Lead, Talent & Organizational Development

Justworks; New York (NY); On-site; USD 166,000 - 214,000; Full time

Job summary

Justworks is seeking a strategic Lead, Talent & Organizational Development to shape how our organization evolves as work, technology, and business change. You will guide organizational design, talent management, and performance practices, transitioning from traditional structures to a dynamic, capability-based model that combines human judgment with AI-enabled execution.

Your work will help leaders rethink operating models, workforce capabilities, and the interaction between people and AI,

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in organizational development, organizational design, talent management, workforce planning, performance management, or related disciplines.
• Experience operating in high-growth, technology, or rapidly evolving business environments.
• Demonstrated expertise leading talent review, succession planning, and performance management processes.
• Experience designing organizational structures, operating models, or workforce planning solutions.
• Strong understanding of how AI, automation, and emerging technologies are reshaping workforce design and talent practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise Organizational & Talent Reviews (OTRs) aligning with business strategy and design.
• Drive talent segmentation, critical role identification, and succession planning.
• Build actionable development and succession plans for key talent populations.
• Evolve the Justworks Career Journey framework from role-based to skills-based.
• Lead performance management strategy, cycles, calibration, and talent assessment discussions.
• Leverage talent analytics to inform organizational and talent decisions.

Skills

Organizational design

Talent management

Workforce planning

Performance management

Change management

Data analytics

Stakeholder management

AI in HR

Job description

Who We Are

At Justworks, you’ll enjoy a welcoming and casual environment, great benefits, wellness program offerings, company retreats, and the ability to interact with and learn from leaders in the startup community. We work hard and care about our most prized asset - our people.

We’re helping businesses get off the ground by enabling them to focus on running their business. We solve HR issues. We’re data-driven and never stop iterating. If you’d like to work in a supportive, entrepreneurial environment, are interested in building something meaningful and having fun while doing it, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re united by shared goals and shared motivations at Justworks. These are best summed up in our company values, which are reflected in our product and in our team.

Our Values

If this sounds like you, you’ll fit right in.

Who You Are

Do you have a passion for shaping organizations, developing talent, and creating systems that enable people and businesses to perform at their highest potential? Are you energized by solving complex organizational challenges and designing the future of work in an AI-enabled environment?

Justworks is seeking a strategic and innovative Lead, Talent & Organizational Development to help shape how our organization evolves as work, technology, and business continue to change. This role will lead the evolution of our organizational design, talent management, and performance management practices, helping Justworks transition from traditional, role-based structures to dynamic, capability-based organizations that combine human judgment with AI-enabled execution.

As an internal expert in organizational design and organizational effectiveness, you will help leaders think differently about how work gets done by reimagining operating models, decision making, workforce capabilities, and the interaction between people and AI. Your work will ensure our organization continues to scale with clarity, agility, and organizational leverage.

This role reports to the Director, Talent & Organizational Development (TOD).

Your Success Profile

What You Will Work On

Lead Organizational Design for an AI-Enabled Workforce

• Design future-state organizations that thoughtfully integrate AI-enabled workflows, automation, and human-AI collaboration while improving organizational effectiveness, speed, and decision quality in close partnership with the Director, TOD.

• Lead organizational design initiatives that align business strategy, operating models, talent, and workforce capabilities by partnering with our Business/Functional Leaders and People Business Partners.

• Move organizational design beyond reporting structures by shaping how work flows across the organization, including:

• Operating models

• Workflow design

• Decision-rights architecture

• Team interfaces and operating rhythms

• Human and AI role orchestration

• Cross-functional collaboration

• Support strategic workforce planning efforts by translating business strategy into future workforce capability, organizational design, and talent requirements.

Own Organizational & Talent Review Processes

• Lead enterprise Organizational & Talent Reviews (OTRs) that align business strategy, organizational design, workforce planning, and talent decisions in close partnership with the Director, TOD.
• Drive talent segmentation, critical role identification, and succession planning processes.
• Partner with People Business Partners and leaders to assess organizational health, talent risks, and future capability needs.
• Build actionable development and succession plans for key talent populations and strengthen leadership accountability for talent development and succession readiness.

Evolve Career Growth Through Skills-Based Talent Architecture

• Lead the evolution of the Justworks Career Journey (JCJ) framework from a role-based model to a skills- and capability-based architecture.
• Collaborate closely with Total Rewards to continuously align our JCJ framework and job architecture.
• Partner across People, Technology, and business functions to identify critical future skills required in an AI-enabled workplace.
• Design frameworks that increase transparency into career growth opportunities and support internal mobility.

Own Performance Management Strategy & Execution

• Continuously evolve performance management practices to reflect changing business needs, AI-enabled ways of working, and a culture of continuous growth, accountability, and high performance.
• Lead company-wide goal-setting, performance review cycles, calibration processes, and talent assessment discussions.
• Explore how AI can improve the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of performance conversations while keeping human judgment at the center of talent decisions
• Build manager capability in feedback, coaching, performance conversations, and talent evaluation.
• Partner with leaders to reinforce a culture of accountability, continuous feedback, and high performance.

Drive Data-Informed Talent Decisions

• Leverage talent analytics, workforce insights, and predictive indicators to inform organizational and talent decisions.
• Monitor talent health metrics including succession readiness, internal mobility, performance distribution, promotion effectiveness, and retention of key talent.
• Partner with People Analytics to identify trends and provide recommendations that improve organizational performance.
• Measure the impact and effectiveness of talent and performance management systems and continuously improve outcomes.

Serve as a Strategic Organizational Effectiveness Consultant

• Act as a trusted advisor to leaders on organizational effectiveness, workforce design, talent strategy, and performance.
• Diagnose organizational challenges and recommend scalable solutions that balance business outcomes and employee experience.
• Lead change management efforts associated with new organizational structures, talent practices, and performance systems.
• Influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization to drive adoption and sustained behavior change.
• Support the TOD portfolio of work across Leadership Development, Learning & Development and Engagement, as needed.

How You Will Do Your Work

As a Talent & Organizational Development Lead, how results are achieved is paramount to your success and ultimately our success as an organization. In this role, your foundational knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal attributes are anchored in the following competencies:

• Systems Thinking - Understands how talent, structure, processes, technology, and business strategy interact to drive organizational performance.
• Consultative Partnership - Builds trusted relationships and develops practical solutions through influence and collaboration.
• Organizational Effectiveness Expertise - Applies deep expertise in organizational design, talent management, workforce planning, and performance systems.
• Strategic Mindset - Connects current challenges with future business needs and anticipates organizational implications.
• Culture & Change Champion - Drives adoption of new systems, behaviors, and ways of working in a rapidly evolving environment.
• Data-Driven Decision Making - Uses qualitative and quantitative insights to inform decisions and improve outcomes.
• Nimble Learning - Learns quickly, experiments thoughtfully, and adapts effectively to change.

In addition, all Justworkers align their behaviors to our COGIS values: Camaraderie, Openness, Grit, Integrity, and Simplicity.

Qualifications

• 7 years of experience in organizational development, organizational design, talent management, workforce planning, performance management, or related disciplines.
• Experience operating in high-growth, technology, or rapidly evolving business environments.
• Demonstrated expertise leading talent review, succession planning, talent segmentation, and performance management processes.
• Experience designing organizational structures, operating models, or workforce planning solutions.
• Strong understanding of how AI, automation, and emerging technologies are reshaping workforce design and talent practices.
• Experience building and implementing scalable talent and performance management systems.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and drive organizational change.
• Strong analytical skills with experience leveraging workforce and talent data to drive decisions.
• Exceptional facilitation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution.
• Strong intellectual curiosity, growth mindset, and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Commitment to fostering inclusive talent systems and integrating DEIB principles throughout organizational and talent practices.

This role is based in our New York City headquarters. The base wage range for this position will be $166,000 - $214,000 annually.

LI-SD1 #LI-Hybrid

Actual compensation is based on multiple factors that are unique to each candidate, including and not limited to skill set, level of relevant experience, and specific work location. Salary ranges for positions based in other locations may differ based on the cost of labor in that location.

For more information about Justworks' Total Reward Philosophy, including all of the perks and benefits we are proud to offer our team members, please visit Total Rewards @ Justworks.

Diversity At Justworks

Justworks is committed to maintaining a workplace where diversity of identity, culture, and life experience is the norm and is celebrated authentically and respected consistently. Diversity in our work, our people, and our product drives creativity and innovation, entrepreneurial leadership and integrity, competitiveness, and collaboration throughout our business and in the market. We depend on our differences to make our team stronger, our workplace more dynamic, and our product accessible to all of our customers.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer open to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or familial status, disability, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. Justworks is fully dedicated to providing necessary support to candidates with disabilities who may require reasonable accommodations. We also provide reasonable accommodations to employees based on their sincerely held religious beliefs, as well as for other covered reasons consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. If you’re in need of a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at [e-mail]. Your comfort and success matter to us, and we’re here to ensure an inclusive experience.

Our DEIB Report