Talent Development Director

The Talent Development Director works closely with CNA’s Lead HR Business Partners and business leaders to develop high impact talent development solutions to drive improved business performance and results. The director will diagnose performance gaps and recommend, develop and direct the implementation of strategic talent, leadership development and learning solutions to address both enterprise and business unit objectives. Successful candidates will be passionate about creating a learning culture, fostering inclusion and equity, and strategically growing the capacity and capability of talent.

• Builds deep understanding of the internal and external business landscape to inform and shape talent management, leadership development and learning experiences and programs that support and drive strategic business outcomes.
• Partners with Lead HRBPs and business leaders to translate organizational needs into talent development strategies for enterprise wide and business unit programs and interventions. Sets the learning strategy by identifying performance gaps and their root causes through analysis of the entire system.
• Directs and manages highly complex and large corporate-wide and business unit specific talent, leadership development and learning programs and initiatives with multiple sub-projects and sub teams to address business needs and to maximize the learner experience. May partner with the DEI Office to deliver strategic learning initiatives designed to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion at CNA.
• Creates the resource plan and budget to deliver defined talent development strategies. Draws from a pool of design and delivery resources, including instructional designers and eLearning specialists to develop and curate content and learning pathways. Mentors and guides assigned resources on how to design effective learning solutions that maximize leadership and employee development, drive retention, and achieve business outcomes.
• Analyzes and applies external trends, best practices, and learning theory to improve processes, increase effectiveness and ensure a modern learning experience. Designs and implements change and communication plans to build employee awareness of learning assets.
• Acts as a key member of the Talent Development Leadership Team, developing relationships with senior stakeholders and championing the overall Talent Development service proposition. Works closely with business unit learning teams to ensure the overall learning experience is an enabler to CNA’s employment value proposition.
• Works with HR Shared Services on reporting and analytics to measure the ROI of investments and to ensure impact on business outcomes. Regularly updates key stakeholders on the progress and impact of talent development interventions.
• Defines and communicates organization talent management, leadership development and learning standards. Designs and implements change and communication plans (including both push and pull communication channels) with HRBPs and business unit learning teams to build awareness of learning assets.
• Manages the lifecycle of talent development assets, collaborating with HR Shared Services to determine the need for maintenance and/or retirement. Develops and maintains strong vendor and client relationships and manages key third party contracts, establishing the standards and metrics to track delivery.

• Advanced level expertise in talent management, leadership development and employee development, including modern theories, practices of knowledge management strategies, learner experience design, instructional design methods, learning and skilling practices, adult learning theory, curriculum management and blended learning strategies for all levels of employees and leaders.
• Strong business acumen, in-depth knowledge of business strategies across all client groups, and the ability to effectively apply skills need identification techniques to diagnose and direct talent development strategies to support enterprise goals.
• Advanced program and project management, organizing and planning skills and ability to drive results and manage multiple and shifting priorities in a fast-paced and challenging environment.
• Ability to mentor others on how to design effective talent, leadership development and learning solutions that maximize employee and leader development and achieve business outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills. Ability to facilitate large and senior groups through the use of group dynamics while encouraging creativity and innovation.
• Highly skilled in influencing and negotiating and comfortable navigating organizational dynamics. Strong ability to foster and maintain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, peers, team members and external contacts.
• Strong knowledge of modern L&D technologies and Microsoft Office Suite/other business related software.

• Bachelor’s Degree with Masters preferred in Organizational Development, Organization Behavior, Instructional/Learning Design or equivalent.
• Typically a minimum of ten years related work experience