Head of KQ Academy

Kenya Airways PLC is the flag carrier airline of Kenya, founded in 1950 and based in Nairobi. It operates in the aviation industry, providing air transport services.

Kenya Airways is seeking a Head of KQ Academy to drive its strategic recovery and growth. This pivotal leadership role involves designing and implementing the airline's enterprise-wide learning strategy while also serving as the Accountable Manager for its Approved Training Organization (ATO). The successful candidate will be responsible for enhancing organizational capability across the entire KQ Group and ensuring the regulatory integrity of all aviation training programs, adhering to Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), ICAO, and other international civil aviation standards across KQ’s network. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, this role requires close collaboration with various directors and line leadership. The Head of KQ Academy will act as a strategic advisor on workforce capability, proactively identifying skill gaps, shaping the learning agenda, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering a continuous learning culture to support KQ's transformation into a skilled, competent, agile, and performance-driven workforce. The position demands a leader with deep expertise in learning and organizational development, a comprehensive understanding of aviation regulatory training, commercial acumen for revenue generation, and strong influencing skills within a complex, safety-critical aviation environment.

1. Formulate and lead Kenya Airways’ enterprise learning and organizational development strategy, aligning with corporate goals.
2. Provide strategic learning and development counsel to senior leadership on workforce capability and organizational transformation.
3. Develop and maintain a proactive capability risk framework to identify and mitigate workforce skills gaps.
4. Lead the design and implementation of the Group’s learning culture strategy using analytics and assessments.
5. Establish enterprise-wide learning frameworks, policies, standards, and governance structures.
6. Conduct organizational training needs assessments and skills gap analyses in collaboration with business functions.
7. Monitor external learning trends, technologies, aviation industry training trends, and regulatory developments.
8. Sponsor and monitor learning transformation initiatives, facilitating decision-making with relevant stakeholders.
9. Oversee the planning, scheduling, delivery, and quality assurance of all regulatory training programs across the KQ Group, including Flight Crew, Cabin Crew, Technical/Engineering, Ground Operations, and Security.
10. Ensure the currency and validity of all staff certifications, licenses, and regulatory training records are monitored and maintained.
11. Oversee the development, review, and approval of all training syllabi, courseware, and examination materials.
12. Drive the adoption of Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) and Evidence-Based Training (EBT) methodologies.
13. Manage the Flight Operations Officer (FOO) training programme.
14. Ensure training records management meets regulatory audit standards.
15. Strategize and lead all people development interventions by building a comprehensive Learning Academy.
16. Design and lead structured leadership development programs across four tiers: emerging, middle, senior, and executive leadership.
17. Support the development of high-potential employees at senior and mid-career levels with structured learning journeys.
18. Partner with business leaders and the Chief People Officer to identify skills and competencies needed for organizational success.
19. Lead the development and embedding of core organizational capabilities, including coaching and mentoring programs.
20. Ensure implementation and tracking of functional capability frameworks to map ROI for all learning interventions.
21. Drive culture-building learning interventions aligned to KQ’s values and strategic ambitions.
22. Lead the transformation of learning and development through blended and technology-based learning methodologies.
23. Lead and be accountable for the revenue-generating training product offerings of the KQ Academy as an Approved Training Organization (ATO).
24. Develop and execute a commercial strategy for the KQ Academy, identifying market opportunities and pricing strategies.
25. Build and maintain relationships with external aviation clients, partner airlines, and regulatory bodies.
26. Design innovative alternative revenue streams for the ATO and Learning Academy.
27. Ensure all commercial training activities comply with ATO regulatory requirements.
28. Establish and maintain a robust learning evaluation framework to measure the effectiveness and business impact of all training.
29. Monitor the application of acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace.
30. Develop and present regular learning effectiveness dashboards and ROI reports to senior leadership.
31. Benchmark learning ROI against industry standards and KQ’s strategic capability priorities.
32. Collaborate with business units to define pre- and post-training performance metrics and capability baselines.
33. Manage and ensure the continuous improvement of the Learning Management System (LMS).
34. Leverage learning analytics and HR information systems to track, analyze, and report on key training metrics.
35. Develop and present regular learning dashboards and insights to senior leadership.
36. Drive the digitization of training processes, including online learning journeys and e-assessment.
37. Benchmark KQ’s learning practices against industry peers and global best practice.
38. Serve as the subject matter expert on learning innovation, training systems, and emerging technologies.
39. Build and maintain productive relationships with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), EASA, IATA, ICAO, and OEMs.
40. Manage KQ’s representation in all ATO regulatory audits, surveillance visits, and compliance reviews.
41. Advise on emerging regulatory changes and training technology developments.
42. Represent KQ at industry forums, aviation training conferences, and IATA training committees.
43. Manage the selection, performance, and oversight of external training providers.
44. Develop and maintain an internal trainer and facilitator network.
45. Build and sustain trust-based relationships with employees at all levels.
46. Build and lead a high-performing KQ Academy team.
47. Ensure all Academy team members are competent in their roles, providing coaching and development support.
48. Develop the people strategy for the KQ Academy in liaison with the Chief People Officer.
49. Foster a culture of safety, integrity, continuous learning, accountability, and professional excellence within the Academy.
50. Provide leadership in all learning and development activities of the Group as a member of the People & Culture leadership team.
51. Manage company training budgets for regulatory and non-regulatory training and all learning and development initiatives.

1. Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in Learning & Development, Organizational Development, or Training Management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing an enterprise learning function.
2. Proven experience as an Accountable Manager or senior leader within an Approved Training Organization (ATO) or equivalent regulated training environment, with a demonstrable track record of regulatory compliance (distinct advantage).
3. Deep expertise in aviation regulatory training requirements, including familiarity with KCAA regulations, ICAO Annexes (particularly Annex 1 – Personnel Licensing), ICAO Doc 9841, and CBTA/EBT frameworks.
4. Demonstrated experience building and managing comprehensive learning academies, multi-tiered leadership development programs, and capability frameworks in a large, complex organization.
5. Proven track record of developing and growing revenue-generating training products and services, preferably in the aviation or regulated industry sector.
6. Experience managing training budgets, commercial P&L, and demonstrating ROI on learning investments using recognized evaluation frameworks.
7. Strong learning analytics capability with experience leveraging LMS platforms, HRIS, and data to drive learning strategy and operational improvement.
8. Sound understanding of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Quality Management Systems (QMS) as applied to aviation training environments.
9. Excellent cross-cultural people management skills, with the ability to operate effectively across a diverse, multi-country workforce.
10. Strong networking and interpersonal skills with proven ability to build trust at the most senior levels, including Boards, regulatory authorities, OEMs, and industry partners.
11. Experience in the aviation, transport, logistics, or broader regulated, safety-critical sector is a distinct advantage.
12. Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, Human Resources, Education, Aviation Management, Organizational Psychology, or a related discipline (mandatory).
13. Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, Business Administration (MBA), or a related field from a recognized institution (an added advantage).
14. Professional HR certification: CHRP (K) from IHRM Kenya, CIPD Level 7, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent international qualification (an added advantage).
15. Advanced certifications in Training & Development, Instructional Design, Competency-Based Training, or Organizational Psychology (e.g., ATD CPTD, ISTD, or equivalent) (distinct advantage).
16. Aviation-specific training qualifications or certifications (e.g., IATA Training Diploma, ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS certification, or equivalent ATO management qualification) (distinct advantage).
17. Professional certification in instructional design or competency-based training frameworks (e.g., CBTA certification, ATD Master Instructional Designer) (distinct advantage).
18. Membership of the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM Kenya) or equivalent professional body in good standing (an added advantage).
19. An experienced, capable, and visionary learning and development leader with significant experience in a complex, regulated, and preferably aviation or transport environment.
20. A trusted strategic adviser to the Chief People Officer with credibility, presence, and intellectual rigor to influence senior levels of the organization.
21. Strong commercial acumen with a proven track record of developing and growing revenue-generating training products and services in the aviation industry.
22. Strong analytical capability with the ability to leverage learning data, training metrics, and capability assessments.
23. A leader of high integrity with an unblemished professional track record and the personal credibility to manage dual demands of regulatory compliance and organizational development.
24. Genuine commitment to employee development, diversity, equity and inclusion, and the creation of a learning culture.
25. A collegiate team player who fosters collaboration across the People & Culture division and builds strong trust-based partnerships.
26. An understanding of and familiarity with the East African aviation regulatory environment, combined with an international perspective and cultural agility.