Senior Manager, Talent Development

About the Team

Our Human Resources team defies all conventional expectations and is a business-connected solutions provider. The work we do directly aligns with the company’s core areas of focus, and we ensure that associates and leaders are ready to support those strategic objectives.  Our HR team is comprised of different departments, including Talent Acquisition, HR business partners, Learning & Development, Compensation & Benefits, and Shared Services. We enable meaningful careers for all and build our Associate Workplace Experience!

About the Location

Collaborative Work Environment:At PetSmart, teamwork and connection are core to how we thrive. This role is based at our Phoenix Home Office, with an expectation of working a minimum of four days in the office each week. In a standard work week, associates may work up to one remote “flex day” (with leader approval). Our hybrid approach is designed to foster strong collaboration while also supporting flexibility and individual success.

About the Job

The Senior Manager, Talent Development is responsible for leading the design, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of PetSmart's leadership and associate development experiences. This role translates enterprise talent development strategy into scalable learning solutions that build leadership capability, accelerate functional and technical growth, and strengthen organizational effectiveness across Stores, Distribution Centers, and Offices.

Working closely with HR and business leaders, this leader oversees the experience portfolio—from onboarding and leadership development to high-potential and functional capability programs—ensuring learning experiences are practical, engaging, measurable, and aligned to business priorities.

The Senior Manager leads a team of Talent Development Consultants while serving as the organization's primary expert on learning design, facilitation, adult learning, and development experiences.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Translate enterprise Talent Development strategy into learning experiences that build capability across all levels of the organization.
• Lead the design and evolution of leadership, functional, technical, and team development programs.
• Maintain and prioritize the experience roadmap for leadership onboarding, skill development, readiness, and acceleration programs.
• Continuously assess organizational capability gaps and recommend new or enhanced development experiences.
• Ensure all learning experiences reflect PetSmart's values, leadership expectations, and future capability needs.
• Establish standards for instructional design, facilitation, participant experience, and learning quality.
• Review learning content for effectiveness, clarity, inclusion, and consistency.
• Incorporate adult learning principles, modern instructional practices, and emerging learning technologies.
• Measure program effectiveness and continuously improve experiences using participant feedback, business outcomes, and learning analytics.
• Partner with HR Business Partners and business leaders to understand capability needs and recommend development solutions.
• Consult with functional experts to translate business knowledge into effective learning experiences.
• Build trusted partnerships across HR to ensure alignment with broader talent strategies.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Talent Development Consultants.
• Set priorities, provide coaching, and establish high standards for quality and execution.
• Foster innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the team.
• Build bench strength and support career development for team members.

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

• Team of Talent Development Consultant(s)
• Intern/Bench associate as applicable

 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Experience building and implementing talent development and team strategies including project management, content development, soft-skills development, and performance improvement.
• 7+ years experience in a leadership capacity.
• 7+ years of instructional design, learning and development, and/or retail leadership experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of adult learning principles.
• Internal or external consulting experience in areas such as program/project management, assessments, performance management, career development.
• Experience developing measurement tools and strategies that focus on reaction to learning, knowledge transfer, application on the job and business impact.
• Demonstrated experience in t