Senior Manager Talent Development

Overview

This role is primarily open to those who work in Financial Services.

You will lead the strategy, standards, frameworks, and processes for succession management and successor development across the organisation. You will oversee the full lifecycle of succession planning — from design and implementation to the ongoing development and readiness of identified successors.

Your focus will include continuous improvement, digitisation of processes, and ensuring alignment with the broader talent and people strategy. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, including executive-level and HR leadership, to embed succession planning into business priorities and measure its overall impact.

As a trusted partner to leadership teams, you will influence talent outcomes at the highest levels. Your expertise in talent and leadership development will drive long-term organisational capability and leadership readiness. The role also contributes to broader colleague development projects, collaborating with teams focused on digital transformation and external benchmarking to bring in best practices. Strong communication and influencing skills are essential, as you will present insights, recommendations, and progress updates to senior audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead succession planning strategies, frameworks, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to embed succession planning into leadership agendas and drive strategic alignment.
• Measure the effectiveness and impact of succession and development programmes, ensuring successor readiness.
• Design and implement training and development programmes, including workshops, digital learning, and leadership interventions.
• Collaborate with HR and business leaders to analyse current and future capability needs.
• Oversee onboarding and induction programmes, ensuring consistency and engagement throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Lead coaching and mentoring initiatives, including "train the trainer" programmes and development toolkits.
• Develop talent pipelines to identify, manage, and progress key talent across the organisation, supporting career growth and internal mobility.
• Analyse talent data and metrics to inform decision-making and demonstrate programme success.

Leadership & Governance

• Contribute to or set strategy, drive requirements, and make recommendations for change.
• Manage policies, budgets, and processes; deliver continuous improvements and ensure governance standards are met.
• Lead or guide a team of specialists, setting objectives, coaching for performance, and planning for future capability needs.
• Influence cross-functional operations, balancing strategic and tactical priorities.
• Provide subject matter expertise and act as a coach or mentor to colleagues and peers.
• Identify and manage people, operational, and strategic risks, ensuring robust control frameworks are in place.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve key business outcomes.
• Apply analytical and innovative thinking to define problems and develop effective, data-led solutions.

Experience & Skills

• Proven experience leading succession planning and talent development strategies within a complex organisation.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, particularly at senior leadership level.
• Demonstrated success in developing, implementing, and evaluating leadership and development programmes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver structured insights and presentations.
• Strong analytical capability and experience in using talent data to inform decisions.
• Understanding of digital learning, talent technology, and workforce capability trends.

Attributes for Success

• Strategic and commercial thinker with strong business acumen.
• Skilled in building trusted relationships and influencing across all levels.
• Passionate about developing people and driving inclusive talent growth.
• Collaborative, proactive, and outcomes-focused.
• Embraces innovation, digital transformation, and continuous improvement.