Location Hybrid: 1-2 days at our Support Centre in Coleshill, Birmingham. Why The Works? 10th Best Big Company to Work For 2024 - 'Best Companies' We don’t just sell products. We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play. The Works. It literally means everything. And whatever your story or background, we’re all about unlocking imagination and making creativity accessible to everyone. Whether you’re engaging with customers on the frontline or supporting our colleagues behind the scenes, your impact can be profound and far-reaching. This is more than toys and books and art supplies. This is about inspiring people to read, learn, create and play. So, with the right passion, it all starts with you. Become a Talent Development Manager A key leader within the People Team, reporting to the Head of People, the Talent Development Manager will build and execute a strategy that creates and curates inspiring learning for colleagues across our businesses (500 Retail Stores, Distribution and Support Teams) to enable every one of our 4000 colleagues the opportunity to reach their full potential and perform at their best. Whilst working in partnership with key stakeholders, and leading a team of 4 FTE, this role is the primary lead for ensuring we deliver outstanding learning and talent development in our fantastic business. Your Mission Support the development and implementation of the People Plan aligned with the company strategy. Manage the L&D budget, system, and suppliers. Enhance and promote our learning management system THRIVE. Build and execute a strategy for apprenticeships and the apprenticeship levy. Ensure visibility of learning opportunities for all colleagues. Establish skills requirements and curate materials for roles at all levels. Create tailored solutions for different business areas and learning styles. Provide frameworks for assessing training needs and personal development. Develop leadership programs to enhance skills and confidence. Create visible career pathways and support succession planning. Foster an inclusive environment for talent development. Improve people management capabilities and support initiatives. Enhance induction experiences. Promote a feedback culture. Skills/Behaviours That Will Set You Apart Strategic Thinking – Ability to design and implement a learning and development strategy aligned with business goals. Leadership & People Management – Experience in managing and developing a team, ensuring high performance and engagement. Learning & Development Expertise – Strong understanding of L&D principles, including skills development, apprenticeships, and leadership training. Stakeholder Management – Ability to collaborate with various teams across the business, ensuring alignment with company objectives. Budget & Resource Management – Proficiency in defining and managing an L&D budget, systems, and suppliers efficiently. Talent & Succession Planning – Knowledge of frameworks that support career pathways and talent identification. Training Needs Analysis – Capability to assess gaps and curate relevant learning solutions. Technology & Learning Platforms – Familiarity with learning management systems like THRIVE and other e-learning solutions. Communication & Facilitation – Excellent presentation, coaching, and mentoring skills to engage colleagues at different levels. Change Management – Ability to support business leaders and teams in adapting to evolving organisational needs. Being a great leader As a great leader with wonderful people skills, you'll create an environment that's more than just co-workers — it's a team. • Align Goals with Values : Ensure that your team’s goals are clearly connected to the company’s values and purpose. This helps colleagues see the bigger picture and understand how their work contributes to the overall mission. • Clear Communication : Ensure that your team understands the goals, expectations, and their roles. Regularly share updates, encourage open dialogue and have regular check-ins. • Role Model : Lead by example. Demonstrate the behaviours and attitudes you expect from your team, such as punctuality, responsibility, and being a brand ambassador. • Provide Feedback : Offer constructive feedback regularly. Recognise achievements and address areas for improvement in a supportive and continuous growth manner. • Empower Your Team : Delegate tasks and trust your team to handle them. This builds confidence and promotes professional growth. • Conflict Resolution : Address conflicts promptly and fairly. Foster an environment where issues can be discussed openly and resolved amicably. • Empathy : Understand and consider the feelings and perspectives of your team members. This helps in building strong, supportive relationships And let's not forget about the most important part… your team's well-being and aspirations. You'll be their biggest supporter, cheering them on. You'll have amazing everyday conversations with your team, discussing everything from their performance to their wildest career aspirations. Our PERKS really are ‘The Works’ 25% Colleague Discount! - Plus, exclusive Double Discount days! MyWorks - Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities deals, tech and more! Holiday – 33 days including bank holidays. Holiday Purchase - Purchase an additional 5 days Can-Do Academy - Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development in areas that interest you. Wagestream - Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them – for when ‘life’ happens! Share Scheme - Unleash your inner Monopoly mogul and own a piece of The Works! 24/7 support for you and your family - Through our partnership with the Retail Trust who provide an Employee Assistance Programme and so much more! Healthcare Cash Plan – To support your everyday healthcare costs And loads more! – Long Service Awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work and optional charity giving. Our Purpose To inspire reading. learning, creativity and play - making lives more fulfilled. Our Values We are Crafty | We are Caring | We are Can-do We Listen. We Care Each year, we run an anonymous colleague engagement survey. This is so important for us to hear your feedback and suggestions. We want to know what’s going great, and what needs a couple of tweaks to help make The Works the best place you’ve ever worked! You’ll have opportunity to help give us that direction. Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Applying Reasonable Adjustments At The Works, we are proud to have an inclusive culture where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. Our roles are open to all, including under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, carers & members of the LGBTQ community (including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, non-binary, or use another term). We are open to discussions around working hours and flexible working. And, where possible, we'll try to support this. If you need reasonable adjustments for an interview you might attend with us, let us know in your application and we’ll be happy to help!