Global Head of Talent Solutions

We are looking for a Global Head of Talent Solutions to join M+C Saatchi Group on a fixed-term basis for 10 months’ maternity cover. Reporting into the Global People Director - People Solutions, you’ll lead a small, high-impact team of three and collaborate closely with senior leaders across the Group. The current role holder fulfils the role on a part time basis (4 days a week) and we encourage applications from people wishing to follow a similar work pattern. Based in London (hybrid working).

The Global Head of Talent Solutions role sits at the heart of how we grow people capability, develop leaders, and create an inclusive, high-performance culture across our global network. It brings together talent development, learning, employee engagement, and diversity & inclusion - shaping experiences that help our people do their best work.

This is a broad, hands-on role. You’ll need to move comfortably between big-picture thinking and practical delivery - designing frameworks, driving programmes, and rolling up your sleeves to make things happen. Over the 10 months, you’ll both keep our core programmes running smoothly and evolve our approach where fresh thinking can make a difference. While not a weekly requirement, there may be opportunities to facilitate or deliver sessions where it adds value.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the annual talent review and succession planning process for senior leadership populations across our global network.
• Partner with the Chief People & Operations Officer to create executive-level views of our global talent landscape - spotlighting strengths, gaps, and flight risks.
• Own and lead global Performance Management processes, driving alignment, engagement, and accountability through effective objective-setting and performance review practices across all layers of the business.
• Review and evolve our talent planning tools and processes, supporting People Partners to land them effectively in the business.
• Shape and lead our approach to People Manager development, ensuring it’s practical, relevant, and fit for purpose.
• Oversee our global learning and development programmes, ensuring quality, consistency, and measurable impact.
• Bring fresh external thinking and creative practice into how we develop talent.
• Develop a clear methodology to ensure D&I objectives are enabled through all key people initiatives, including those within Talent Solutions.
• Facilitate and contribute to the Sustainability Leadership Group, producing insight, thought leadership, and reporting that supports effective governance of our Planet and People commitments and wider ESG agenda.
• Build and evolve our global D&I learning framework, supporting awareness, capability, and behaviour change.
• Ensure all talent, learning, and engagement activity is inclusive by design, elevating underrepresented voices and experiences.
• Continuously refresh our approach by drawing on external insight and best practice.
• Own the end-to-end delivery of our global engagement survey(s), ensuring a smooth experience, robust data, and meaningful insight.
• Analyse results, spot themes, and create clear, compelling reporting for senior leaders and the Executive team.
• Partner with People Partners and business leaders to turn feedback into high-quality, practical action plans.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen employee experience, connection, and belonging across the Group.
• Bring new thinking to how we listen to, engage, and connect our people.
• Oversee all internal and external reporting relating to talent, engagement, and D&I — including Annual Report inputs, pay equity obligations, and Board materials.
• Respond to client and external stakeholder requests on M+C Saatchi Group’s approach to culture, talent, and inclusion.

What you’ll bring:

• A broad, strategic mindset with the ability to turn insight into action - blending external best practice with what works in a creative, fast-moving business.
• Proven experience partnering with C-suite and senior leaders, creating clear, compelling narratives from complex talent, engagement, and capability data.
• Strong project and stakeholder management skills, with confidence navigating global, matrixed organisations and influencing without authority.
• Deep experience in leadership and people manager development, designing practical frameworks that leaders actually use.
• A track record of building and embedding talent planning and succession approaches, working closely with People Partners to drive real adoption.
• Experience overseeing global learning and development activity, with a sharp eye on impact, relevance, and return on investment.
• Strong analytical capability, able to spot patterns, surface risks, and translate data into meaningful action for senior audiences.
• Experience weaving diversity and inclusion into the fabric of talent, learning, and engagement, including the design of global D&I capability-building.
• A strong feel for employee engagement and culture, from survey insight through to practical, business-owned action plans.
• Experience with people governance and reporting, including Annual Report inputs, pay equity, Board, and ESG-related requirements.
• Credibility and confidence when responding to internal and external stakeholder questions on culture, talent, and D&I.

What you’ll get:

For the right candidate, we will offer a competitive salary and benefits package which includes 27 days annual holiday, private healthcare, employer contributory pension, life assurance and income protection. We also offer a host of benefits that support wellbeing including subsidised gym membership, whilst our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion sees us offer learning opportunities around D&I, mentoring programmes and the opportunity for all to participate in a number of active Employee Led Networks and associated events. Finally, this role will be supported with all the necessary personal development required to set someone up for success.

About M+C Saatchi Group:

M+C Saatchi Group has pledged its commitment to create a company that values difference, with an inclusive culture. As part of this, M+C Saatchi Group continues to be an Equal Opportunity Employer which does not and shall not discriminate, celebrates diversity and bases all hiring and promotion decisions solely on merit, without regard for any personal characteristics. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please make us aware as part of your application. All employee information is kept confidential according to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).