Senior Director, Head of Education and Training

International Capital Market Association

About the Organisation

ICMA promotes well-functioning cross-border capital markets, which are essential to fund sustainable economic growth. It is a not-for-profit membership association serving around 630 members in 71 jurisdictions globally. Its members include private and public sector issuers, banks and securities dealers, asset and fund managers, insurance companies, law firms, capital market infrastructure providers and central banks.

ICMA provides industry-driven standards and recommendations, prioritising three core fixed-income market areas: primary, secondary, and repo and collateral, with cross-cutting themes of sustainable finance, FinTech, and digitalisation. ICMA works with regulatory and governmental authorities to help ensure that financial regulation supports stable and efficient capital markets.

The mission of ICMA is to promote resilient, well-functioning international and globally coherent debt securities markets, which are essential to fund sustainable economic growth and development. In pursuit of its mission, ICMA is committed to:

• Building trust in capital markets by promoting internationally accepted standards of best practice through the development of appropriate, broadly accepted guidelines, rules, recommendations and standard documentation to maintain and enhance cross-border issuing, trading and investing in debt securities
• Engaging with official institutions and regulators, providing them with market expertise and technical knowledge across all ICMA’s core areas, ensuring that financial services regulation promotes resilient and efficient international capital markets
• Encouraging information flows and dialogue between all participants in the international capital markets: issuers, intermediaries, asset managers and investors, and service providers, including trading platforms, clearing houses and law firms
• Contributing to the development of sustainable finance through the capital markets
• Improving market efficiencies and interoperability, taking a leading role in the digital transformation of capital markets
• Providing networking opportunities for capital market participants through conferences, seminars, roundtables and other events
• Promoting high professional standards by providing training and education opportunities.

About the role

ICMA Education and Training (ICMA Education) has been a leader in professional training in the international capital markets for almost five decades. Operating as a distinct area of activity of the Association, ICMA Education has trained thousands of market professionals globally and offers a suite of programmes tailored to all stages of their careers. It provides a key link between broad-based professional development across the industry and our central mission of setting standards of best practice.

ICMA Education offers a broad curriculum spanning debt capital markets, fixed income trading and strategies, financial markets operations, securities financing, sustainable finance, FinTech and digitalisation, and financial market foundations. Courses are delivered across classroom, livestreamed, and self-study formats, with a growing online presence and dedicated programmes in Europe, MENAT and Asia Pacific.

Clients and partners include major financial institutions from the private and official sectors, as well as organisations that represent all participants in international capital markets. ICMA Education is CPD-accredited and aligned to the European Qualifications Framework. This is a senior leadership position reporting to the Deputy CEO, with a small team.

The role holder will be fully accountable for the strategic direction, commercial performance, and operational excellence of ICMA Education globally. A key priority will be to assess the current operating model, identify opportunities to improve scalability and effectiveness, and establish a clear long-term strategic roadmap for ICMA Education.

The Head of Education and Training will drive the next phase of strategic development for the division, expanding the curriculum, deepening engagement with financial institutions and other market participants, and extending reach in key new markets to further strengthen ICMA Education’s leading position in professional training in capital markets globally.

Why Join ICMA

As the successful candidate, you will work closely with all members of ICMA, building their skills and knowledge of the association and the industry as a whole. You will also have access to ICMA’s extensive educational and training offerings, enabling them to expand their skill set (see ICMA Education & Training for examples of courses). This is an opportunity to shape the future direction of a respected and internationally recognised education business.

You will be encouraged to challenge established thinking, introduce new ideas and help define ICMA's long-term education strategy and, by association, make a meaningful contribution to the future development of the global capital markets profession. The impact of the role extends far beyond the management of an education business; it offers the opportunity to influence how current and future generations of capital markets professionals learn, develop and adapt to an evolving market environment, helping to strengthen the effectiveness, resilience and integrity of the industry.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that is fair, safe, accessible, and inclusive, where everyone feels they belong, has a voice, and can thrive and succeed. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, experience, and business needs. We provide a truly flexible and supportive environment where you will have autonomy over your role.

Responsibilities

Strategy and Commercial Leadership:

• Set and execute the strategic direction for ICMA Education globally, with a focus on overall programme coordination, revenue growth, market positioning, and long-term sustainability of the business.
• Develop and manage the annual budget for ICMA Education in agreement with the Executive Committee, with full P&L accountability.
• Identify and evaluate growth opportunities, including new subject areas, delivery formats, geographic markets, corporate in-house programmes, and certification pathways.
• Build and maintain high-level relationships with financial institutions, central banks, development banks, regulatory authorities, and other market participants, including universities and professional training organisations, as both clients and partners.

Curriculum and Content:

• Oversee the quality and relevance of the ICMA Education curriculum, ensuring it reflects developments in market practice, regulation, and ICMA’s own research and policy output.
• Evaluate opportunities to expand ICMA's portfolio of recognised qualifications, certifications and accreditation frameworks.
• Champion the integration of ICMA’s subject-matter expertise in repo, sustainable finance, primary and secondary markets, FinTech, and beyond, into the education offer, while working closely with ICMA’s subject matter experts.
• Lead the development of new programmes and courses reflecting developments and priorities in capital markets.
• Manage and develop the community of ICMA Education trainers, ensuring consistent delivery quality and a strong faculty pipeline.

Marketing, Business Development and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Promote ICMA Education to ICMA’s member firms and a wider international audience of financial institutions, central banks, development banks, regulatory authorities, and other market participants.
• Develop and implement marketing plans across digital, event-based, and direct channels, ensuring appropriate representation at key industry exhibitions and conferences.
• Lead the digital evolution of ICMA Education, leveraging technology to improve learner experience, increase accessibility and support scalable growth.
• Assess and implement emerging education technology and digital solutions that can enhance reach, accessibility, and learning outcomes.
• Represent ICMA Education externally, including presenting at senior levels within client and partner organisations.
• Identify and pursue accreditation opportunities with national and international professional and academic authorities.
• Oversee the ICMA scholarship and capacity-building programme, including engagement with emerging market institutions

Team Leadership and Operations:

• Lead an experienced education team spanning programme delivery, learning operations and business development activities.
• Lead, develop, and motivate a small team of education professionals spanning business development, marketing, and operations.
• Ensure effective oversight of day-to-day operational management of the ICMA Education business, including scheduling, delegate management, and course logistics with appropriate delegation to the team.
• Oversee ICMA Education’s communications, including the website, course literature, social media presence, and announcements.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Leadership and Strategic Capability:

• Proven track record of managing and growing a professional education or training business, ideally within or serving the financial services sector.
• Demonstrable experience leading organisational or commercial change within a professional education, membership or knowledge-based environment.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate market insight and institutional priorities into concrete action.
• Experience managing and developing a small high-performance team.

Commercial and Market Expertise:

• Strong commercial instincts and experience in P&L management, budgeting, and business development in a revenue-generating environment.
• Knowledge of international capital markets, with expertise in fixed income preferred but not essential.
• Experience building and managing relationships with senior stakeholders at financial institutions, central banks, development banks, regulatory authorities, and other market participants.
• Experience within a professional membership, certification, accreditation or awarding organisation would be advantageous, particularly where education, examinations or professional development programmes support practitioners in financial or professional services.

Digital & Professional Education Experience:

• Familiarity with digital learning platforms, online course delivery, and the evolving landscape of professional education technology.

Communication & Working Style:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; confident in presenting to senior audiences and representing the organisation externally.
• Collaborative and collegial working style, comfortable operating within a specialist association with a strong culture of subject-matter expertise.
• High degree of personal organisation and the ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams effectively.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusivity and foster a supportive and respectful work environment.
• Operate with integrity, professionalism, and high standards of trust.

Additional Requirements:

• Fluency in at least one European language in addition to English is desirable.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required by the business.

Working locations

• London office with travel as required

How to apply

• To apply, please submit a comprehensive CV along with a covering letter which sets out your interest in the role and encapsulates the aspects of your experience relevant to the required criteria. The preferred method of application is online
• If you are unable to apply online, please email your application to [email protected]
• All applications will receive an automated response at the point of application.
• All candidates are also requested to complete an online Diversity Monitoring system, which will be found at the end of the application process.
• Also, if you have any comments and/or suggestions about improving access to our application processes, please don't hesitate to let us know. For an informal discussion, please contact Thomas Ewen at [email protected], and/or Lisa Henry at [email protected]. 
• Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, please contact [email protected]. 

Interviews

• Preliminary Interviews with Berwick Partners W/c 10th August & w/c 31st August 2026
• Final Panel Interviews from Mid-September 2026

Policies

In line with GDPR, we ask that you do NOT send us any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning health or sex life and sexual orientation, genetic and/or biometric data) in your CV and application documentation. Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal Data in your CV/application documentation will be understood by us as your express consent to process this information going forward.

Please also remember not to mention anyone’s information or details (referees) who have not previously agreed to their inclusion. We are committed to ensuring everyone can access our website and application processes. This includes people with sight loss, hearing, mobility and cognitive impairments. For detailed information on how we process your personal data, please review our privacy policy

Return to listing