Director, Retail Talent & Training (6 month Contract)

Sephora•Toronto, ON

11d•CA$148,600 - CA$176,600•Hybrid

About The Position

At Sephora Canada, beauty is about feeling seen, valued, and empowered, individually and collectively. It is connecting deeply with others, celebrating diversity and inclusivity, unlocking your potential and making a difference every day. Together, we belong to something beautiful. As Director, Retail Talent & Training, you’ll lead the strategy that builds the skills, confidence, and performance of our Beauty Advisors and Store Leaders across Canada. This role is accountable for creating a modern, scalable, and high-impact learning and talent ecosystem that supports exceptional client experience, strengthens leadership bench, and drives measurable business performance across the retail network. You will lead a team responsible for the assessment, design, development, implementation, facilitation, and evaluation of innovative learning and talent solutions that are personalized, operationally viable, and aligned to the evolving needs of the business. You will also partner closely with Sephora North America and Global stakeholders to leverage best practices, localize scalable solutions, and continuously elevate how learning and development is experienced in our stores. This role sits at the intersection of retail performance, people development, and client experience, translating business priorities into targeted capability plans that improve service, selling, leadership effectiveness, engagement, and long-term talent growth.

Requirements

10+ years of experience across Learning & Development, Talent Management, or Leadership Development—ideally within retail, luxury, or multi-unit environments.
Deep expertise in instructional design and adult learning, with the ability to deliver impactful experiences across in-person, digital, and blended formats.
A proven ability to build and scale talent strategies that drive meaningful business results while accelerating employee growth.
Strong passion for developing leaders and strengthening talent pipelines, including succession planning and internal mobility.
A track record of leading high-performing teams and collaborating effectively across a matrixed organization.
Sharp business acumen, with a clear connection between capability-building and outcomes like service, selling, productivity, retention, and client experience.
Excellent ability to prioritize and execute in fast-paced environments, balancing multiple initiatives with agility.
Compelling communication and storytelling skills, with confidence engaging and influencing senior leaders.
Comfort leveraging learning technologies, LMS platforms and data insights to continuously elevate impact.
A mindset grounded in adaptability, curiosity, and sound judgment, navigating complexity with confidence.
Ability to travel nationally (15-20%), with occasional U.S. and international exposure.

Responsibilities

Set and champion the Retail Talent & Training strategy, shaping how we grow talent and elevate performance across Sephora Canada
Inspire and develop a high-performing, future-focused team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation
Align priorities, resources, and goals to deliver meaningful, high-impact outcomes
Partner as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, influencing talent and capability decisions across the business
Shape a best-in-class learning ecosystem that brings development to life across in-store, digital, and virtual environments
Lead end-to-end learning experiences—from insight to design to delivery—ensuring every touchpoint is engaging, relevant, and impactful
Champion innovative, learner-first approaches that drive engagement, retention, and real-world application
Elevate facilitation and learning quality to deliver consistently exceptional experiences across markets
Lead an integrated Retail Talent Strategy focused on leadership pipeline, succession, and internal mobility.
Develop impactful programs that attract, grow, and retain high-performing Beauty Advisors and Store Leaders
Own and evolve leadership development programs and curriculum, aligned to evolving business needs
Create clear, motivating career pathways that connect learning to growth opportunities
Champion inclusive and equitable development practices across the retail network
Translate business priorities into targeted capability-building strategies that elevate service, selling, and client experience
Deliver insight-driven reporting on learning effectiveness, talent health, and leadership strength
Partner cross-functionally to ensure programs are relevant, scalable, and operationally effective
Balance national strategy with localized execution to meet diverse market needs
Collaborate with Operations to ensure initiatives are practical and sustainable in-store
Continuously refine learning and talent processes to drive efficiency, scalability, and impact
Identify opportunities to improve through data, insights, and program evaluation
Leverage technology to modernize learning experiences and increase accessibility
Lead budget planning and resource allocation aligned to strategic priorities
Ensure investments drive measurable value and scalable impact
Build and manage vendor partnerships to bring in best-in-class expertise and innovation
Drive special projects and cross-functional initiatives that support evolving retail and talent priorities

Benefits

medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage
Well-Being@Sephora program to support your mental, financial, physical, and social well-being
hybrid work schedule
vacation and flex days
maternity/paternity leave
access to training and development programs and resources
30% discount on all merchandise/services
opportunities for gratis
flash sale discounts on LVMH brands
volunteer and donation matching
Employee Assistance Program
free mental health resources with 24/7 access to Dialogue