Manager, Talent Development

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Indigo is seeking a Manager, Talent Development to lead and optimize enterprise talent processes, including performance enablement, succession planning, and leadership development. You will collaborate with HR BPs, leaders, and vendors to translate strategy into scalable programs that strengthen leadership, improve engagement, and readiness for future needs.

You will analyze talent data to identify gaps, develop practical development solutions, and drive adoption of new practices across the

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of progressive experience in talent management, leadership development, organizational development, employee engagement, HR, or a related field.
• Experience supporting enterprise talent processes such as performance management, succession planning, talent reviews, leadership development, and career development.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects and multiple stakeholders.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to turn insights into action and drive measurable outcomes.
• Full alignment with Indigo values as reflected in the Guiding Principles statements

Responsibilities

• Manage the execution and continuous improvement of Indigo’s enterprise talent processes, including performance enablement, talent reviews, succession planning, critical-role identification, high-potential development, and career development.
• Support the annual talent cycle, establishing clear plans, timelines, communications, governance, and stakeholder accountabilities to ensure effective delivery across the organization.
• Support leadership development programs that build the capabilities required of Indigo leaders and reinforce the organization’s leadership competency model.
• Partner with HR Business Partners, the Director of Talent Development, and business leaders to identify talent and leadership priorities and translate them into practical, scalable development solutions.
• Analyze talent, succession, and engagement data to identify organizational risks, capability gaps, and development priorities, and provide actionable recommendations to HR and business leaders.
• Strengthen succession readiness by maintaining accurate talent profiles, monitoring development actions, and tracking movement in the readiness of successors for critical roles.
• Develop tools, resources, and communications that equip leaders to assess talent, provide meaningful feedback, and conduct effective career and development conversations.
• Lead the implementation and adoption of new or updated talent practices, ensuring leaders and employees understand both the purpose of the change and their role in applying it.
• Establish measures of success for talent and leadership initiatives, evaluate participation and impact, and use findings to improve program effectiveness.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and partners, ensuring solutions meet business requirements, remain within budget, and deliver the intended value.
• Lead cross-functional talent development projects, creating alignment among stakeholders and ensuring milestones, risks, decisions, and deliverables are effectively managed.
• Partner with the Director of Talent Development to translate Indigo’s enterprise talent strategy into annual priorities, implementation plans, and measurable outcomes.

Skills

Talent management

Leadership development

Data-driven

Project management

Stakeholder management

Education

University degree in HR/Business/Organizational Development or related field

Tools

Certified coach

Facilitation certification

Job description

• Compensation: CAD 100,000 - CAD 125,000 - yearly

Company Description

Indigo is a physical and digital place inspired by and filled with books, ideas, beautifullydesigned lifestyle products, and the creative people who help make it all happen. We believein real books, living life fully and generously, being kind to each other and to the environment,and that stories — big and little — connect us. Indigo is our customer's happy place — for joyfulmoments of discovery and to connect with people who share their passion for reading, theirbelief in ideas, and their commitment to making the world a better and more beautiful place.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Our Mission is to inspire reading and enrich the lives of booklovers. As such, we believe inthe power of people and their stories. We aim to attract top talent, nurture the potential ofour employees, and create space for everyone to thrive. Our Guiding Principles are thefew key ideas that are meant to influence everything we do, every day.

• We Will Hire, Inspire, Promote and Retain the Best
• We Will Be Entrepreneurial
• We Will Be Committed to Caring About Each Other, Our Communities, and Our Environment
• We Will Be Committed to True and Shared Value Creation
• We Will Be Systems Thinking, Data Driven and AI enabled

Job Description

MISSION

The Manager, Talent Development supports Indigo’s talent strategy by leading the execution, administration, and continuous improvement of talent management, leadership development, succession planning, career development, and employee engagement programs.

Working closely with HR Business Partners, leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders, this role helps build organizational capability by implementing scalable talent practices that strengthen leadership effectiveness, support employee growth, improve engagement, and develop readiness for future business needs. The Manager translates strategy into action, ensuring talent programs are well executed, adopted across the organization, and deliver measurable impact.

KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES

• Successful delivery, adoption, and continuous improvement of performance enablement, talent reviews, succession planning, leadership development, and career development processes.
• Improved employee sentiment regarding career growth, development opportunities, leadership effectiveness, and internal mobility.
• Increased quality of talent insights, succession plans, talent pipelines, and talent mobility.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the execution and continuous improvement of Indigo’s enterprise talent processes, including performance enablement, talent reviews, succession planning, critical-role identification, high-potential development, and career development.
• Support the annual talent cycle, establishing clear plans, timelines, communications, governance, and stakeholder accountabilities to ensure effective delivery across the organization.
• Support leadership development programs that build the capabilities required of Indigo leaders and reinforce the organization’s leadership competency model.
• Partner with HR Business Partners, the Director of Talent Development, and business leaders to identify talent and leadership priorities and translate them into practical, scalable development solutions.
• Analyze talent, succession, and engagement data to identify organizational risks, capability gaps, and development priorities, and provide actionable recommendations to HR and business leaders.
• Strengthen succession readiness by maintaining accurate talent profiles, monitoring development actions, and tracking movement in the readiness of successors for critical roles.
• Develop tools, resources, and communications that equip leaders to assess talent, provide meaningful feedback, and conduct effective career and development conversations.
• Lead the implementation and adoption of new or updated talent practices, ensuring leaders and employees understand both the purpose of the change and their role in applying it.
• Establish measures of success for talent and leadership initiatives, evaluate participation and impact, and use findings to improve program effectiveness.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and partners, ensuring solutions meet business requirements, remain within budget, and deliver the intended value.
• Lead cross-functional talent development projects, creating alignment among stakeholders and ensuring milestones, risks, decisions, and deliverables are effectively managed.
• Partner with the Director of Talent Development to translate Indigo’s enterprise talent strategy into annual priorities, implementation plans, and measurable outcomes.

Reports to: Director, Talent Development

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

• HR Business Partners
• Cross-Functional Leaders
• Learning & Development Team

External:

• Vendors and suppliers

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of progressive experience in talent management, leadership development, organizational development, employee engagement, HR, or a related field.
• Experience supporting enterprise talent processes such as performance management, succession planning, talent reviews, leadership development, and career development.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects and multiple stakeholders.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to turn insights into action and drive measurable outcomes.
• University degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, Education, or a related field.
• Certified coach, facilitation certification, or related professional designation would be considered an asset.
• Full alignment with Indigo values as reflected in the Guiding Principles statements

Additional Information

Indigo uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with certain aspects of the hiring process, such as screening and assessments. These tools support our team but do not replace human judgment. We are committed to using AI responsibly, fairly, and in compliance with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws. We regularly review these tools to help prevent bias or discrimination.

At Indigo, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility are core to our values. We integrate these principles into our training, policies, and hiring practices and continuously evolve to reflect the needs of the communities we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and lived experiences, including but not limited to individuals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour), members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and persons with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail].

We respect your privacy throughout the recruitment process. Our Candidate Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you apply for a role with Indigo, and the choices available to you.

This posting is for a current opportunity within Indigo.

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