We are Cunningham. Founded in 2006, Cunningham is one of the UK's and Europe's leading construction companies. With extensive operations across multiple markets, we have built a strong reputation for innovation, quality, and safety, delivering successful projects through a proactive, collaborative approach.
Our expertise spans a diverse range of sectors, including Mission Critical & Life Sciences, Education, Healthcare, Fit Out, Residential, and Civils & Structural projects.
Today, Cunningham employs more than 280 professionals across offices in Ireland, Germany, and the UK. Working in partnership with our clients, we unlock the full potential of every project, transforming ambitious visions into successful outcomes while creating exciting opportunities for our people.
At Cunningham you will be given the opportunity to excel in your career. Our people set us apart, and that’s why we invest in your journey from day one. Your expertise, ambition, and commitment will be recognised and rewarded as you build a successful career with us.
The Learning & Talent Development Lead is responsible for designing, delivering, and evaluating the Company’s learning, development, and early careers strategies, programmes and plans. The role has a significant focus on early careers pathways, including apprentices, Higher Level Apprentices, placement students, and graduates, to ensure a strong and sustainable talent pipeline that supports long-term workforce planning and succession needs.
The postholder will lead initiatives that enhance employee capability, engagement, and retention, while ensuring full compliance with legal, regulatory, and accreditation requirements. They will provide monthly KPI reporting to Directors to demonstrate programme impact, progress, and risks.
Department: People Team
Reporting to: People & Culture Manager
Working Hours: Full time permanent position, 40 hours per week, Monday to Thursday 8/8.30am – 5/5.30pm and Fridays 8/8.30am to 2.30/3pm.
Role Responsibilities
Strategic Learning & Talent Development
Lead the design and delivery of the Company’s Learning & Talent Development strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and future workforce needs.Support the People & Culture Manager and Head of People in delivering the wider People strategy, taking ownership of projects relating to learning, development, and early careers.Conduct ongoing Training Needs Analysis across all departments to identify skills gaps and development priorities.Ensure all learning solutions, internal or external, are aligned to business needs and deliver measurable outcomes.Develop and maintain a comprehensive Training & Skills Matrix that reflects legislative requirements, industry standards, and evolving business needs.Partner with managers and industry bodies (e.g., Engineers Ireland, CIOB, RICS) to design structured learning pathways for technical and behavioural skills.Prepare and deliver a Skills for Growth application and manage training courses and compliance paperwork in relation to this project
Early Careers & Talent Pipeline Management
Lead the end-to-end management of all early careers programmes, including apprenticeships, HLAs, placements, and graduate pathways.Build strong relationships with academic institutions to ensure high-quality, compliant, and future-focused programmes.Monitor student progress through regular meetings with apprentices, mentors, and academic partners and directors escalating concerns where necessary.Attend sectoral events, briefings, and forums to ensure the Company remains compliant and competitive in early careers provision.Develop and deliver initiatives that strengthen the Company’s succession planning and internal talent pipeline.Provide monthly KPI dashboards to Directors, highlighting progress, risks, and outcomes across all early careers cohorts.
Learning Delivery & Capability Building
Coordinate and schedule training programmes that build practical skills and support career developmentProvide coaching and support to managers to enhance leadership capability and people-management skills.Maintain a Preferred Supplier List of training providers, ensuring value for money and quality assurance.Personal delivery of inhouse training programmes where appropriate. E.g., lunch & learns, skills workshops, people policy & procedureEnsure full compliance with mandatory training requirements, proactively managing expiring certifications and coordinating renewals.
Process Improvement & Digitalisation
Identify opportunities to streamline learning and early careers processes through digitalisation and automation, including content creation where appropriate.Develop data-driven business cases to support improvements and investment in learning technologies.Produce accurate monthly and ad-hoc reports for Directors, using data to demonstrate impact, trends, and risks.
General HR & Team Responsibilities
Support the wider People team with shared processes including induction, training, appraisals, and performance management.Act as a trusted member of the People team, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times.Undertake any other reasonable duties required to support the delivery of people objectives and strategy.
Health & Safety Responsibilities
All employees are expected to play their part in maintaining a safe work environment for themselves and their colleagues, and call-out or report any unsafe practices immediately.Take reasonable care as the Health and Safety of yourself and others may be affected by your actions.Work in a safe manner and observe the Company Health and Safety Rules and Procedures.Use the protective clothing and equipment provided.Report to your Line Manager any incidents that have led to or could have led to injury or an accident or have affected the environment.Report all injuries promptly that occur to yourself at work and obtain the necessary first aid treatment.Cooperate with Managers and other personnel of the Company to achieve a healthy and safe workplace environment.Help in the investigation of accidents in order to prevent recurrence.Observe the Company personal hygiene requirements.Set an example of safe, correct behaviour, particularly to new entrants and young persons.Report any hazard / defect you may observe promptly to your immediate line manager.Report any shortcomings in systems of work or procedures to your line manager.Not to interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare or yourselves or your work colleagues.To comply with safe systems of work at all timesTo advise managers when not trained for tasks you are being asked to carry out.
Essential Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required
Experience & Knowledge
Proven experience (at least 5 years) in a Learning & Development, Talent Development, or HR role with responsibility for designing and delivering development programmesDemonstrable experience managing early careers initiatives (e.g. apprenticeships, graduate schemes, placements, or work experience programmes)Experience of designing structured learning journeys and development frameworksStrong understanding of apprenticeship frameworks / training pathways (e.g. CITB, further education providers, or equivalent)Experience with Skills for Growth applications and funding procedureExperience working with external training providers, educational institutions, or awarding bodiesExperience with ROI pathways as well as NI pathways
Skills & Competencies
Ability to develop and implement talent development strategies aligned to business needsStrong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels (including operational/site leadership)Excellent communication and facilitation skills, including delivering training or workshopsAbility to analyse data and measure programme effectiveness (e.g. retention, progression, completion rates)Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple programmes simultaneously
Behavioural / Leadership
Passion for developing people and supporting early career talentCollaborative approach with the ability to build strong cross-functional relationshipsProactive and solutions-focused mindsetAbility to act as a coach and mentor to early careers employees and line managers
Qualifications
CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent experience) in Learning & Development or HRRelevant degree or professional qualification (or equivalent experience)
Desirable Criteria:
Experience & Knowledge
Experience within construction, engineering, manufacturing, or other operational environmentsKnowledge of CITB funding, apprenticeship levy, or training grants (NI & ROI)Experience designing and delivering graduate development programmesExperience supporting succession planning and workforce planning
Skills & Tools
Experience using Learning Management Systems (LMS) or talent platformsExperience delivering leadership development or future leader programmesFamiliarity with psychometrics / development tools (e.g. Insights Discovery, DiSC, etc.)
Broader Exposure
Experience leading or contributing to employer branding / early careers attraction strategiesExperience managing mentoring or coaching programmesExposure to diversity & inclusion initiatives within early careers pipelines
Benefits
As part of the Cunningham team, you will be offered the following employee benefits in addition to your market leading salary:
Work-Life & Wellbeing
31 days Annual LeaveEarly finish on FridaysLife Assurance PolicyCompany Occupational HealthEmployee Assistance ProgrammeWellbeing EventsDevelopment & Support
Ongoing Training & DevelopmentTeam Development DaysSupport for Chartership PathwaysBespoke Career PathwaysProfessional Membership SupportCompany Culture & Perks
State-of-the-art office facilitiesOn-site Car ParkingBranded clothingSocial Events
Cunningham is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons.
