Global Performance & Development Lead

Applicable Limited; Johannesburg; Hybrid; USD 60 000 - 100 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Performance & Development Lead to drive the evolution of performance assessment and development. This role involves designing a comprehensive framework that aligns with organizational goals and fosters a high-performance culture. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in talent management and a deep understanding of modern performance philosophies, making a significant impact on the company's success.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of experience in performance development or related roles.
• Proven experience in designing performance strategies in global environments.
• Deep understanding of modern performance philosophies.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a performance & development framework.
• Lead transformation from past-performance to a development-driven model.
• Equip leaders to become better coaches and talent developers.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Performance management software

Job description

Continue to make an impact with a company that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. At NTT DATA, we are renowned for our technical excellence, leading innovations, and making a difference for our clients and society. Our workplace embraces diversity and inclusion – it’s a place where you can continue to grow, belong, and thrive.

Your career here is about believing in yourself and seizing new opportunities and challenges. It’s about expanding your skills and expertise in your current role and preparing yourself for future advancements. That’s why we encourage you to take every opportunity to further your career within our great global team.

Grow Your Career with NTT DATA

We’re inviting passionate, forward-thinking individuals to join our Global Performance & Rewards team—a unique and exciting opportunity to grow your career while making a real impact on our newly unified organization.

With a global mindset and a bold ambition to be a catalyst for growth, innovation, and transformation, we’re empowering our people—and our business—to reach their full potential. Through strategic performance & development, meaningful recognition, and impactful rewards, we’re creating an environment where excellence is nurtured, engagement thrives, and success is shared across borders.

We believe some of the most impactful changes come from within. That’s why we’re excited to invite internal talent to step into this opportunity – because we know the strength of our organization lies in incredible people who are already part of it.

If you're inspired by the idea of shaping the future of work, we’d like to meet you.

What you'll be doing

We are seeking a strategic and forward-thinking Performance & Development Lead to drive the evolution of how we assess, develop, and elevate performance across our newly unified organization. This is a unique opportunity to shape and implement a future-focused performance strategy that goes beyond traditional year-end reviews. In this role, you’ll help shift our approach from being primarily retrospective—focused only on past performance—to a more dynamic and ongoing model that emphasizes real-time coaching, growth, and development. You’ll play a critical role in designing a holistic performance framework that reflects our culture, values, and business goals—uniting legacy organizations into one high-performing, people-first company. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in creating global strategies that align with the company's objectives and foster a high-performance culture.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and implement a comprehensive, scalable performance & development framework that aligns with our organizational goals, culture, and evolving business needs.
• Lead the transformation from a past-performance-focused process to a future-forward, development-driven model.
• Equip leaders and managers to become better coaches and talent developers, providing tools, training, and guidance for meaningful performance conversations.
• Introduce and sustain an ongoing feedback and check-in culture, integrating both qualitative and quantitative insights to support continuous improvement.
• Partner with Talent, Total Rewards, and our People & Culture Business Partners to ensure alignment between performance, recognition, career growth, and compensation.
• Work with various teams to design and implement performance & development systems.
• Monitor and analyze performance data and trends to evaluate impact and recommend continuous improvements.
• Drive alignment of performance practices across legacy companies to support integration and create consistency.
• Serve as a change agent, inspiring adoption of new practices through strong stakeholder engagement, communication, and thought leadership.
• Remain updated on industry trends and best practices to identify opportunities for continuous program improvement.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to identify and address performance development needs.
• Manage performance development-related communications and training.

Experience, Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in performance development, talent management, or related roles.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing performance & development strategies in global, matrixed, and fast-paced environments.
• Deep understanding of modern performance philosophies (e.g., continuous feedback, growth mindset, coaching culture).
• A scalable mindset with a passion for driving consistency across complex, global environments.
• The ability to translate business needs into global frameworks that work across geographies and functions.
• Strong knowledge of performance management practices.
• Proficiency in performance management software and tools.
• Strategic thinking and planning skills.
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized.
• High level of integrity and confidentiality.

Workplace type: Hybrid Working

Equal Opportunity Employer

NTT DATA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer with a global culture that embraces diversity. We are committed to providing an environment free of unfair discrimination and harassment. We do not discriminate based on age, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, disability, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected category. Accelerate your career with us. Apply today.