Talent Development Program Manager

Department: Office of Human Resources
Salary/Grade: EXS/11

Job Summary

The Talent Development Program Manager is responsible for leading the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of professional and leadership development programs at Northwestern University. This role ensures that learning programs meet the evolving needs of the university and focus on building both professional skills and leadership capacity across all levels. By partnering with leadership, HR, and other stakeholders, the Talent Development Program Manager fosters a culture of continuous learning, enhances career development opportunities, and drives employee engagement through impactful skill-building initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Designs, develops, and delivers leadership development and professional skills programs to address organizational needs and support employee growth at all levels.
• Collaborates with key stakeholders to identify gaps and create scalable leadership and professional development programs that enhance employee performance and organizational effectiveness.
• Facilitates leadership and professional skills workshops, ensuring high-quality, interactive, and engaging learning experiences that promote leadership capabilities and skill-building.
• Oversee the continuous evaluation of leadership and professional development programs, using feedback and data to refine content and delivery for maximum impact.
• Manages the integration and delivery of leadership and professional skills training content within the myHR Learn LMS, ensuring smooth user experiences and tracking of progress and outcomes.
• Drives engagement and learning effectiveness by promoting a culture of continuous development, specifically in leadership and professional skills areas, to foster career progression and organizational growth.
• Supervises and mentors the Talent Development Coordinator, supporting their development in the design and execution of leadership development and professional skills programs.
• Partners with internal and external stakeholders to source, develop, and integrate new content, tools, and resources for leadership development and skills training that meet the evolving needs of the organization.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 6 years of experience in leadership development, professional skills training, or talent development. Proven experience in designing, developing, and delivering leadership development programs, professional skills programs, and related learning experiences. Extensive experience in facilitating workshops for leadership development and professional skills at varying levels within an organization. Demonstrated experience in program management including overseeing multiple initiatives, managing budgets, and meeting program objectives.
• Skills:
  • Expertise in leadership development and professional skills curriculum design, with a strong understanding of adult learning principles.
  • Proven project management skills, managing multiple initiatives and ensuring timely, quality delivery.
  • Strong facilitation skills for engaging diverse audiences, including senior leaders and emerging talent.
  • Experience with Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Cornerstone, and integrating e-learning solutions.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree in Organizational Development, Human Resources, Education, or a related field.
• Experience: 8 years of experience in talent development. Demonstrated success in designing and leading leadership development programs that align with organizational goals and drive high performance. Proven experience in managing talent development initiatives across multiple levels of an organization, with a focus on succession planning, employee engagement, and career development. Extensive background in facilitating professional skills workshops.
• Skills:
  • Expertise in designing and implementing leadership development programs, including the use of coaching, mentoring, and 360-degree feedback.
  • Proven experience in creating and facilitating professional skills development workshops aimed at enhancing effectiveness, communication, and decision-making.
  • Ability to facilitate leadership and professional development sessions for diverse teams, ensuring high engagement and impactful learning outcomes.
  • Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and other tools (e.g., Cornerstone) for delivering, tracking, and measuring the success of leadership and professional skills development programs.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $105,000 - $115,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.