Talent Management Design Director

Job Title: Talent Management Design Director

Location: Kingston/100VE

Job purpose:

We believe that our people and our culture are central to our success. As our Talent Management Design Director, you will architect a future-focused, data‑led talent ecosystem that drives Unilever people-led performance while empowering thousands of leaders to find meaningful careers. This is a rare opportunity to shepherd how we develop and elevate our leaders— creating processes that are highly effective and human. You’ll take the best of what works, disrupt what doesn’t, and craft seamless, inclusive experiences that strengthen leadership pipelines and accelerate our strategic ambitions.

If you’re energized by complexity, motivated by change, and eager to innovate or improve, this role invites you to shape the next generation of talent practices and bring them to life in a way that feels simple and inspiring.

Key Responsibilities

The Talent Management Design Director leads the design and optimization of our talent management processes for director-level roles and below. This position has the responsibility and privilege of making sure we give our people the best tools to develop, that we identify our very best talent, and that we  ensure succession of our most critical non-executive roles.

This role also ensures that all talent management initiatives are seamlessly aligned with People Experience, Employer Brand, Talent Acquisition, Reward, DEI and IT for a delivery that feels integrated to our employees, line managers and HR communities. It will both lead projects related to innovation and improvement; as well as ensure our regular cycles are executed with excellence.

• Design and continuously improve talent management processes (including but not exclusively succession planning, career & development planning, and talent reviews) for directors and below.
• Ensure all processes are aligned across all interfaces and touchpoints supporting a unified and positive employee journey.
• Partner closely with Employer Brand, Talent Acquisition, DEI and Reward teams to ensure talent management strategies support broader people strategy & priorities.
• Work closely with our People Experience organization to bring the right employee experience to life.
• Work closely with our People Experience organization and IT to leverage technology to drive process simplification & process optimization.
• Develop and implement robust measurement frameworks to assess the effectiveness and impact of talent management processes.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of talent managers, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on brilliant execution, innovation and results.
• Stay current with industry best practices and emerging trends in talent management, integrating relevant innovations into the organization’s processes where it really matters.
• Ensure compliance with relevant policies, legal requirements, and ensure alignment with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) priorities in all talent management practices.
• Create an engaged community of business leaders/employees that serve as voice of the consumer and inform/test solutions as our barometer of employee experience when it comes to talent management.
• Collaborate with business and HR leaders to understand talent needs and translate them into actionable process improvements and solutions

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in talent management, HR, or organizational development, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven expertise in designing and optimizing talent management processes for large, complex, and/or global organizations.
• Dexterous in talent technology and driven to use technology in highly effective ways.
• Demonstrated experience in aligning initiatives across different stakeholder groups and influence across organizational boundaries. 
• Strong analytical skills and experience with talent analytics and measurement frameworks.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Driven by outcomes and measurable results and able to drive change and influence at all levels of the organization.
• Experience managing and developing high-performing teams.

NOTES

Location 

In September 2020, Unilever announced the intention to build a new sustainable campus site in Kingston, London. This site will house some employees who currently work in 100 Victoria Embankment in Blackfriars together with colleagues who are currently located in Lever House in Kingston. We are excited to be creating our own Unilever sustainable, agile work environment. The campus is due to be completed in 2026.

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever | Unilever.

Recruitment Fraud

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How is Unilever tackling this?

Many of Unilever’s recruitment sites publish a warning to candidates about recruitment fraud. The Cyber Security team also proactively scan for signs of people setting up fake Unilever sites and act to close them down.

What can I do?

If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, spot fake Unilever recruitment adverts or fake LinkedIn profiles, report them via Una Live Chat.

Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for any candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. Your vigilance is key!