Global Talent Effectiveness Associate Director

Global Talent Effectiveness Associate Director

Grant Thornton is seeking a Global Talent Effectiveness Associate Director to join the team. The Talent Effectiveness (TE) Associate Director will lead the global strategy and execution of Grant Thornton's employee performance management approach, aligning with the firm's broader talent transformation journey. This role is pivotal in shaping a differentiated people experience across geographies by activating a global "best in class" performance management approach centered on transparency, clarity of performance expectations, and rich continuous feedback in alignment with Grant Thornton's performance-based culture.

This role requires extensive internal client consultation, change leadership, and partnering with senior stakeholders to design and implement next-level talent strategies. The Associate Director will be accountable for driving the global alignment to a centralized performance management process and overseeing the rhythms of employee performance enablement across regions. Additionally, this role will be responsible for operational / programmatic oversight for US processes, including development of change management, communications, resources, and process optimization to support a consistent and scalable global experience.

Qualifications (Characteristics, skills / abilities, academic) : The Ideal Candidate Will Be : A globally minded performance management leader with extensive experience in organization effectiveness, talent development, and strategic program leadership across complex, matrixed environments. A strategist with strong influencing skills and a track record of driving change across diverse stakeholder groups. A collaborative and inclusive leader who builds trust and alignment across cultures, teams, and all levels of staff from front-line through senior executive. An experienced coach and mentor with a high-performance mindset and a passion for developing others. A leader adept at navigating ambiguity and complexity, with a history of delivering scalable solutions across global geographies. Strategic thinker and problem solver with ability to quickly assess and summarize information and effectively identify issues or risks and potential resolutions. A confident and proactive contributor who takes ownership and drives results with consistency and integrity. A proven expert in prioritization, delegation and negotiation with demonstrated ability to be effective in supporting multiple stakeholders working in various locations across different business units. Data-driven and analytical systems thinker, with a strong ability to translate insights into actionable strategies.

The Ideal Candidate Will Possess : Bachelor's degree and advanced degree preferred; 10+ years of progressive experience in performance management, talent development, or organizational effectiveness, ideally within global or professional services environments. Proven success in designing and deploying global employee performance management frameworks, coaching strategies, and career pathing / development. Strong consultative skills with the ability to influence and collaborate with senior leaders across business units and regions. Deep understanding of global talent trends, cultural nuances, and change leadership practices. Experience managing teams, ideally including management of globally distributed teams. Expertise in performance management systems and workflow design; experience with Oracle or similar platforms preferred. Strategic thinker and problem solver with ability to quickly assess and summarize information and effectively identify issues or risks and potential resolutions. PMP certification or equivalent is a plus. Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences. Proficiency in MS Office Suite; experience with MS Teams, Power BI, data visualization tools and project management tools are a plus. Ability to manipulate and analyze large data sets to gather insights or formulate hypotheses to measure success, enact change, or enable process improvement. A reputation for discretion, integrity, judgment, responsiveness, strong attention to detail and common sense. Experience in project financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and vendor management a plus. A portfolio of work samples - such as strategic approach documents, job aid materials, design documents, storyboards, competency frameworks, project plans, and RACI for project management. Ability to collaborate across diverse time zones, ensuring seamless communication and adaptability to meet project goals and deadlines, including aligning to global working hours on occasion / as needed. Ability to travel domestically or internationally as needed.

Core Responsibilities : Lead design and global alignment for employee performance enablement strategy, ensuring global regional relevance, consistency in experience, and integration with broader talent priorities. Lead global integration work by sequencing new jurisdictions and acquired firms into the global employee performance management approach and system, ensuring alignment between the global approach and local requirements. Establish and evolve a global Center of Excellence (COE) for employee performance management, ensuring consistent standards, scalable tools, and knowledge sharing across regions. Lead the strategy execution and program management of US employee performance management throughout the year, including stakeholder management, change management, resource development and communications. Partner with Technology, Communications, and broader People & Culture teams to design and administer employee performance management processes and tools. Build global capability among leaders and coaches to support performance and talent development strategies. Manage global project plans, vendor relationships, and operational documentation to ensure long-term sustainment. Monitor and report on key performance and talent metrics to inform strategy and continuous improvement. Stay current on global talent trends and best practices to inform and evolve Grant Thornton's approach. Lead and influence global, cross-functional, and matrixed teams to deliver high-impact solutions. Provide coaching and guidance to team members and stakeholders across global regions. Foster a culture of transparency, collaboration, and appreciation across the global performance ecosystem. Collaborate with knowledge managers to incorporate systematic performance support options into learning and organization effectiveness solutions. Own, execute, and implement creative strategies, approaches, complex project plans and documentation to achieve and deliver effective performance / talent / development solutions. Create change management / leadership plans encompassing communication strategy, stakeholder relationship building, and learning objectives.

About Us At Grant Thornton, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result for our clients and you. Here, we go beyond your expectations of a career in professional services by offering a career path with more : more opportunity, more flexibility, and more support. It's what makes us different, and we think being different makes us better. In the U.S., Grant Thornton delivers professional services through two specialized entities : Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ? and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services. In 2025, Grant Thornton formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform offers a premier Trans-Atlantic advisory and tax practice, as well as independent American and Irish audit practices. With $2.7 billion in revenues and more than 50 offices spanning the U.S., Ireland and other territories, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of 12,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture. Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets.

About the Team The team you're about to join is ready to help you thrive. Here's how : Whether it's your work location, weekly schedule, or flex time off, we empower you with the options to work in the way that best serves your clients and your life. Consistent with the firm's hybrid work model, this position will require in-person attendance at least two days per week, either at a GT office or client site. Here, you are supported to prioritize your overall well-being through work-life integration options that work best for you and those in your household. We understand that your needs, responsibilities and experiences are different and we think that's a good thing. That's why we support you with personalized and comprehensive benefits that recognize and empower all the identities, roles and aspirations that make you, well, you. See how at www.gt.com / careers. When it comes to inclusion, we are committed to doing more than checking boxes. Explore all the ways we're taking action for diversity, equity & inclusion at www.gt.com / careers.