The role
Reporting directly into the CEO, the CCLO is responsible for the vision and quality of learning output at Sponge, and to deliver against the Unforgettable learning promise to customers and employees alike.
The CCLO role will be the leading voice to inspire and inform the future direction of our products. They will work together with their teams which will include The Practice, Client Success and the Creative Services departments to influence how we design, create, influence and implement the latest learning solutions; inspiring a commitment to ambitious creativity and innovation, whilst maintaining a strong commercial lens on profitable, scalable and repeatable solutions.
The goal?
To establish, energize, provoke, inspire, and grow a vision for Unforgettable learning that is as progressive in our learning output, as we demonstrate in our brand. Importantly, this role is accountable for the practical execution of this strategy so that it is brought to life in the day-to-day experience of Sponge employees.
The success of this role will be measured by employee fulfillment, client satisfaction feedback, industry awards successes, strategic client new wins and a portfolio of accretive or new, exciting, and valuable learning interventions that we are all proud to talk about both internally, and on a global stage.
Responsibilities
This role has the responsibility to inform and guide the business and at the same time be the glue that provides updates, insights, provocation, recommendation and the decision-making obligations to the SLT that continually drives the business forward and keeps the Sponge brand on the lips of industry commentators as the flagship, boundary pushing learning provider of record.
The tangible constituent parts of the role being:
Learning offering
Ownership of recommending Sponge Group products and services
- Ownership of recommending the format, purpose and criteria of 'What we do and don't sell', using a view on industry trends, customer expectations, client feedback, internal capability, market intelligence and commercial strategy to refresh and expand Sponge's offering
- Review and evaluate the service and solutions offering with the buy-in of a lean and cross-functional working group, to ensure regular engagement and shrewd updates that continually delight our clients and our employees
- Review, evaluate and own the internal learning journey of our own employees to ensure that we are at the forefront of the latest employee learning experiences using the recommended product offerings. This will include working closely with the Chief People Officer to ensure that there is a natural alignment to the Talent Strategy
Learning quality
Set the direction and vision for realising the Unforgettable learning promise
- Recommend and then own the future direction of Sponge's internal 'Design DNA' and how this supports our goal of Unforgettable learning
- Establish a tangible and practical user guide to Unforgettable learning to be received positively - and used daily - to ensure quality and consistency across all Sponge teams that design and/or deliver learning
- Identify the most appropriate channels to share, train, inspire and review this guide and consider how it's used as a reference across existing processes
- Ensure cross-functional buy-in of our internal view of Unforgettable learning as a methodology used and championed by all
Learning community
Establish one Sponge view of Unforgettable learning
- Line-manage the Practice to maintain influence on the LExC's team as our centre of excellence for Unforgettable learning
- Establish and maintain effective frameworks for communication, peer reviews and coaching between teams for live project work
- Own the forums for 'Unforgettable learning' knowledge sharing and inspiration
- Own the process for collaboration opportunities between teams within pre-sales and delivery processes
- Identify how we can incorporate 'Unforgettable learning' into professional development and performance management process for all creative roles
- Be a spokesperson and external voice for our view of Unforgettable learning at industry events and panels, online and worldwide
Own and deliver a cross-company annual learning event (e.g. 'Festival of Learning') to unite and inspire teams and ensure cohesion.
Be a spokesperson and external voice for our view of Unforgettable learning at industry events and panels, online and worldwide.
Learning innovation
Recommend and then direct our innovative edge in both product and best practice
- Own and grow an internal innovation team, responsible for cross-functional innovation best practice across pre-sales and delivery
- Jointly lead, with the CTO, experimentation of new tech and products, building a business case for innovation budget
- Explore, recommend and deliver specific opportunities to Sponge recognised as 'Innovation in learning' according to industry perspectives, e.g. VR/AR - equipping the sales team to identify these new opportunities
- Identify opportunities to explore and execute truly cutting-edge learning approaches, delighting our clients and employees with the unique, unexpected and truly unforgettable
- Provide SLT and the rest of the business with regular Insights, updates and decision-making opportunities on the above
Skills, Experience & Attributes
- A proven senior leader with at least 5 years' experience operating at a scaled learning company influencing board and executive teams and demonstrating an eye for quality, creativity and innovation
- Strategic thinker with the ability to respond at pace
- Confident in taking own recommendations through from ideation to execution
- Deep understanding of learning industry and trends
- Preferably a profile that is known in the learning design circle of external influencers and could implicitly make a statement of intent
- Curious to explore difference and uniqueness
- Commitment to quality and high standards
- Strong commercial acumen
- Brave when navigating ambiguity, particularly in the realms of creativity and innovation
- A people-centered approach with the EQ to bring people on a journey; whilst also being equipped to face into challenging conversations
- Experience representing an organisation at Industry & speaking events
- 5+ years' experience in delivering learning strategy
- Positive, collaborative attitude
- Strong stakeholder management, influencing and consulting ability
Who we are…We're a world leading, digital learning provider, designing and delivering training solutions for global brands across multiple sectors and industries including pharmaceutical, technology, finance, retail, manufacturing, and professional services. Our exciting client list includes some of the worlds' biggest brands – AstraZeneca, Coca-Cola, IKEA, Tesco, and Royal Mail, to name but a few. With strong financial backing, we're growing fast, focused on being a global leader in learning and development, bringing together a heritage of creativity and technology, and applying the latest thinking in learning science to deliver truly effective digital learning.
What we can offer you……
- A competitive salary – our priority is to find the right person
- Flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from home some of the week
- Pension
- Income protection and life assurance
- 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays
- Your birthday off
- A fabulous health cash plan
Location
Our new headquarters is in the Bristol area (The Paintworks). We offer a mix of home and office working because we believe both are necessary for a high performing team. We know you need some time to concentrate and avoid constant commuting, so homeworking is essential, but we also feel face-to-face time is important too.
We work in a Hybrid way with ideally 3 days per week in the office and the rest of the week worked remotely. We offer flexible working options also to help find the right work-life balance for you.
We currently have main offices in the UK in Bristol, Plymouth, Glasgow, and in Europe in Berlin and Brussels.
Be you, with us!
At Sponge, we are all different. And that's what makes us great! We hire talented people with different and diverse backgrounds, stories, and perspectives not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes us stronger.
We are actively working and committed to increasing diversity in our teams and management positions. It's our ambition to create an inclusive environment where we can all be ourselves together.
What's next?
If this sounds like you, then you're on your way to joining a forward-thinking industry leader and a team of like-minded, exceptionally talented people. Simply send us your CV, and we will be in touch.
We can't wait to hear from you!