Head of Organisational Development

Canonical
Remote (Africa & Europe)
Full-time

Help shape the future of work with a globally recognized, open-source software company that leads in remote-first collaboration and employment. Canonical, publisher of Ubuntu—widely known as the preferred OS for cloud computing, containers, and AI/ML data science—is a pioneer in the tech world. As a remote-first organization, almost every team works remotely by default, setting the benchmark for the modern digital workplace. While we may be smaller than other platform vendors, we are highly profitable, with the goal of being the world’s best global software company.

This is a prime opportunity for a leader with exceptional organizational and intellectual skills to develop and lead our Organisational Development team. With over 1,000 employees across 70+ countries, Canonical seeks to build a team focused on advancing our management practices within a remote-first, globally distributed environment.

As the global shift to remote work continues, the debate surrounding it grows. We aim to become the best at it, driven by a mission to hire talented individuals evenly across the globe. Effective remote work requires discipline and strong habits, and we are committed to researching and implementing the training, policymaking, and selection processes that promote consistent success. With nearly 20 years of experience as a remote-first company, we understand there’s still much to learn, and we’re determined to stay at the forefront of this evolving landscape. By investing in research, analytics, and tools, we will raise the bar for remote collaboration, organization, and leadership.

This role is ideal for someone passionate about developing managers and leaders, who is eager to drive the pace for distributed company management, and who has the energy, vision, and leadership skills to make an impact across hundreds of teams.

You will lead a cross-disciplinary People team, working alongside organizational psychologists, engineers, analytics experts, talent science specialists, and employee relations professionals. We are recruiting globally and building a fearless, diverse team. The goal of the Organisational Development team is to ensure our leadership is aligned with Canonical’s mission and values as we continue to evolve.

Location: This role is open to candidates based in Africa or Europe.

What Your Day Will Look Like

• Develop and implement a comprehensive talent development and organizational culture strategy
• Lead discussions on management practices, skills, and leadership perspectives
• Deliver exceptional experiences for aspiring and current leaders at Canonical
• Oversee the internal and external activation of Canonical’s values
• Create and implement leadership performance indicators and metrics
• Design, develop, and run leadership training programs
• Manage the management skills matrix for performance, talent assessment, succession planning, mentorship, and career development
• Lead engagement survey focus groups and change initiatives
• Build and lead a new team of Organisational Development specialists
• Analyze career development trends to inform strategy
• Oversee Canonical’s personal development budget of USD 2,000 per person

What We Are Looking for in You

• Exceptional academic background
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Proven experience in remote work and management
• Strong opinions on creating high-performing teams
• Ability to lead, strategize, plan, and drive change across a global company
• Analytical and problem-solving skills for data-driven decision making
• Experience managing people and budgets
• Willingness to travel two to four times per year for company events

What We Offer

• Fully remote work environment—Canonical has been remote-first since 2004!
• Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year
• Annual compensation review
• Recognition rewards
• Generous holiday leave
• Parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Opportunity to travel for company sprints
• Priority Pass for travel upgrades during long-haul company events

About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering technology firm at the forefront of the global open-source movement. As the publisher of Ubuntu—one of the most critical open-source projects and the platform for AI, IoT, and cloud computing—we are changing the world daily. We hire globally, holding all team members to the highest standard of excellence.

Founded in 2004 as a remote-first company, Canonical offers a unique work experience that challenges you to think differently, work smarter, and continuously improve.

Canonical is an equal opportunity employer, fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to better work environments and products, and we give all applications fair consideration.