Learning and Change Transformation - Manager - Arabic Proficiency
EY · Kochi
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Role - Manager, Learning Transformation & Change
Experience : 11–15 years, including substantial consulting experience
Capability mix : Learning consulting with strong organisational change management capability
Travel : 25%–50% across KSA, UAE and Qatar, engagement-dependent
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Manager is a core leadership hire for the growing MENA Learning & Change portfolio. The role leads client engagements end to end, shapes commercially viable solutions, supports high-priority pursuits and helps build the assets, talent and operating discipline required for a scalable practice.
The role combines learning transformation, organisational change management, business development and AI-enabled learning. The successful candidate will work with MENA partners and account teams across government, energy and financial services, with KSA as the primary growth market.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Client delivery and engagement leadership
- Lead concurrent learning and change engagements across scope, solution, quality, financials, resourcing, risk and client satisfaction.
- Own solution architecture across capability models, learning strategy, learning journeys, curriculum, change and adoption, technology enablement, measurement and sustainment.
- Manage engagement economics including effort, margin, realisation, change control and revenue recognition against plan.
- Lead stakeholder interviews, executive workshops, design sessions, steering reviews and client presentations.
- Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and address delivery risks and escalations promptly.
Learning transformation and change strategy
- Lead learning needs analysis, capability diagnostics, skills mapping and workforce upskilling roadmaps.
- Design learning operating models, academies, curriculum architectures, blended journeys and outcome measurement frameworks.
- Design change and adoption strategies for digital, operating model, regulatory and workforce transformations.
- Integrate stakeholder engagement, communications, readiness, capability building, reinforcement and benefits realisation into learning solutions.
- Support leadership assessment-led development solutions, including assessment administration and interpretation through suitably accredited practitioners.
Pursuits, proposals and market development
- Lead L&D and change pursuits from qualification through win themes, solution design, delivery model, workplan, staffing, assumptions, pricing inputs and oral presentations.
- Translate RFP and client requirements into differentiated, executable and commercially sound solutions under tight timelines.
- Develop capability showcases, credentials, case studies, proposal content and reusable response assets.
- Partner with MENA account teams, subject-matter specialists, finance and delivery leaders to improve proposal quality and conversion.
- Identify account extensions and cross-portfolio opportunities with OCM, HRT, OWT and Design Theatre capabilities.
AI-enabled learning and innovation
- Apply Microsoft Copilot and other approved generative AI tools to research, proposal development, learning design and content acceleration in line with firm policies.
- Shape AI-enabled learning solutions, including a learning content generation accelerator, personalised learning journeys and learning analytics use cases.
- Define appropriate human review, quality, privacy, intellectual property and risk controls for AI-assisted deliverables.
- Contribute to at least one client-facing AI-enabled learning accelerator or innovation use case.
Practice and people leadership
- Coach Senior and Staff consultants, review client deliverables and build consulting, learning, change and AI capability across the team.
- Contribute to recruitment, onboarding, deployment, utilisation planning and certification pathways.
- Build and maintain the capability repository, proposal repository and case-study repository.
- Develop reusable methodologies, accelerators, estimation models, service descriptions and delivery playbooks.
SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES FOR SUCCESS
- Commercial and consulting judgement: Structures ambiguous problems, builds credible solutions and manages engagement economics.
- Learning and change integration: Applies learning strategy and change management together to deliver measurable business outcomes.
- Pursuit leadership: Creates clear win themes, compelling proposal narratives and realistic delivery approaches.
- Executive communication and facilitation: Leads workshops and presents recommendations with clarity and confidence.
- AI fluency: Uses AI responsibly to improve speed and quality and can shape AI-enabled learning solutions.
- Builder mindset: Is comfortable creating repeatable capability while delivering client work in a lean, growth-stage team.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
- 11–15 years of relevant experience across L&D consulting, learning transformation and organisational change management, including substantial client-facing consulting experience.
- Proven end-to-end engagement leadership with responsibility for quality, team, financials and client outcomes.
- Demonstrable experience leading pursuits, developing proposals and shaping learning or change solutions.
- Depth in learning strategy, needs analysis, curriculum and journey design, facilitation, evaluation and capability building.
- Working knowledge of change impact assessment, stakeholder engagement, communications, readiness, adoption and reinforcement.
- Hands-on, responsible use of generative AI and Microsoft Copilot for consulting, proposals and learning work.
- Bachelor’s degree in business, human resources, education, organisational development, psychology or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated business-level Arabic proficiency in reading, writing and speaking, sufficient to review proposal content, participate in stakeholder discussions and support workshops. Proficiency will be assessed through a role-relevant practical evaluation.
Preferred
- GCC or MENA market experience, particularly in government, energy or financial services.
- Big Four or global consulting experience.
- Experience in managed learning services, learning operating model design, leadership development or leadership assessment-led development.
- Exposure to LXP, AI learning platforms, talent marketplaces and learning analytics.
- Experience with platforms such as SuccessFactors Learning, Cornerstone, Workday Learning, Degreed or similar, and digital adoption tools such as WalkMe or SAP Enable Now.
- Experience with learning design and content tools such as Articulate 360, Vyond, Camtasia or comparable platforms.
CERTIFICATIONS
Required at joining or within the agreed development plan
- PROSCI or equivalent recognised change certification
- Design thinking / human-centred design
- Microsoft Copilot, Azure AI or comparable applied AI credential
- Agile or Scrum awareness/certification
Preferred / differentiating
- CPTD / APTD or equivalent learning credential
- CCMP
- Kirkpatrick evaluation credential
- Hogan, SHL or Korn Ferry accreditation
- Learning analytics or platform certification
WAYS OF WORKING
- Initial ramp-up: approximately 50% client delivery, 30% pursuits and proposals, 10% capability building and 10% internal initiatives, subject to demand and staffing.
- Once deployed to a billable engagement: approximately 70% client delivery and 30% pursuits, proposal support and capability building, subject to engagement commitments and portfolio priorities.
KEY SUCCESS MEASURES: FIRST 12 MONTHS
Delivery
- Engagements delivered to agreed scope, quality, financial and client-satisfaction targets.
- Project plans, financial reports, quality reviews and client feedback.
Pursuits
- Support at least 15 strategic pursuits and lead solution development for at least 5 major proposals, subject to pipeline volume.
- Pursuit tracker and proposal records.
Commercial contribution
- Demonstrable contribution to portfolio revenue through billable delivery, wins or account extension.Individual target to be calibrated to the approved portfolio plan
- Revenue, pipeline and account records.
Stakeholders
- Build effective working relationships with up to 5 priority MENA sponsors or account leaders.
- Stakeholder plan and opportunity activity.
Capability assets
- Create or materially improve at least 5 reusable credentials, case studies, methods, estimates or proposal assets.
- Controlled repository and reuse log.
AI and innovation
- Help develop one client-facing AI-enabled learning accelerator or use case and evidence responsible AI adoption in pursuits and delivery.
- Demo, use-case record or client deliverable.
People
- Coach 3–5 junior consultants and maintain documented development and certification plans.
- Counselling records and development plans.
Utilisation and operating model
- Meet the approved utilisation target and agreed delivery/BD allocation, with exceptions re-based when staffing materially changes.
- Utilisation and resource reports.
WHAT EY OFFERS
- Exposure to live MENA learning, change and workforce transformation programmes.
- A role that combines client delivery, solution shaping, capability building and market development.
- Opportunities to develop dual capability across learning consulting and organisational change.
- Hands-on experience with modern learning technology, AI-enabled content and analytics.
- The opportunity to help shape a growing Learning & Change portfolio rather than inherit a fixed model.
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