Senior Specialist, Talent Programs
OUR COMPANY BACKGROUND & CULTURE
UPP is the first pension plan of its kind in Ontario’s university sector, proudly serving over 41,000 members across five universities and fourteen sector organizations. Our purpose is to bring greater retirement peace of mind to the university sector by investing with integrity and serving members with care. As a sector-wide plan designed for growth, our doors are open to all Ontario universities.
Together, we’re a team of progressive thinkers and agile doers operating within a fast-paced culture of collaboration and respect. We believe in bringing smart and capable people together to create, solve and grow with a clear shared vision and values of integrity, inclusivity, ingenuity, and impact.
Our culture is intentionally welcoming and purposefully rooted in equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation (EDI&R). We believe diverse teams, perspectives, and lived experiences contribute to better decisions and a better workplace.
As a long-term investor, we recognize that environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors support risk management and value creation. As stated in our Responsible Investing Policy, we are committed to incorporating ESG considerations into our investment management activities and we collaborate with other industry participants in the promotion of a sustainable economy and society.
Join us in building a bright future for our members, our organization, and each other.
THE ROLE
Reporting to the Associate Director, People Business Partner, the Senior Specialist, Talent Programs will be responsible for the implementation, ongoing management, and continuous improvement of UPP’s talent programs and talent development initiatives. This position will require close collaboration with the People Business Partner function to ensure talent initiatives support the broader business strategy, organizational goals, and employee engagement efforts. The role will also focus on fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth across the organization.
UPP is based in Toronto’s financial district and has a hybrid work model (~2 days / week in office).
KEY RESPONSIBILITES:
- Manage the execution and continuous improvement of UPP’s talent programs:
- Performance Management:
- Manage the delivery of the performance review cycle, including goal setting, mid-year reviews, year-end performance reviews, and on-going development plans.
- Implement continuous improvements to the performance management program.
- Leadership Development:
- Support the implementation and rollout of the leadership development program.
- Manage the delivery of learning programs, nurturing UPP’s leadership principles through communications, learning, and events.
- Monitor and measure program effectiveness and gather feedback to support continuous improvement and enhancement of the program over time.
- Provide support with succession planning and leadership assessment.
- Design and develop program materials and learning content for people leaders and employees through visually engaging presentation decks.
- Develop and execute clear communication plans to maximize employee and people leader participation, and engagement in talent programs.
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal teams and external vendors to ensure the successful execution of talent programs.
- Coordinate other enabling learning programs aimed at supporting employee growth and fostering a culture of continuous development.
- Support the People Business Partner function to align talent programs and development initiatives with business needs and organizational goals.
- Special projects and other duties, as required.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
- Undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Human Resources Management, or related field
- CHRP designation is considered an asset
- 3+ years of experience in a People team role supporting talent development, learning, leadership development, and performance management programs.
- Experience in a fast-scaling organization strongly preferred.
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple programs and initiatives.
ATTRIBUTES:
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills to promote programs and engage employees.
- Strong visual design skills to create presentation decks and other written materials.
- Exceptional collaboration and teamwork.
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a time sensitive manner while maintaining quality of work.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess program effectiveness and recommend improvements.
LIFE AT UPP
Do work that matters. We are duty-bound to serve our members’ interests, and it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly. That’s why we’ve ingrained sustainability in our work from day one—to ensure our members have a resilient future to retire into, both today and for generations to come.
Stronger together. Collaboration is how UPP was born, and it’s how we work with each other and our partners day in, day out. No one at UPP is just a number (even if they are excellent at math) and every win is a shared win.
Grow every day. You’ll have the opportunity to work on unique, once-in-a-career projects that maximize your skill set and probably teach you some new ones—at any stage in your career.
Prioritize wellness. At UPP, wellness takes many forms. Ultimately, it’s about ensuring our people are cared for in the ways that matter to them. Check out some highlights of our inclusive employee-focused benefits program including:
- Defined benefit pension plan
- Flexible hybrid work model
- Work from abroad up to eight weeks/year
- Comprehensive group benefits including medical, dental, vision etc.
- Extended paramedical and mental health service coverage
- Health care and lifestyle spending accounts
- Fertility treatments, paid parental leave, and gender affirmation coverage
- Education Assistance program
UPP respects your privacy. For information on how UPP handles the personal information you provide during the application process, please see our Job Applicant Privacy Statement.
Other details
- Pay Type Salary
- 16 York St, Toronto, ON M5J 0E6, Canada