Program Manager, Organizational Talent & Development Strategies at McMaster University

Regular/Temporary Regular

Job Title Program Manager, Organizational Talent & Development Strategies Job ID 73173

Location
Central Campus

Open Date 11/28/2025

Job Type Limited Term (>12 months)

Close Date 12/08/2025

Employee Group TMG Favorite Job

Department HR Strategic Partnership&Iniat

Salary Grade/Band Band M

Salary Range $101466.00 - $152200.00 (annual)

Contract Duration 13.3 Months

Hours per Week 35

Job Description

Department/Unit Description:

HR Mission:

McMaster University’s Human Resources strives to cultivate a community in which every employee’s experience is that of acceptance, inclusion, belonging, and meaningful connection with the University’s mission and institutional priorities by Championing our University People and Culture: Collaborating with our University and Community Partners; Advancing Service Delivery and Operational Excellence; and Promoting Learning, Development and a Growth Mindset.

McMaster University is multi-faceted with multiple locations and constituencies. As a result, Human Resources support and services have developed over time to meet a spectrum of partner needs. The HR team consists of functional units such as HR Operations (Payroll and Data Management, HR Client Services, HR Systems Strategy, Reporting and Analytics), Talent, Equity & Development, Total Compensation, Employee & Labour Relations, Employee Health & Wellness and University Health & Safety, who enable the delivery of comprehensive Human Resources programs and services in collaboration with leaders, HR area offices and HR practitioners across our community.

Job Summary:

The Program Manager, Organizational and Talent Development is a strategic leader responsible for enhancing organizational effectiveness, talent growth, and leadership capability. This role leads initiatives in organizational design, change management, and leadership development to build a resilient, agile, and inclusive workplace. The position works closely with senior leaders to align people strategies with university priorities and foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

As a member of the Human Resources Services leadership team, the Program Manager contributes to the advancement and institutional integration of McMaster’s OneHR vision and university-wide HR strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Design

• Lead organizational design efforts to align structure, roles, and capabilities with strategic priorities at the organizational level, and provide subject matter expertise for efforts at the faculty/department level.
• Conduct organizational assessments and provide recommendations to improve structural alignment and operational efficiency.
• Partner with senior leaders and HRSPs to redesign teams, workflows, and reporting structures for optimal performance.

Talent Development

• Lead the design and implementation of talent development strategies including career pathing, succession planning, and workforce capability building.
• Oversee the redesign and enhancements to McMaster’s leadership capabilities framework, and related proficiency levels ,competency frameworks and learning pathways to support employee growth and mobility.
• Collaborate with HRSPs and leaders to identify key skill strengths and gaps and build targeted development programs at the organizational and faculty/department levels for impact.
• Leverage available and emerging technologies to advance talent planning and development strategies

Leadership Development Programming

• Lead in design and enhancement of core and complementary leadership development programs for all leadership levels in collaboration with the Provost’s Office, MCE, Executive Education and external partners.
• Facilitate workshops, coaching sessions, and peer learning cohorts focused on inclusive leadership, strategic thinking, and change agility.
• Partner with internal and external experts to curate content and experiences that build leadership capacity and address identified needs across the university.
• Facilitate the central roster of external facilitators and coaches while ensuring compliance with related agreements and invoicing processes.
• Oversee annual programming including IFW Conference, Career Month activities.
• Act as liaison for the TMG Committee on related development and networking offerings.
• Act as HR lead on digital learning initiatives (i.e. AI committee, learning forums)
• Evaluate program effectiveness and continuously improve based on feedback and impact metrics.

Performance Management

• Oversee the annual TMG Performance Management cycle and act as subject matter expert on custom programming consultations within faculties and departments
• Design and enhance communication strategies, and key partner engagement approaches (i.e. TMG Committee, Leaders, HRSPs) to enable compliance.
• Conduct leading practice reviews and ensure integration and alignment of annual merit processes in partnership with Total Rewards and systems enhancements with UTS.
• Oversee coaching for performance and development strategies and facilitate engagements
• Lead design and delivery of training, coaching, and toolkits, ensuring integration within leadership programming.

Change Management

• Lead enterprise-wide change initiatives using structured methodologies (e.g., ADKAR).
• Develop change strategies, communication plans, and community engagement activities to support adoption and sustainability in partnership with CMPA and HRSPs.
• Build change capability across the organization through design and delivery of training, coaching, and toolkits.

Measurement and Evaluation

• Establish a dashboard to evaluate the impact of organizational and talent development initiatives.
• Use data to inform decision-making, track progress, and continuously improve programs.
• Prepare reports and presentations for university leadership and governance meetings, including talent and leadership development reviews.

People Leadership

• Provide direct people leadership to the Organizational Learning & Development Consultant and Work Study students
• Provide ongoing mentoring and coaching to HRSP teams and leaders as subject matter expert

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development, Human Resources, Psychology, Business, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).

Experience:

• 7+ years of experience in organizational development, talent management, or change leadership.
• Proven success in leading organizational design, change initiatives, and leadership development programs.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience with learning platforms, assessment tools, and analytics.
• Certification in change management (e.g., Prosci, ACMP) or leadership development is an asset.

Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with a systems mindset.
• Skilled in navigating complex organizational environments.
• Passionate about building inclusive and high-performing cultures.
• Committed to continuous learning and innovation in organizational development.

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work Language

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to [email protected] or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.