Grace Kennedy Email & Phone Number

Ireland

Dublin City, County Dublin, Ireland

Established L+D Department: Spearheaded the creation of a department focused on continuous learning and development.Strategic Development: Formulated and executed a comprehensive L+D strategy, ensuring the alignment of programs with overarching organizational goals.The Life Science Academy: Crafted a three-tiered program (SAGE, MASTER, GRAND MASTER) aimed at nurturing multidisciplinary consultants in the life science sector, offering a blend of industry acumen, technical… Show more Established L+D Department: Spearheaded the creation of a department focused on continuous learning and development.Strategic Development: Formulated and executed a comprehensive L+D strategy, ensuring the alignment of programs with overarching organizational goals.The Life Science Academy: Crafted a three-tiered program (SAGE, MASTER, GRAND MASTER) aimed at nurturing multidisciplinary consultants in the life science sector, offering a blend of industry acumen, technical ability, and personal & interpersonal skills. Proudly recognized as a finalist at the L&DI awards.Managerial Training: Inaugurated an academy focused on empowering new managers with tools, strategies, and insights pivotal for their roles.Content & Program Development: Collaborated with in-house teams to craft bespoke training modules. Delivered both on-site and virtual training sessions and workshops.Coaching & Mentoring: Instituted a structured coaching framework for newcomers and team leads, fostering an environment of guidance and growth.Recruitment & Onboarding: Oversaw the recruitment process from designing job descriptions to conducting interviews. Managed ties with academic institutions and represented IRLCA at graduation fairs.Internal Communications: Orchestrated internal communication channels, including quarterly town halls, email digests, and team discussions, ensuring seamless information flow.Event Management: Assisted in preparing presentations for pivotal industry events, positioning IRLCA as an industry thought leader.Content Marketing: Conceived and executed a content marketing blueprint, leveraging platforms such as social media, email campaigns, and visual assets like posters.Operational Support: Acted as a linchpin for day-to-day operational tasks, ensuring the smooth functioning of the L+D department.Organizational Change Management: Briefly served in a pivotal role to drive and oversee organizational shifts, emphasizing efficiency and adaptability. Show less

County Dublin, Ireland

Crafted and rolled out L&D strategy for West Dublin, gaining stakeholder buy-in.Streamlined L&D organizational framework, defining roles and responsibilities.Conducted thorough Training Needs Analysis to identify and bridge skill gaps.Overhauled the Induction and Onboarding program for enhanced integration.Led product trainers in their evolution to learning specialists, enhancing business-wide support and delivery efficiency.Implemented a communications… Show more Crafted and rolled out L&D strategy for West Dublin, gaining stakeholder buy-in.Streamlined L&D organizational framework, defining roles and responsibilities.Conducted thorough Training Needs Analysis to identify and bridge skill gaps.Overhauled the Induction and Onboarding program for enhanced integration.Led product trainers in their evolution to learning specialists, enhancing business-wide support and delivery efficiency.Implemented a communications strategy to boost development engagement and ensure training compliance.Collaborated with senior leaders and managers on Team and Leadership development, kicking off a Change and Leadership Program in 2020.Dedicated to embedding the training agenda in ongoing improvement initiatives.Oversaw the learning management system, ensuring site-wide training adherence.Served as a Subject Matter Expert in West’s inaugural successful FDA Audit.Administered the L&D budget, securing a Training Grant with IDA for West Dublin's development agenda. Show less

Dublin

 Learning and Development business partner for Finance and Commercial. Identify Learning Needs, work closely with HR Business Partner and create easier ways of working.  Developed an in house leadership programme providing our people leaders with the tools they need to drive a high-performance culture and get the best from their teams. Managed the overall project for the redesign of the Three’s Induction Programmes for Business, Retail, and the Service Centre to create a consistent… Show more  Learning and Development business partner for Finance and Commercial. Identify Learning Needs, work closely with HR Business Partner and create easier ways of working.  Developed an in house leadership programme providing our people leaders with the tools they need to drive a high-performance culture and get the best from their teams. Managed the overall project for the redesign of the Three’s Induction Programmes for Business, Retail, and the Service Centre to create a consistent approach across the business. Launched the Customer Relationship Academy, our first certified Leadership programme for customer care team leads with DIT. Managed the Coaching and Mentoring for several groups within the business. Project Owned and launched the “Edge+” Sales & Leadership customer Experience programme for Sales Assistants and Managers across Retail. Managed a successful TTT delivery model to create greater impact. Continue to own and manage the embedment of methodology to ensure KPI’s are met. Introduced and drove Digital ways of working within the business to enhance learning experiences and encourage self-directed learning across Three. This included managing the introduction of a new LMS, webinars and LinkedIn Learning. Additional methods included designing materials using articulate, A+, Prezi, Survey Monkey, Classmarker and Yammer.  Managed and collaborated with Telefonica Germany and UK to create a consistent O2 Guru programme. Responsible for the project management of several “Go to Market” initiatives across all channels. This includes Classroom and Online Training to ensure a smooth transfer of knowledge on all new Products and Services. Involved in the rollout of additional projects across the business. Senior Leadership Model, Business Customer Service programmes (CCV), Service Centre Customer Service programmes (Ignite), outsourcing and Vendor Management Show less

Dublin

Accountable for the management and delivery of the Retail Academy suite of Programmes. This includes On-Boarding of new hires, sales and service, product knowledge and leadership & management. Support the delivery of tailored training solutions to each area of the business from Business Channels, Service Centre and to the Support Functions. Successfully led and launched a number of training projects. Managed the overall project for the redesign of the Induction programmes for Business… Show more Accountable for the management and delivery of the Retail Academy suite of Programmes. This includes On-Boarding of new hires, sales and service, product knowledge and leadership & management. Support the delivery of tailored training solutions to each area of the business from Business Channels, Service Centre and to the Support Functions. Successfully led and launched a number of training projects. Managed the overall project for the redesign of the Induction programmes for Business, Retail, and the Service Centre. Project owner for the embedment of the Retail Sales and Leadership methodology. Manage and work closely with key stakeholders within the various channels to identify training solutions. Consistently linking business needs to training output by utilizing key metrics. Champion the development of individuals through coaching and mentoring. Taking on various roles such as People Forum Representative, Point of Contact, Train the Trainer and knowledge experts such as Gurus & SME Ambassadors.Delivered on a number of "Go to Market" initiatives across all channels to ensure our people have the knowledge and confidence to create the best customer experience.Identified and introduced a more digital environment to maximize the effectiveness of learning. Creation of a number of online solutions such as Learning Zone, The Learning Hub (Vital) and Social Media. Show less

Scotch Hall, Drogheda, Louth

Managed a team of 7 people to successfully and consistently achieve targets and deadlines. Ensured a high level of customer service and maintained all in store procedures.Accountable for in store coaching and training in a Centre of Excellence store. Responsible for weekly hourly group coaching sessions in store, focusing on improving knowledge, targets and customer experience in store. Motivated individuals to achieve individual targets and goals through 121 development… Show more Managed a team of 7 people to successfully and consistently achieve targets and deadlines. Ensured a high level of customer service and maintained all in store procedures.Accountable for in store coaching and training in a Centre of Excellence store. Responsible for weekly hourly group coaching sessions in store, focusing on improving knowledge, targets and customer experience in store. Motivated individuals to achieve individual targets and goals through 121 development conversations.Responsible for managing several Retail Area and Company projects, successfully improving overall KPI result's.People Forum Representative 2009 – 2011: Represented retail stores in Company forum to drive greater participation of our people in the business enhancing existing methods of communication and ways of working in the business. Worked closely with key stakeholders and aided with negotiation of terms, conditions and a smooth transition of a number of stores transferred from Direct to Franchise stores.Supported the Learning and Development team as a Retail Point Of Contact with the training of new products and services across the business by promoting best practice including individual and group training sessions.Achieved highest level on in house Career Path 2009: Champion Level achieved by demonstrating Commercial Awareness, Ownership and Customer Focus, on an in store and company basis. This was attained through owning and delivering projects on a company level and presentations made to key stakeholders in the business. Show less

Drogheda, Louth