Talent & Succession Lead

QinetiQ; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence technology firm in Farnborough is seeking a Talent & Succession Lead to drive talent development and management strategies. You will ensure the right people are in the right roles and build frameworks for succession planning. Ideal candidates will have experience in Talent Management, excellent communication skills, and a degree in a relevant field. The role offers a competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Matched contribution pension scheme

Competitive holiday allowance

Health Cash Plan and Private Medical Insurance

Volunteering Opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven track record in Talent Management or Organisational Development roles.
• Hands-on experience implementing talent frameworks and tools.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the Talent Management strategy aligned with goals.
• Champion company-wide talent identification approaches.
• Oversee succession planning for key roles.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Data analysis

Presentation

Relationship building

Education

Degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology or equivalent

Tools

Success Factors

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Talent & Succession Lead

Location: Farnborough

Role Type: Permanent – Full Time

Role ID: 18768

Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Talent & Succession Lead at our Farnborough site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

Role Purpose

The Talent & Succession Lead is responsible for driving a strategic and integrated approach to talent development across the organisation. This role ensures that the right people are in the right roles, equipped with the skills, support, and opportunities to thrive. By building robust frameworks for talent management including succession, the Talent & Succession Lead will help foster a high-performing, engaged workforce and will help shape a strong, future-ready leadership pipeline.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Talent Leadership

• Develop and deliver the end-to-end Talent Management strategy aligned with organisational goals
• Embed talent processes and performance frameworks using Success Factors, in collaboration with People teams and business leaders
• Monitor external trends to continually refine and evolve talent practices

Talent Identification & Assessment

• Champion company-wide talent identification approaches using internal insights and external assessment partners
• Coordinate regular talent reviews across functions and disciplines
• Lead bottom-up leadership reviews in partnership with the People Director Functions and Talent and relevant functional stakeholders

Succession & Mobility

• Oversee succession planning for key roles and produce monthly capability gap reports
• Communicate with identified talent to facilitate internal mobility, promotion, and career pathing opportunities
• Activate development programmes based on review outcomes and pool analysis

Engagement & Communication

• Support People Leads in articulating talent strategies across leadership forums and workshops
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across the People team, Sectors and the wider business to ensure alignment and buy-in

Capability & Growth Planning

• Identify workforce skill gaps and collaborate with the Learning Team on targeted training solutions
• Partner with senior leaders to anticipate future organisational needs and advise on long-term talent tactics

Key Capabilities/Knowledge

• Stakeholder engagement: Strong influencing skills with Senior Leaders and cross functional teams
• Building Relationships: Working closely with People Leads, Functional Managers and Leaders. Building trust across all levels of the organisation.
• Strategic thinking: Ability to design and evolve Talent strategies in line with QinetiQ’s goals
• Data analysis: Skilled in using workforce data to uncover insights and guide decision making
• Knowledge: Deep knowledge of succession planning and working with digital talent tools
• Training: Design and deliver impactful training to diverse audiences
• Presentation: Translate talent strategies into clear narratives for key stakeholders.

Experience & Qualifications

• Proven track record in Talent Management, Leadership Development, or Organisational Development roles
• Hands-on experience implementing talent frameworks and tools such as Success Factors or similar HRIS platforms
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects and influence senior stakeholders
• Experience managing succession planning, performance management, and internal mobility initiatives
• Familiarity with external assessment providers and talent identification methodologies
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills, with experience delivering workshops and strategic briefings
• Degree education in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Preference for BPS qualification or similar to manage assessment, feedback and its application.
• Experience or knowledge of Success Factors or other Talent tools highly desirable.
• Certification or training in coaching, psychometric tools, or learning and development (desirable)

Why Join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experience enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential.

Our Benefits

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Competitive holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
• Compressed working option with Friday afternoons or alternative Fridays off
• Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant
• Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community

Our Recruitment Process

We want to make sure that our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible and we aspire to bring out the best in our candidates by creating an environment where everyone feels value, heard and supported. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your Recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. Several roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which mean factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK