Managing Director, Talent Development, Organizational Effectiveness & Culture (M3)

Save the Children 

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share. 

The Role 

The Managing Director of Talent Development, Organizational Effectiveness, and Culture is responsible for leading and driving the organization’s talent development strategy, enhancing organizational performance, and fostering a high-performance culture. This senior leadership role oversees initiatives related to talent management, leadership development, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness, ensuring alignment with business goals. The Managing Director will partner with key stakeholders to implement best practices in talent strategy, performance management, and culture transformation. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of organizational dynamics, change management, and talent strategies, with a proven track record in leading cross-functional teams and driving results at the executive level. 

This role reporting directly to the Chief People Officer and is critical in shaping our organizations culture and creating a culture of learning. The ideal leader will be responsible for employee and leader development, creating and implementing a leadership framework that supports the organizations focus on enhancing leadership capabilities, leading the succession planning strategy and continuous building on our talent strategy. This forward-thinking leader will strengthen the HR partnership with the business to achieve the strategic priorities and operational objectives of the Agency and to promote and drive HR service delivery excellence.

Location 

Hybrid – Washington DC, Fairfield, CT or Lexington, KY office locations 

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties) 

*not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change 

Talent Management (25%)

• Lead the design and execution of talent development programs that align with organizational objectives, with a strong focus on leadership development, succession planning, and career progression.
• Develop and oversee strategies to attract, retain, and nurture high-potential talent, creating a sustainable succession pipeline for critical roles and future leaders.
• Implement performance management systems and programs that ensure consistent development, feedback, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Lead initiatives to enhance critical skill capabilities across the organization, including identifying and supporting high-potential candidates, fostering career development, and cultivating future leaders.

Culture and Engagement (25%)

• Design and implement initiatives that align with and reinforce the company’s values, mission, and cultural vision.
• Assess the current organizational culture, identifying areas for growth and improvement, and implementing strategies to address these gaps.
• Foster an inclusive, positive, and engaging work environment that reflects the organization’s core values and encourages high employee morale and motivation.
• Lead employee engagement efforts, including surveys, feedback programs, and team-building activities to enhance team cohesion and ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
• Ensure clear and consistent communication strategies to inform employees and make them feel connected to the organization’s goals.
• Develop and utilize KPIs and metrics to assess engagement levels, cultural alignment, and organizational climate.

Development Programs (Employee and Leader) (25%)

• Identify and create training programs that support leadership development, focusing on skill gaps and building competencies needed for effective management.
• Drive the implementation of a learning culture strategy, including career mobility and talent development programs to retain and engage employees.
• Lead the design, development, and administration of high-impact, best-in-class internal development programs such as the Manager Essentials Series, CORE, Senior Management Development Programs, and Leadership Development Programs.
• Facilitate leadership assessments, coaching, and mentoring to promote a culture of continuous learning, feedback, and performance improvement.

Organizational Effectiveness (15%)

• Lead initiatives to improve organizational pe