The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a global community of over 215 of the world’s leading businesses driving systems transformation for a better world in which 9+ billion people can live well, within planetary boundaries, by mid-century. Together, we transform the systems we work in to limit the impact of the climate crisis, restore nature, and tackle inequality.
We accelerate value chain transformation across key sectors and reshape the financial system to reward sustainable leadership and action through a lower cost of capital. Through the exchange of best practices, improving performance, accessing education, forming partnerships, and shaping the policy agenda, we drive progress in businesses and sharpen the accountability of their performance.
Job Overview
The Senior Talent Manager is part of the People leadership team and leads WBCSD’s talent agenda, strengthening leadership pipelines, organisational capability, and employee experience, while acting as a strategic People Partner to the leadership team and selected business areas. This role reports to a Senior Director within the Enabling functions.
Main responsibilities
- Shape and deliver WBCSD’s talent strategy in line with organisational priorities and future capability needs.
- Lead talent reviews, succession planning, and assessment processes for senior leaders and critical roles.
- Partner with senior leaders on organisation design, workforce planning, team effectiveness, and retention priorities.
- Coach and challenge leaders on performance, leadership effectiveness, talent decisions, and team dynamics.
- Oversee talent acquisition priorities to build strong, diverse pipelines and meet evolving organisational needs.
- Design and drive leadership, learning and development initiatives that strengthen organisational capability and growth.
- Lead employer branding, employee engagement and wellbeing actions, using data and insight to strengthen culture, inclusion, and experience.
- Lead key people processes, including employee relations, DEI integration across talent processes, and change initiatives.
- Provide strategic oversight of people data and talent insights to inform decisions and measure impact.
- Lead complex organisational change and restructuring initiatives with strong stakeholder management and legal awareness.
Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
- Master’s degree in Talent Management, Learning and Development, Organisational Behaviour/Psychology, or equivalent.
- 10+ years of HR experience across operational and strategic roles in business and not-for-profit environments.
- Strong expertise in HR strategy, organisation design, talent management, talent acquisition, and employee experience.
- Strong knowledge of HR legal frameworks in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK.
Core competencies
- Strategic Leadership & Delivery:
- Translates priorities into clear talent actions.
- Sets direction, makes decisions and drives delivery.
- Communication & Influence:
- Communicates clearly and concisely across cultures, distilling complex issues into clear messages and actions.
- Influences senior stakeholders with credibility and judgement.
- Collaboration & External Perspective:
- Builds strong relationships and works effectively across teams.
- Brings an external perspective and applies talent best practice.
- Change Management:
- Leads change with clarity and structure.
- Helps others adapt and maintain momentum through complexity.
- Language skills: Fluency in English (written and spoken) is critical, fluency in additional languages is an advantage
The position is fixed-term for 12 months, is based in Amsterdam and occasional travel is required.
WBCSD is a purpose-driven organization that values diversity across gender, nationalities, and professional backgrounds. Headquartered in Geneva, with offices in Amsterdam, London, Singapore, Wuhan, Chicago, and New York.
What we offer
- Generous Time Off to Recharge: In addition to 25 days of paid holiday, you will have extra time off on your birthday and one cultural or religious celebration day. In addition, the option to buy up to 5 additional days each year for even more flexibility.
- Hybrid & Flexible Work: Work from the office a few days a week and from home the rest, with flexible hours to fit personal needs.
- Supported Hybrid Work: Financial support to set up your home office with essentials like a screen, headset, and desk for home work days
- Mobility/Transport: We offer an annual contribution towards public transportation or other soft mobility options.
- A Pension scheme: Our comprehensive pension scheme allows you to invest in your future.
- Learning and Development: Free access to LinkedIn Learning, and the possibility to engage in other training opportunities.