Talent Development Specialist

UniFirst•Wilmington, MA

16h•$61,928 - $110,000

About The Position

UniFirst Corporation’s Talent Development team has an opening for a Talent Development Specialist. In this role, you will have an opportunity to enhance our talent practices, including performance management, succession planning, and talent reviews. The Talent Development Specialist develops, implements, and administers programs that evaluate, measure, and improve employee performance. Conducts assessment activities to evaluate and identify the current and emerging skills, competencies, and behaviors required to achieve organizational results and prepare for future needs. Performance Management Responsibilities: Designs performance management processes and trainings that measure outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and align teams to organizational goals. Encourages a culture of objective setting and results measurement aligned to pay and rewards using tools, training, and communication. Continually enhance the performance management processes to ensure effective goal setting, ongoing quality conversations with process & tools that are developed and embedded with our leaders and team partners. Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on best practices in performance evaluations and discussions Talent Calibration Responsibilities: Lead and facilitate talent calibration sessions with leaders across all Operations regions to align Team Partner ratings, potential assessments, and career development discussions Work with senior leaders to ensure the calibration process reflects the company’s core values and strategic goals Build the Succession Planning process for critical roles. Design and implement core processes to support development and movement of individuals in key roles across the enterprise. This includes identification of bench strength and assessment and development of those individuals. Analyze talent data and provide detailed reports and insights to senior leadership on talent distribution, key performance indicators (KPIs), and overall talent health across the organization Collaborate with HR Business Partners, leaders, and key stakeholders to ensure alignment on talent assessments and identifying high-potential Team Partners Provide coaching and mentoring to high potential leaders in creating development plans Educate and coach managers on the calibration process to ensure fairness, consistency, and transparency in talent management decisions Continuously improve the talent calibration process by identifying inefficiencies, recommending process optimizations, and integrating feedback from stakeholders. Talent Review & Other Responsibilities: Develop Talent Profile system to analyze leadership talent data and transition to new HRIS system Stay informed about industry best practices and new methodologies for performance calibration and talent assessment. Assist Talent Development team with training initiatives and virtual training sessions

Requirements

Bachelor's degree preferred with emphasis in training and development, instructional design, organizational development, human resources and/or a related field.
3-5 years of demonstrated experience and in-depth knowledge of performance management, succession planning, and/or talent reviews best practices and trends, willing to think outside the box as needed
Experienced at facilitating training and in instructional design and development which may include instructor-led, computer and web-based instructional design experience.
Proven ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, work independently, and deliver results in an evolving and fast-paced organization
Demonstrated ability to influence others and collaborate with cross-functional partners
Able to deal with change and desire to make a difference is paramount, we are looking for someone who loves to build from the ground up
Excellent verbal, written, presentation and storytelling skills; must be capable of communicating information to diverse audiences in a virtual environment
Strong business acumen and a track record of successfully partnering with HR Business Partners, Talent peers and business leaders

Responsibilities

Designs performance management processes and trainings that measure outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and align teams to organizational goals.
Encourages a culture of objective setting and results measurement aligned to pay and rewards using tools, training, and communication.
Continually enhance the performance management processes to ensure effective goal setting, ongoing quality conversations with process & tools that are developed and embedded with our leaders and team partners.
Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on best practices in performance evaluations and discussions
Lead and facilitate talent calibration sessions with leaders across all Operations regions to align Team Partner ratings, potential assessments, and career development discussions
Work with senior leaders to ensure the calibration process reflects the company’s core values and strategic goals
Build the Succession Planning process for critical roles. Design and implement core processes to support development and movement of individuals in key roles across the enterprise. This includes identification of bench strength and assessment and development of those individuals.
Analyze talent data and provide detailed reports and insights to senior leadership on talent distribution, key performance indicators (KPIs), and overall talent health across the organization
Collaborate with HR Business Partners, leaders, and key stakeholders to ensure alignment on talent assessments and identifying high-potential Team Partners
Provide coaching and mentoring to high potential leaders in creating development plans
Educate and coach managers on the calibration process to ensure fairness, consistency, and transparency in talent management decisions
Continuously improve the talent calibration process by identifying inefficiencies, recommending process optimizations, and integrating feedback from stakeholders.
Develop Talent Profile system to analyze leadership talent data and transition to new HRIS system
Stay informed about industry best practices and new methodologies for performance calibration and talent assessment.
Assist Talent Development team with training initiatives and virtual training sessions