Job Description
Talent Development Manager
Birmingham (Hybrid, with some travel to regional offices)
We are McCann, the UK’s largest integrated marketing agency. Over 800 individuals working together to help brands play a meaningful role in people’s lives.
We are also part of McCann Worldgroup, a global agency network that delivers culture-shaping work for some of the world’s biggest brands.
Creativity really is at the forefront of everything we do. And we have the awards to provide it, from Euro Effies most effective global agency, to Cannes Network of the Year, Campaign’s European Integrated Agency of the Year, not to mention our haul of awards in recent years at Cannes Lions, Clios, One Show, D&AD, LIAs, Golden Drum and the Creative Circle Awards.
We’re a team of passionate creatives, strategists and marketers from a wide mix of backgrounds. But there’s a lot that unites us – like caring deeply about everything we make. And though our skillsets are wide and our process knowledge is deep, we are all still learning every day.
The Part You’ll Play…
McCann are looking for a Talent Development Manager to shape and deliver learning and development across a number of our network’s agencies. Working in conjunction with a group L&D function, you’ll play a key role in helping our people grow – identifying high potential talent, supporting the agency with programmes to address skills gaps, and ensuring everyone has access to meaningful learning experiences that drive both personal and business performance.
Based primarily in Birmingham, you’ll support our agency populations in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and Milton Keynes, working closely with the wider People team and building relationships with local leaders. You’ll have an autonomous, varied role, with the opportunity to make a real mark on how we develop and support our people – designing programmes from the ground up, influencing strategy, and shaping a culture of continuous learning.
What You’ll Do…
Performance & Talent Development
* Work with senior leaders to identify high-potential employees and design bespoke development programmes to help them grow.
* Partner with senior stakeholders to align L&D priorities with business needs, as well as identifying any skills gaps and addressing these through external suppliers, existing learning platforms, or bespoke programmes.
* Lead the annual performance management process — goal setting, appraisals, and management training.
Early Careers & Apprenticeships
* Manage our early careers and apprenticeship programmes, from selection and onboarding to pastoral support and levy management.
* Build strong relationships with training providers and schools to ensure a first-class early careers experience.
Learning Design & Delivery
* Develop and deliver engaging training sessions across topics such as performance, leadership, and management skills.
* Curate and commission digital learning content, working with external providers where needed.
* Manage the L&D budget and learning systems (LMS), ensuring best use of resources and data.
* Oversee IPA learning and professional qualifications, including any mandatory training requirements.
* Work closely with the Group L&D team in London to align global initiatives with local needs.
Coaching & Culture
* Provide coaching and mentoring for managers and emerging leaders.
* Support team dynamics and behavioural work (including PI assessments).
* Partner with DEI councils and wellbeing initiatives to deliver meaningful refresher training and support a culture of inclusion and growth.
* Communicate L&D updates across the agencies, ensuring visibility and engagement with all learning opportunities.
* Collaborate with HR colleagues for administrative support on POs, finance and reporting.
* Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills
* Knowledge of L&D best practices and performance management frameworks
* Experience in managing early careers / apprenticeships programmes
* Experience designing and implementing learning programmes that drive measurable outcomes
* A flexible approach and the ability to support the wider HR team across broader themes from a talent development lens
* Comfortable delivering training and leading sessions with managers and senior stakeholders
* Comfortable with some travel as part of the role
Nice to have:
* Experience in a creative or agency environment
* Coaching experience and / or use of behavioural or psychometric assessments
In addition to a competitive salary we are committed to creating a brilliant environment for all our people. This includes benefits such as 28 days holiday, plus the opportunity to buy more holiday, enhanced pension contributions, life assurance and much more.
A culture of learning and development is also central to our ethos, so you’ll have access to industry leading training and development programmes, plus you’ll get to work closely with the world’s biggest media partners to access exclusive features and products.
Most importantly, you’ll be part of a fun and collaborative team and you’ll work in an environment where you are supported, pushed and developed.
All-in-all, this is an opportunity not to be missed for anyone serious about pushing their career to the next level.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
For us, diversity is a business imperative – one that must be embedded into every aspect of how we operate in order to drive success. Simply put, we believe an encouraging and inclusive environment makes sound business sense.
As a globally integrated community that influences and shapes culture, it’s vital that the talent mix in our agencies encompass all dimensions of diversity, and that we demand the same of the people we work with.
Conscious inclusion encompasses social, cultural and cognitive differences and cultivates an ethos of belonging, connection and shared purpose. It is the integration of this philosophy that allows us to create meaningful experiences for our employees, drive better business practices with our vendors and clients, and ultimately lead with purpose.
McCann is a Disability Confident employer and will guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets the minimum criteria for this role, so please do let us know when you apply (via email to laura.hewes@mccann.com), if you are eligible, along with any adjustments you may need to the recruitment process to enable you to perform at your best.
McCann helps brands build the most meaningful brand platforms that drive exponential growth and leave a lasting impact on culture. Founded 100+ years ago with their own platform, “Truth Well Told”, McCann is the world’s leading advertising agency network, creating some of the most creatively and commercially impactful advertising globally. McCann is the founding unit of McCann Worldgroup marketing services company, part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG).
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