Training Operations & Competence Lead

Lanes Group plc is a leading nationwide utility services provider with c.5000 dedicated employees. Our diverse subsidiaries drive our success across various sectors, contributing to a remarkable turnover of over £700 million. We are committed to excellence and innovation, ensuring we provide industry leading services to our clients and stakeholders. Join us to be part of a dynamic and growing team that values diversity and fosters professional growth.

Working within the Learning and Development department, the Training Operations & Competence Lead will lead the development of a consistent, compliant and scalable Training and Competence function, working closely with the L&D Operations and Governance role to ensure standards, systems, reporting and assurance are aligned.

The role will provide operational leadership across training delivery, competence, technical standards, workforce capability and operational planning, using governance, systems and reporting insight provided through L&D Operations and Governance to move the business from a reactive training approach to a planned, evidence-led model.

The role will be responsible for translating common standards into day-to-day training delivery, strengthening compliance and audit readiness, developing competence frameworks and ensuring training provision supports business growth, mobilisation and workforce readiness.

The Training Operations & Competence Lead will work closely with the Head of Learning and Development, HSEQ leadership and operational leaders to shape the future Group Training, Competence and Capability model.

• Lead the operational implementation and ongoing improvement of a consistent Group-wide Training and Competence operating model, working with L&D Operations and Governance to align processes, systems, reporting and assurance.
• Embed clear ownership, standards, escalation routes and repeatable processes into the operational delivery of training and competence, ensuring governance requirements are applied consistently in practice.

• Develop role-based competence frameworks, skills matrices and training needs analyses for safety-critical and operational roles.
• Define consistent approaches to competence assessment, verification and sign-off, working with operational and HSEQ subject matter experts.
• Support workforce planning, mobilisation, succession and future capability requirements, ensuring managers understand their accountability for team competence.

• Use agreed governance reporting to maintain operational oversight of mandatory training, competence status, expiries, evidence gaps and audit readiness.
• Work with L&D Operations and Governance to ensure training and competence evidence is accurate, reliable and aligned to legislation, client requirements and operational standards.
• Lead operational corrective action and escalation where training, competence or compliance risks are identified through reporting, audit activity or stakeholder feedback.

• Set and maintain Group standards for technical training design, delivery, assessment, evaluation and trainer capability.
• Lead and develop Technical Trainers, ensuring training remains practical, relevant and connected to operational requirements.
• Improve use of internal trainers, facilities and technical training environments, reducing unnecessary reliance on external providers where appropriate.

• Move training demand from reactive booking to planned, forecast-led delivery aligned to workforce, contract and mobilisation priorities.
• Work with the Training Operations Manager to translate business demand into deliverable plans and identify trainer, supplier, venue and capacity requirements.
• Provide early warning of capacity constraints, delivery risks and resource pressures.

• Provide clear direction, priorities and standards for the Training and Competence function.
• Lead, coach and develop direct reports, ensuring meaningful objectives, regular feedback and clear accountability across operations, administration and delivery.
• Build a collaborative, high-performing culture and address performance, conduct or capability concerns promptly and fairly.

• Build effective relationships with senior operational, HSEQ, client and contract stakeholders.
• Provide clear…