Talent Development Lead

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.

Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.

Come join the Talent Development & Learning Team at Upwork as a remote Sr. Program Manager to take our performance management programs to a new level. We are a small team of learning specialists and program managers helping to shape the holistic talent development strategy for employees and managers. We want our talent programs to leave our employees feeling like they have a strong sense of where they stand and how to grow at Upwork. We are looking for a seasoned Talent Development Lead to launch and execute the next evolution of performance management at Upwork. The ideal candidate will be someone who is a self-starter, business-oriented, and a strong partner to other teams. 

 Your Responsibilities:

• Partnering with the People Team & leaders across Upwork to launch improved talent processes including promotions, feedback, performance reviews, goals, and more.  
• Translating the longer-term talent development vision into specific milestones and goals to deliver on key talent initiatives for the business 
• Listening to employees and managers on what works and doesn’t work to drive improvements - we want our talent programs to be clear, cutting edge, and a valuable use of time for the business 
• Working across the different people functions (Comp, L&D, DIBs, HRBPs, People Tech, etc.) to ensure we are working as a cohesive unit when launching and delivering talent programs
• Project Managing key talent processes to ensure all stakeholders are in the loop on changes and actively partnering with comms on change management for employees
• Champion Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and apply that lens to all of our talent processes
• Developing trainings and resources to support talent programs and processes
• Manage relationships with third-party resources, vendors and partners to roll out innovative talent development processes.

What it takes to catch our eye:

• 7-10+ years of Program Management and/or Talent Management & Development experience
• Proven history of designing and managing complex processes while successfully bringing employees along in the change 
• Track record of proactive and effective partnerships with key stakeholders where you ensured timely delivery of services and supported unique client group needs
• Ability to see the big picture, question existing ways of doing things, and look for ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness of our talent programs
• Positive, can-do attitude with a high level of energy and strong work ethic. 
• Experience working in a fast-paced tech environment and is always thinking of ways technology can better enable our talent practices 

The annual base salary for this position in California and Washington ranges from $129,000 - 179,000. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position in California and Washington, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program.

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals. While we have physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also hire full-time employees in 19 states in the United States. 

At the core of our vibrant culture are shared values that form the foundation of our organization. These values revolve around trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence. Our overarching mission is to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster an environment where individuals are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work, nurturing personal and professional growth through development opportunities, mentorship programs, and participation in Upwork Belonging Communities.

We take pride in providing exceptional benefits to our employees. These include comprehensive medical insurance coverage for both you and your family, unlimited paid time off, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To explore these benefits in detail, as well as gain insights into our company values, working principles, and the overall employee experience, we invite you to visit our Life at Upwork page.

Check out our Careers page to learn more about the employee experience.   

Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.