Senior Director, Talent Development & Engagement

Please note that this position is based in San Diego, CA. Acadia's hybrid model requires this role to work in our office three days per week on average.

Position Summary:

The Senior Director, Talent Development and Engagement, will lead initiatives that enhance employee engagement, recognition, learning, talent management, and wellness. This strategic role drives People & Performance (P&P) efforts to foster a high-performance culture, support organizational change, and develop future leaders. The Sr. Director will collaborate with senior leadership, HR, and key stakeholders to implement impactful programs that elevate employee experience, strengthen company culture, and align talent strategies with business goals. Additionally, this role oversees P&P communications to ensure clear, engaging messaging across the organization.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage talent development and the engagement team
• Consult with senior management and function leaders regarding talent development and engagement needs
• Partner with the People & Performance team (HR) and other key stakeholders in the organization to develop and promote organizational change and learning initiatives
• Manage vendor relationships to produce quality outcomes and ROI
• Leverage data-driven decision making and research to identify trends and make recommendations for improvement in learning, talent, and engagement processes
• Support organizational transformation initiatives, helping teams navigate change and evolve in a fast-paced, growing environment

Learning and Development

• Define and develop a scalable, progressive strategy for learning and development tied to business objectives
• Oversee the design, development, delivery, and management of high-impact Professional Development, Management Development, Career Development, and Leadership Development programs and offerings.
• Create and offer a variety of development solutions, including instructor-led courses, e-learning modules, assessments, coaching, and mentorship, incorporating a blended approach to delivery
• Creatively develop and implement effective methods to enhance performance and provide growth opportunities to all Acadians
• Facilitate innovative and dynamic training sessions to individuals and groups of varying seniority
• Assess overall corporate and leadership learning needs to drive training initiatives
• Lead and execute development programs for high-potential employees, including emerging leaders

Engagement, Wellness & Communications

• Lead the Employee Engagement efforts, including administration of all lifecycle surveys (onboarding, exit, pulse, and annual employee experience)
• Analyze results from employee surveys and develop communications to share results within P&P, executives, and other stakeholders, as necessary
• Collaborate with the business and P&P leadership to design effective response programs to employee feedback
• Develop P&P communications and promotional strategies to raise awareness and educate Acadians on P&P initiatives
• Partner with the corporate communications team to further embed Acadia’s culture through ongoing employee communications
• Provide the strategy and execution of Acadia’s employee recognition programs administered by P&P, including peer-to-peer recognition and rewards program
• Establish the strategy and execute employee engagement events across all Acadia locations
• Manage and plans the execution of all employee events, including the coordination with vendors, stakeholders, speakers, participants, etc.
• Track event performance and execution, and make recommendations for improvements
• Lead the company’s wellness strategy while collaborating and partnering with key stakeholders to develop and promote employee wellness and health outcomes.
• Ensure effective use of the wellness budget to drive wellbeing
• Develop programs and systems that support mental, physical, financial, and cultural well-being

Talent Management

• Lead the Performance Management program philosophy, process, and supporting resources for goal setting, quarterly check-ins, ongoing feedback, and year-end reviews.
• Conduct annual talent review and succession planning process to assess talent development needs, gaps, strengths, and talent risk within the organization
• Deliver a scalable individual development plan process that encourages a growth mindset and continuous skill and competency development
• Design a career path framework that supports individuals with personal and professional development options consistent with his/her talents and interests

Education/Experience/Skills:

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Instructional Design, Business Administration, or a related field, MBA preferred. A minimum of 12 years of corporate experience (biotech or pharmaceutical industry experience preferred); an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.  Must possess a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience as a leader of a talent development team and corporate initiatives.     

Must possess:

• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in adult learning principles, delivery methodology, and instructional design of corporate training programs
• Organizational and time management skills to prioritize workloads to meet time-sensitive deadlines required
• Strong business acumen, capable of translating business goals to learning and development strategies and initiatives
• Prior experience with curriculum design, development, delivery, facilitation, and maintenance of company-wide programs
• Demonstrated experience with LMS systems; specifically, site administration, building of content, and developing curriculum
• Knowledge of high-performing team building, coaching, and leadership
• Strong leadership and teaching/facilitation ability
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and project management skills, able to work well under deadlines in a changing environment, and perform multiple tasks effectively and concurrently
• Ability to manage relationships with both internal and external customers
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and within a collaborative team-oriented environment, using sound judgment in decision-making
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Proven ability in creating effective training materials
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Organization, initiative, and self-motivation
• Professionalism, integrity, and the ability to comply with strict policy, work in a highly regulated environment, and maintain confidential information and data
• Negotiating capabilities and influencing senior level leaders regarding matters of significance to the organization
• Proficiency at creating and communicating a clear vision among team members
• Ability to align resources and activities to achieve functional area and/or organizational goals
• Ability to travel up to 25% overnight or as needed
• Prefer experience or certification with programs like DISC, Emotional Intelligence, Coaching, and Situational Leadership

Physical Requirements:

This role involves regular standing, walking, sitting, and the use of hands for handling or operating equipment. The employee may also need to reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and maintain visual, verbal, and auditory communication in a standard office environment and while working independently from remote locations. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.  This position requires the ability to travel independently overnight and/or work after hours as required by travel schedules or business needs.

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