, as required, partnering with the Business Operations Manager and Internal Communications Business Partner.

Do I have what it takes?

Ideally you will have 

● Extensive expertise in creating, implementing and developing successful, credible and impactful Learning & Development and/or Training strategies in a large field-based organisation (>1k engineers/operatives).
● Experience of managing teams in a capability-build environment, with exemplary leadership skills - able to inspire and engage others, directly and indirectly, to deliver to exceptional standards.
● Outstanding communicating and influencing skills – able to present information in a range of ways; confident and clear in articulating complex and detailed content; can communicate to persuade and engage effectively and positively.
● Experience in designing, creating content and implementing effective learning solutions for a range of audiences: both groups and individuals ● Outstanding communicating and influencing skills 
● Ability to work effectively with short timelines/competing demands.
● Creative and resourceful, detailed orientated with a strong focus on quality

We want the best people 

At OVO, we empower our people to have choice around where and when they work - flexible working arrangements can be discussed for all of our roles. Please speak to the Talent Acquisition team for more info.

We’re keen to meet people with varied backgrounds - our view is the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We want to build teams which represent a variety of experiences, perspectives and skills, and we recognise talent on the basis of merit and potential.

We understand some people may not apply for jobs unless they tick every box. If you're excited about joining us and think you have much of what we're looking for, even if you're not 100% sure… we'd love to hear from you.

Learn more about working in the OVO family of companies on our careers page and Glassdoor. We’re also delighted to have received a Top Employers certificate in 2018, 2019 and 2020!