Professional Development Partner

EMBL-EBI - European Bioinformatics Institute

Length of contract
3-9 years

About the Organisation

European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) was set up to promote molecular biology across Europe, and to create a centre of excellence for training Europe's leading young molecular biologists. It is a non-profit, intergovernmental organization funded by 28 member states, one associate member state, and two prospective member states, with funding secured from external funding bodies.

EMBL is one of the most highly ranked scientific research organizations in the world operation over six sites: at the headquarters in Heidelberg (Germany), the EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) in Hinxton near Cambridge (UK), as well as at its additional sites in Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Rome (Italy) and Barcelona (Spain).

The EMBL-EBI is a world-leading bioinformatics center providing biological data to the scientific community with expertise in data storage, analysis, and representation. EMBL-EBI has a successful history in identifying and obtaining external funds to further its activities. The EMBL-EBI Grants Office supports a high number of applications for external funding per year, and the current external grant income to EMBL-EBI is more than €40 million per annum from over 180 active awards.

Major funders include the European Commission, the US National Institutes of Health, UK Research and Innovation Councils, Wellcome, and other charitable organizations (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Cancer Research UK). The EMBL-EBI Grants Office is a friendly, highly communicative team. The work is varied, and you will have the autonomy to develop and improve processes in a dynamic, international working environment.

About the role

This role is pivotal in designing, implementing, and managing programs that enhance the skills, knowledge, and capabilities of our teams at EMBL. With an excellent understanding of the organisation and its strategy, you will help to create a culture and people approach and to identify people's priorities to address future workforce needs.

Through building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and communicating the value and impact of professional development initiatives, you will impact all stages of our people’s growth in our diverse and international organisation.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the wider HR team and the organisation to develop and operationalise a professional development strategy aligned with organisational goals. Identify training and development needs through consultations, feedback, and workforce planning insights
• Support Professional Development program development, implementation, and service delivery for EMBL ’s learning programs, Career Pathways, EMBL induction, focused onboarding conversations, office exchange and rotation program, Next Generation engagement activities (trainees, work experience students) in collaboration with other functions and stakeholders - both internal and external.
• Contribute to career readiness, career coaching activities, lunch & learn sessions, and other forms of staff engagement to create accessible, applicable career pathways that will reach program outcomes.
• Assist individuals and Group Leaders as a Career Development Consultant before, during, and after career transitions to develop long-term and short-term career strategies for EMBL by helping them assess strengths, values, and aspirations to prepare for and connect them meaningfully to opportunities inside and outside of EMBL.
• Partner with Group Leaders and HR Partners to assess and identify competency gaps for better alignment of career development opportunities.
• Play a role in the design and facilitation of end-to-end blended learning experiences for different staff, management, and leadership levels at EMBL.
• Continuously evaluate and refine programs to maximise the effectiveness and value of development initiatives through assessments, feedback, and performance metrics, and to ensure they meet the evolving needs of the organisation and our employees.
• Help to identify, source, and evaluate external learning providers matching our non-compromising quality objectives and learning style.
• Nurture Professional Development Provider relationships, advance networks of training ambassadors, internal and external coaches and mentors, as well as organise events to bring together professionals to discuss trends, challenges, and innovations in Professional Development
• Bring professional development expertise to develop solutions to help the organisation deliver its strategy and be one step ahead in terms of understanding, data, and insight (externally and internally) to role model HR professional development skills and professionalism.
• Collaborate across the People function to develop integrated solutions and ensure execution for major people-centred projects and processes with a ‘one team’ approach that boosts employee morale and satisfaction to integrate professional development with performance management and talent development processes.
• Whilst staying current on learning trends, digital tools, and best practices, develop self-directed learning resources and toolkits, support the learning management platform, maintain up-to-date content, and report.

Skills, Competencies & Experience

• Proactive team player who is comfortable engaging with a wide range of audiences with a flexible, customer-focused, and outcome-oriented approach, able to excel in high-pressure situations. You are an authentic, collaborative,e and consultative coach with a genuine interest in the growth and development of our teams.
• Prior business partnering and learning & development background, problem-solving skills with the ability to use data and metrics to drive decision-making and measure program effectiveness.
• Passionate about innovation and people’s development, you are experienced in driving employee development and contributing to a positive learning culture with facilitation & communication skills and the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences for change and transformation.
• Energy, compassion, and enthusiasm for the team, and will be comfortable influencing change and dealing with people at all organisational levels to assume responsibilities with a results focus and with the achievement of best practice top of mind.
• Commitment to providing exceptional customer service, you are able to collaborate cross-functionally, building strong partnerships with colleagues of different cultural backgrounds.
• Internal stakeholder management capability as well as coaching skills have supported you when partnering with and advising colleagues to solve problems, seize opportunities, and advance the mission across an organisation, whilst being skilled at engaging through difference and valuing bringing together multiple perspectives.
• Curious quick learner who constantly looks for ways to improve, a critical thinker, and a thoughtful and consistent communicator with the ability to actively listen, network, and benchmark good practice.
• Motivated to make a difference with a proactive approach, you bring a sound understanding of the Professional Development landscape, tools and advancements, current thinking in HR, and Professional Development best practice.
• Demonstrated experience in navigating conflict and facilitating conversations with previous exposure to the development and implementation of HR initiatives to diverse, dispersed, and dynamic teams.
• Contribute creative resolutions to a diverse range of complex problems whilst keeping the best interests of the organisation in mind when seeking solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Degree educated, Professional qualification in Human Resource Management or completed an apprenticeship in Human Resources Management, Public/Business Administration, or a related field.

Compensation & Benefits

• Monthly Family/Marriage Allowance 
• £272 Monthly Child Allowance of £328 per child. 
• Non-Resident Allowance up to £556 per month. 
• Annual Salary Review, Pension Scheme
• Death Benefit and Accident-at-work, and Unemployment Insurance;
• Private Medical Insurance
• Generous Dental & Optical cover
• 30 days Annual Leave and Eight Bank Holidays;
• Relocation Package
• Child Sick Leave
• Generous Parental Leave
• holiday Clubs on Campus & Monthly Family and Child allowances

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the Hinxton office and remotely.

How to apply

• To apply, please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system by 22nd June 2025 at 23:59 CET

Policies

• At EMBL, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ & individuals from all nationalities. 

Return to listing