Learning & Development Specialist

Role: Learning & Development Specialist

Salary Scale: Incremental Scale €36,225 to €71,151

Reports to: Employee Relations Manager

Location:  The Times Building, 11-12 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2.

Position:  Full time

Duration:  Permanent

THE IRISH AVIATION AUTHORITY

The IAA is the civil aviation regulator for Ireland. We are responsible for the regulation of safety, security, and consumer interests. Our responsibilities are set out in the framework of applicable global, European, and national legislation/regulation. For more information, please visit our website: About the Irish Aviation Authority (iaa.ie).

Mission: The Irish Aviation Authority regulates to the highest professional standards to ensure a safe, secure, sustainable and consumer-focused civil aviation environment. We support world-class performance and innovation in Irish and global aviation.

Values: Our values reflect what we believe in and how we behave when engaging with each other, our clients and partners, and the society in which we live.

• Safety first: We Uphold the highest standards of Civil Aviation safety and security in everything we do for the benefit of aircraft passengers and aviation personnel and in the public interest.

• Consumer focussed: We protect the rights of consumers, ensuring a safe, secure and efficient civil aviation experience.

• Sustainability: We Support the development of aviation in a sustainable manner that meets the present demands for safeguarding the needs of the future.

• Integrity & Accountability: We Act with transparency, fairness and responsibility in all our decisions and actions.

• Professionalism: We Maintain the highest levels of expertise, ethics, responsiveness, efficiency and conduct in our work, and we recognise our true strength is in our people.

• Collaboration: We Work closely with stakeholders to promote trust, alignment and shared success.

• Respect & Inclusion: We Value diverse perspectives and foster an inclusive, respectful workplace and stakeholder environment.

Job Description

Reporting to the Employee Relations Manager, this role sits within the Human Resources (HR) department and supports the provision of a Learning and Development (L&D) activities across all parts of the IAA. The Learning & Development Specialist is primarily responsible for assessing organisational and employee learning needs, designing and coordinating learning programmes, and delivering educational initiatives that enhance organisational effectiveness by building  workforce capability, supporting employee development, and fostering a culture of continuous learning. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Support delivery of strategic organisational and HR objectives by strengthening learning capability and fostering a culture of continuous development across the IAA.  

• Lead organisation-wide learning needs analysis and support the development of annual organisational, departmental and individual training plans.  

• Support the design, delivery and continuous improvement of onboarding, induction, succession planning and professional development initiatives, ensuring they are aligned with organisational priorities and employee development needs. 

• Design, develop and continuously improve blended learning solutions, training programmes and supporting resources using appropriate instructional design principles and digital tools.  

• Facilitate and deliver engaging learning interventions to employees at all levels through in-person, virtual and blended formats.  

• Manage the planning, coordination and budget administration of learning and development activity, including further education, external training and vendor engagements.  

• Manage and continuously improve the Learning Management System, digital learning technologies and knowledge management platforms to support scalable, accessible learning delivery, communication, reporting, compliance and user experience. Measure and report on learning effectiveness, outcomes and return on investment using assessment tools, data analysis and performance insights to inform future initiatives.  

• Support the development, implementation and ongoing review of competency frameworks, embedding Continuous Professional Development (CPD) principles to align learning and development activity with organisational capability needs. 

• Work collaboratively with managers, stakeholders, subject matter experts, IAA International colleagues, and external providers to identify needs, shape learning solutions and deliver learning and development  

• Ensure learning and development policies, procedures, systems and communications are accurate, accessible and aligned with organisational requirements.  

• Stay informed on emerging learning trends, technologies and best practice, and apply these to enhance employee engagement, coaching and continuous learning across the organisation. 

This job description is not exhaustive, and other duties may be added as the Authority may reasonably require. 

Skills and Qualifications

The successful candidate should have the following qualifications and skills:

Required:

• A relevant third level degree in Learning and Development/HR, Education or related discipline or additional commensurate experience.  

• A minimum of three years’ relevant experience in a similar learning/training and development role, including experience in; planning and management of staff learning/training and development, training needs analysis, instructional design, training facilitation and presentation, and delivering blended learning solutions.  

• Experience using learning authoring and design software.  

• Experience administering, configuring and enhancing a Learning Management System, including content management, reporting, user support and continuous improvement.  

• Familiarity with a range of learning technology tools and generative AI. 

• Experience managing projects or workstreams from planning through to delivery, including coordinating stakeholders, timelines, resources and outcomes. 

• Proven ability to create and develop good working relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals, coupled with the ability to gain commitment from others.  

• Excellent analytical skills and experience in identifying improvement opportunities, generating ideas, and implementing solutions.  

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and training skills and demonstrated teamwork capabilities.  

• Proficient in the use of standard office software, such as Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), cloud-based platforms (Microsoft Teams), and communication tools (Outlook, Teams).  

• Demonstrated ability to lead and be accountable for the delivery of agreed objectives and outputs.   

Desirables:

• Membership of relevant professional bodies.  

• Relevant professional certifications and/or other L&D credentials. Evidence of continuous professional development. 

KEY COMPETENCIES REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE:

For assessment of applicants the following competency model will be used. This model reflects the changing and more complex environment in which those at this level operate. Each competency is supported by a list of key performance indicators set out below.

EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

People Management: (In regard to working as part of a team)

• Consults and encourages the full engagement of the team, encouraging open and constructive discussions around work issues

• Gets the best out of individuals and the team, encouraging good performance and addressing any performance issues that may arise

• Values and supports the development of others and the team

• Encourages and supports new and more effective ways of working

• Deals with tensions within the team in a constructive fashion

• Encourages, listens to and acts on feedback from the team to make improvements

• Actively shares information, knowledge, and expertise to help the team to meet its objectives

Analysis & Decision Making:

• Effectively deals with a wide range of information sources, investigating all relevant issues

• Understands the practical implication of information in relation to the broader context in which they work– procedures, divisional objectives etc.

• Identifies and understands key issues and trends

• Correctly extracts & interprets numerical information, conducting accurate numerical calculations

• Draws accurate conclusions & makes balanced and fair recommendations backed up with evidence

Delivery of Results:

• Takes ownership of tasks and is determined to see them through to a satisfactory conclusion

• Is logical and pragmatic in approach, setting objectives and delivering the best possible results with the resources available through effective prioritisation

• Constructively challenges existing approaches to improve efficient customer service delivery

• Accurately estimates time parameters for project, making contingencies to overcome obstacles

• Minimises errors, reviewing learning and ensuring remedies are in place

• Maximises the input of own team in ensuring effective delivery of results

• Ensures proper service delivery procedures/protocols/reviews are in place and implemented

Interpersonal & Communication Skills:

• Modifies communication approach to suit the needs of a situation/ audience

• Actively listens to the views of others

• Liaises with other groups to gain co-operation

• Negotiates, where necessary, to reach a satisfactory outcome

• Maintains a focus on dealing with customers in an effective, efficient, and respectful manner Is assertive and professional when dealing with challenging issues

• Expresses self in a clear and articulate manner when speaking and in writing

Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self-Development:

• Displays high levels of skills/ expertise in own area and provides guidance to colleagues

• Has a clear understanding of the role, objectives, and targets and how they support the service delivered by the unit and Department/ Organisation and can communicate this to the team

• Leads by example, demonstrating the importance of development by setting time aside for development initiatives for self and the team

Selection Process

The Selection Process may include:

• Shortlisting of candidates, based on the information contained in their application. 

• A competitive preliminary interview which may include a presentation.

• Psychometric testing.

• Work sample/role play/media exercise, and any other tests or exercises that may be deemed appropriate.

• A second competitive interview which may include a presentation.

• Garda Vetting

Shortlisting 

The number of applications received for a position generally exceeds that required to fill the position. While a candidate may meet the eligibility requirements of the competition, if the numbers applying for the position are such that it would not be practical to interview everyone, we may decide that a smaller number will be called to the next stage of the selection process. In this respect, we provide for the employment of a shortlisting process to select a group who, based on an examination of the application forms, appear to be the most suitable for the position.

This is not to suggest that other candidates are necessarily unsuitable or incapable of undertaking the job, rather that there are some candidates, who based on their application, appear to be better qualified and/or have more relevant experience.

Application documents will be reviewed against shortlisting criteria. The shortlisting criteria may include both the essential and desirable criteria specified for the position. It is therefore in your own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of your qualifications/ experience in your application.

References 

It would be useful if you would begin to consider names of people who would be suitable referees and that we might consult (2 names and contact details). The referees do not have to include your current employer but should be able to provide a reference for you. The referees should be able to provide relatively recent information on your performance and behaviour in a work context.

You may wish to select referees that can provide such information from different perspectives or in different work contexts. Please be assured that we will only contact referees should you come under consideration after preliminary interview stage. Please note, should you be successful at final interview, we will require a reference from your current employer prior to recommendation for appointment.

Successful candidates may be required to complete several clearance processes such as Health and Character Declaration and any other relevant checks required for the particular role.

Other Important Information 

The IAA will not be responsible for refunding any expenses incurred by candidates.

The admission of a person to a competition, or invitation to attend interview, or a successful result letter, is not to be taken as implying that the IAA is satisfied that such a person fulfils the requirements or is not disqualified by law from holding the position.

Prior to recommending any candidate for appointment to this position the IAA will make all such enquiries that are deemed necessary to determine the suitability of that candidate. Until all stages of the recruitment process have been fully completed a final determination cannot be made nor can it be deemed or inferred that such a determination has been made. Should the person recommended for appointment decline, or having accepted it, relinquish it, the IAA may at its discretion, select and recommend the candidate who came second for appointment on the results of this selection process.

Applications will be treated in strict confidence. Deeming of candidature to be withdrawn - Candidates who do not attend for interview when and where required, or who do not, when requested, furnish such evidence as the IAA require in regard to any matter relevant to their candidature, will have no further claim to consideration. 

Candidates' Obligations 

Candidates should note that canvassing will disqualify and will result in their exclusion from the process.

Candidates must not: 

• knowingly or recklessly provide false information

• canvass any person with or without inducements

• interfere with or compromise the process in any way

In addition, where a person found guilty of an offence was or is a candidate at a recruitment process, then:

• where they have not been appointed to a post, they will be disqualified as a candidate and

• where they have been appointed after the recruitment process in question, they shall forfeit their appointment

Salary Rate

The salary range for this role is Point 1 €36,225 to Point 16 €71,151

Probationary Period

The position is subject to a probationary period of 6 months from the date of actual commencement and is subject to the provision of satisfactory performance during that period.

Hours of Attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 41 hours gross per week. The successful candidate will be required to work additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of their duties subject to the limits set down in the working time regulations.

Annual Leave

Annual Leave excluding public holidays is 23 days per annum.

Pension 

The successful candidate will on date of joining become a member of the Irish Aviation Authority pension scheme details of which will be communicated to the successful candidate on offer of appointment.

Other Benefits 

• Access to cycle to work scheme

• Tax free Bus/ Luas/ Rail to assist with travel costs to and from work

• Access to Employee Assistance Programme 

• Access to IAA health and wellbeing initiatives 

• Learning and Development opportunities 

Location 

The IAA is based in the Times Building, 11-12 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 near Trinity College. We are convenient to all Luas lines; several Dublin Bus routes and are about 5 minutes from Tara Street Railway Station. We are also just minutes from O’Connell Street and St. Stephen’s Green.

Hybrid working arrangements may be agreed in line with IAA Flexible Working policy.  

Application

Applications must consist of the following to be considered for shortlisting:

• A letter of motivation (max. two A4 pages) outlining why you wish to be considered for the post and where you believe your skills and experience meet the requirements of the position.

• A comprehensive CV.

Complete applications including a CV and letter of motivation should be received no later than 5pm Tuesday, 1st September 2026.

Eligibility

Candidates should note that eligibility to compete is open to citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, the UK and those with an IRP with stamp 4. To qualify candidates must be citizens of the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or have an IRP with stamp 4 on the date of application.

Please click this link to view current member states in the EEA:

Countries | European Environment Agency's home page

The IAA are not in the position to offer sponsorship for this role.

The IAA promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from people from diverse backgrounds and under-represented groups including, but not limited to, ethnic minority and people with disabilities. IAA firmly believes that such diversity enriches our workplace culture and drives innovation.

If you have a disability or need any specific accommodations during the application or selection process, please let us know. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments to ensure all candidates have an equal opportunity to participate fully in the recruitment process. You can contact us at human.resources@iaa.ie.