Senior Manager, Strategic Talent Programs & Planning

CarGurus • Boston, MA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Strategic Talent Programs & Planning plays a critical role in translating People Strategy into action. This role leads the Talent Management team in the planning, execution, and operational excellence of company wide people initiatives, with a strong focus on talent management programs. They will also partner with our Operations team to drive effective end-to-end People Strategy operations. This individual will lead a team that serves as a central connector across the People Strategy team, Operations, Analytics, Systems, and key cross-functional partners to ensure programs are delivered with clarity, consistency, and measurable impact. The ideal candidate is both strategic and execution-oriented—comfortable driving complex initiatives while ensuring operational rigor and scalability.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in People Strategy, HR Program Management, Talent Management, or related roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional programs in a fast-paced or scaling organization.
• Strong experience owning and administering talent management platforms (Lattice experience preferred).
• Proven ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution and attention to detail.
• Excellent project management, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
• Data-informed mindset with experience partnering with Analytics or Systems teams to measure impact and improve outcomes.

Responsibilities

• People Strategy Program & Project Management Lead the planning and execution of major People Strategy initiatives, including organizational design, restructuring, and talent management programs.
• Serve as a central program management partner across People Strategy, ensuring accountability, clear ownership, and consistent progress across initiatives.
• Establish project management frameworks, timelines, and governance to ensure effective delivery of complex, cross-functional work.
• Talent Management Programs & Platforms Serve as the primary leader for Lattice and other talent management platforms.
• Lead a team through the end-to-end planning and execution of talent management programs (e.g., performance cycles, goal setting, feedback, development initiatives).
• Own the design, strategy, and implementation of all talent programs while balancing input from People Strategists, Talent Management team, People Development and other stakeholders.
• Partner with our Communications team to drive communication planning and execution for talent management initiatives, ensuring clarity, consistency, and strong employee and leader engagement.
• Partner with People Analytics and Systems teams to track participation, completion, and impact metrics, using insights to continuously improve programs.
• People Strategy Operations & Process Optimization In partnership with our Operations team, oversee and optimize operational processes across the employee lifecycle, from hire through termination.
• Partner closely with Finance, Payroll, Legal, and other key stakeholders to ensure seamless execution of employee changes and compliance with policies and regulations.
• Act as a core operational partner and SME to the People Strategy team, ensuring strategists and COEs are well supported and able to focus on high-impact work.
• Identify and implement opportunities for automation, standardization, and process improvements to increase efficiency and scalability.
• Collaborate with Data and Analytics teams to ensure accurate coding, tracking, and reporting of employee changes, exits, and related data.

Benefits

• We reward our Gurus’ curiosity and passion with best-in-class benefits and compensation, including equity for all employees, both when they start and as they continue to grow with us.
• Our career development and corporate giving programs, as well as our employee resource groups (ERGs) and communities, help people build connections while making an impact in personally meaningful ways.
• A flexible hybrid model and robust time off policies encourage work-life balance and individual well-being.
• Thoughtful perks like daily free lunch, a new car discount, meditation and fitness apps, commuting cost coverage, and more help our people create space for what matters most in their personal and professional lives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees