Learning and Development Lead

Company Description

ENSEMBLE is India's first multi-brand luxury fashion store, established in 1987. The brand is dedicated to discovering, mentoring, and nurturing Indian design, with a focus on preserving the country's rich heritage of craft, embroidery, and textiles. With nine stores across India and a growing online presence globally, ENSEMBLE curates the best of Indian fashion in a modern and refined way. Led by Tina Tahiliani, the company also emphasizes providing customers with excellent and efficient service.

Role: Learning & Development Lead (Strategic Consultant / Interim Head)

Duration: 6-7 Months

Overall Mission: To architect, launch, and embed a culture of continuous learning and excellence, elevating the Ensemble customer experience and building internal leadership capability

Key Objectives & Deliverables:

Phase 1: Discovery & Diagnosis (Months 1-2)

· 1. Define the 'Ensemble Standard':

· Conduct collaborative workshops with leadership to codify the core prerequisites, guidelines, and standards for service, management, and brand representation.

· Deliverable: "The Ensemble Playbook" – a living document of our operational and service ethos.

· 2. Immersive Gap Analysis:

· Spend significant time in a cross-section of stores (flagship, metro, emerging) observing operations, customer interactions, and team dynamics.

· Conduct confidential interviews with team members from store staff to corporate leaders.

· Deliverable: "State of the Experience" Diagnostic Report, providing a candid, store-by-store breakdown of observed gaps in management, service, and collaboration.

Phase 2: Solution Design & Rollout (Months 3-5)

· 3. Build the 'Ensemble 360° Recertification Program':

· Using the Playbook and Diagnostic Report, design a holistic recertification program based on the framework: "Expertly Delivering Personalized Style."

· This program will have distinct tracks for Corporate Staff and Store/Frontline Staff.

· 4. Execute Floor Staff Immersion & Recertification:

· Conduct immersive, high-energy training sessions to recertify all floor staff against the new Ensemble standards.

· Deliverable: A recertified frontline team equipped with updated skills and knowledge.

· 5. Architect the 'Ensemble University':

· Design the full curriculum for a 6-month internal development program. This includes:

· Learning modules (e.g., "Advanced Clienteling," "Commercial Acumen," "Leadership Presence").

· A structured mentorship framework.

· Success metrics and graduation criteria.

· 6. Develop a Sustainable Monitoring Mechanism:

· Create a simple, trackable system (e.g., a digital dashboard, weekly checklists, secret shopper scorecards) to sustain learning and ensure standards are maintained post-training.

· Deliverable: "The Ensemble Excellence Tracker" – an easy-to-use operational tool for Store Directors.

Phase 3: Empowerment & Sustainability (Months 5-7)

· 7. Implement 'Focus on You' Store Manager Development:

· Conduct a 360-degree evaluation for all Store Managers.

· Analyze results and build a structured, customized development plan for each manager, focusing on their unique strengths and growth areas.

· 8. Launch & Shepherd Ensemble University:

· Officially roll out the Ensemble University program.

· Act as the program shepherd, guiding mentors and mentees, facilitating sessions, and ensuring engagement and completion.

· 9. Provide Strategic Coaching to Leadership:

· Act as a confidential coach and sounding board for the leadership team and key managers.

· Focus on elevating leadership effectiveness, building trust, and fostering collaborative harmony to enhance the overall Ensemble ecosystem

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for a seasoned L&D professional who is part strategist, part diagnostician, and part coach.

· Experience: 10+ years in L&D, organizational development, or HR consulting, ideally within luxury retail, hospitality, or premium consumer services.

· Skills:

· Expert Diagnostic Ability: Skilled in observation, interviewing, and data synthesis to identify root causes.

· Strategic Program Design: Proven ability to build L&D initiatives from the ground up.

· Exceptional Facilitation & Coaching: Can command a room of frontline staff and coach a CEO with equal effectiveness.

· Project Management: Able to manage a complex, multi-phase project with multiple stakeholders.

· Mindset: A collaborative builder, empathetic yet direct, and deeply passionate about elevating people and culture