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Xero is seeking a Capability Development Partner to establish and lead capability development across its Product & Technology function. This newly created role works alongside engineering, product, design, security, and data science teams to architect frameworks that enable 2,600+ professionals to evolve their skills ahead of industry trends.
You will partner with senior leaders to build a high-performance capability culture aligned with company strategy. Rather than focusing on standard training delivery, you'll drive measurable outcomes including delivery velocity, retention, internal mobility, and time-to-productivity for new hires. The role serves as a competitive advantage by embedding growth directly into operational practices.
You'll join the Product & Technology Learning and Development team within the broader Organisation Development function. This small, agile group operates with psychological safety, transparency, and curiosity. You'll collaborate closely with other L&D specialists and senior leaders across Product, Design, Engineering, and People Experience to identify capability gaps and design solutions.
Current team priorities include: building a Capability Framework for Product & Technology mapping technical and behavioural skills to business OKRs; designing upskilling programmes around AI/ML and emerging technologies; creating internal mobility pathways across teams and career stages; and establishing success metrics beyond completion rates (delivery velocity, internal mobility rate, retention, time-to-productivity, eNPS).
The role is hybrid, based in Australia (Sydney or Melbourne preferred) or New Zealand, with access to office spaces in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Wellington. Most engineering talent is based in Auckland, Wellington, and Melbourne. The team works flexibly with boost days twice weekly to bring teams together.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Solid experience building or managing capability programmes, frameworks, or skill development initiatives, ideally within tech, SaaS, or high-growth organisations where programmes have scaled
- Understanding of the technical landscape sufficient to partner effectively: software development lifecycle, engineering trajectories, product management disciplines, AI/ML, and emerging technologies
- Ability to influence without authority, build trust quickly with technical stakeholders, and navigate competing priorities with strong interpersonal skills and strategic thinking
- Data and outcomes-driven approach: measure what matters (velocity, retention, mobility, time-to-productivity, eNPS) rather than participation rates, and connect learning interventions to real business impact
- Cross-functional partnership capability with senior technical leaders, People Experience, and Group OD to build cohesive capability strategies
- Genuine curiosity about how emerging technologies shape capability needs, with agility to balance rigorous programme design with iteration based on feedback
