Head of Strategic Talent & Development

Nigel Wright Group; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Nigel Wright Group in Manchester is seeking a Head of Strategic Talent & Development to shape how a complex organisation attracts, develops and retains the talent it needs for the future. This permanent, full-time role unites Talent Acquisition and Learning & Development, leads strategic workforce planning, and ensures decisions are informed by meaningful data and aligned with long-term priorities.

Reporting to a senior people executive, you will influence senior stakeholders and build a modern

Qualifications

• Experience leading talent acquisition, workforce planning and analytics in a large or matrix organisation.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive through ambiguity.
• Capability to connect teams and translate insights into a coherent talent agenda.

Responsibilities

• Create and lead an end-to-end talent strategy.
• Unite Talent Acquisition and Learning & Development around shared priorities.
• Strengthen strategic workforce planning and future capability development.
• Translate talent, retention and attrition data into actionable insight.
• Advise senior leaders on skills requirements and evolving work.
• Shape the operating model for a modern, strategically focused talent function.
• Build connections between people investment and organisational outcomes.

Skills

Strategic Talent Acquisition

Workforce Planning

Talent Analytics

Stakeholder Management

Job description

Head of Strategic Talent & Development

Shape how a complex organisation attracts, develops and retains the talent it needs for the future. Contract: Permanent, fulltime Salary: £70,000 - £90,000 per annum + wider package Location: Manchester City Centre (1-2 days per week onsite only) Hours: Mon-Fri, standard office & flexible

This newly created leadership role offers the opportunity to build a more connected and forward-looking approach to talent. Joining at an important stage of organisational change, you will bring together Talent Acquisition and Learning & Development within a single strategic agenda.

Reporting to a senior people executive, you will move the organisation beyond strong operational delivery towards an integrated talent model. Your remit will span attraction, onboarding, development, retention and strategic workforce planning, ensuring that talent decisions are informed by meaningful data and aligned with long-term organisational priorities.

The Opportunity

• Create and lead an end-to-end talent strategy.
• Unite established Talent Acquisition and Learning & Development teams around shared priorities.
• Strengthen strategic workforce planning and future capability development.
• Translate talent, retention and attrition data into actionable organisational insight.
• Advise senior leaders on emerging skills requirements and the changing nature of work.
• Shape the operating model for a modern, strategically focused talent function.
• Build stronger connections between people investment and organisational outcomes.

About You

You will be an accomplished talent leader from a large, complex or matrix organisation, with demonstrable experience of strategic Talent Acquisition, workforce planning and talent analytics. You will combine commercial judgement with the credibility to influence senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and lead through ambiguity. Experience of integrating talent disciplines or shaping organisational capability will be particularly valuable. Deep technical Learning & Development expertise is not essential. More important is your ability to provide strategic direction, connect established teams and turn insight into a coherent talent agenda.