Talent Development Manager

Gooch & Housego

About The Position

ABOUT US G&H is a world leader in optical designing, testing and manufacturing. As experts in the technology of light, G&H works with customers to provide optical systems, assemblies, and components for demanding applications. Headquartered in Ilminster Somerset, UK with primary operations in the USA and Europe, G&H is recognised for the breadth of their acousto-optic, electro-optic, crystal-optic, fibre optic, and precision optic products. G&H is recognized as the preferred source for OEMs in the life sciences, industrial, and aerospace and defence industries, with a history of quality and excellence that dates back over seventy-five years. Our success is built on innovation, precision, and the talent of our people. We are committed to developing capability at every stage of a career, from apprenticeships and graduate pathways through to leadership development. LOCATION G&H Torquay ROLE Join us as Talent Development Manager to help shape and deliver our Learning & Development and Performance strategy. In this role you’ll collaborate with senior leadership to drive strategic people initiatives that enhance culture, capability, and performance across the business. You’ll take ownership of our performance management process and Learning & Development strategy, focusing on apprenticeships, graduate programs, career development pathways for site and divisional functions, leadership growth, and planning for future skill needs, ensuring G&H continues to attract, nurture, and retain the next generation of talent. While the core focus is talent development and performance, the role also includes generalist HR Business Partnering support, including employee relations and day-to-day HR advisory. The job holder is also a member of the site leadership team in Torquay and member of the Global HR function and is responsible for ensuring relevant regional and divisional HR policies and global HR Ways of Working are adopted and maintained across the site. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a manufacturing environment and is ready to make a strategic impact. Our continued growth means there will be significant career progression opportunity within this role.

Requirements

Proven HR experience within a manufacturing business.
Strong background in talent development, learning & development, or organisational development. To include apprenticeships, graduate programmes, or workforce capability initiatives.
Comfortable providing generalist HR support, including employee relations
CIPD Level 5 qualified (or equivalent).
A proactive, ambitious mindset with a passion for shaping people strategy.
Commercially astute, strategic thinker.
Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills at leadership level.
Experience coaching leaders and driving behavioural and cultural change.

Responsibilities

Enhance recruitment, onboarding, and retention by embedding a development-first mindset that fosters long-term commitment.
Own and evolve the performance management process, ensuring it drives accountability, development, and business impact.
Lead organisational change and development efforts that enable innovation and support business expansion.
Drive talent and succession planning by identifying key roles and future skill requirements critical to business continuity.
Leverage people analytics and L&D insights to inform strategic decisions and measure impact.
Manage employee relations matters with a balanced, pragmatic approach that aligns with legal and commercial standards.
Act as HR function lead for assigned processes; and manage the HR Generalist, providing mentoring support and development and overseeing the administrative function.
Monthly reporting on HR KPIs to meet business needs as agreed with Group HR and Site General Manager
Deploy the company’s employee engagement, annual performance reviews, general communications and retention programmes as required
Deploy change management processes in agreement with leaders to ensure consistency and excellent execution.
Undertake HR function projects or support business improvement programmes as required
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of employment law and ensure adherence to internal policies and external regulations.
Promote a culture of engagement through mentoring, recognition, and initiatives that support employee growth and satisfaction.
Provide generalist HR Business Partnering Support as required.
Promote G&H values: Customer focus, Integrity, Action, Unity, and Precision.