Director, Performance Management and Capabilities Building (Academies)

The Director, Performance Management & Capabilities Building is a strategic leader responsible for defining and executing Sonova’s global learning, performance management, and talent development strategies. This role oversees the design and implementation of the Academies framework, coaching and mentoring programmes—including AI-enabled approaches—graduate development, and scalable learning offerings that build organisational capability at all levels.

Accountable for shaping and embedding a robust performance management framework, this role partners closely with senior leaders to drive goal setting and talent development for Sonova’s Top 200+ leaders, ensuring alignment with business priorities and leadership standards. The Director leads flagship talent development programmes, individual career journey design, and the talent review process, fostering a culture of continuous growth and high performance.

This role ensures integration and alignment of learning and performance initiatives with broader talent functions such as talent acquisition, culture transformation, and Org E&E. The Director also collaborates with HR Strategy to develop and maintain a comprehensive skills architecture and taxonomy that supports Sonova’s evolving capability needs.

In this role, you will:

Lead Learning and Academies 

• Define, develop, and oversee the global Academies framework and its implementation to build critical capabilities across Sonova.
• Design and deliver coaching and mentoring programmes, incorporating AI-enabled tools and approaches to enhance learning effectiveness.
• Manage graduate programmes and scalable learning offerings to support talent development at all organisational levels.

Drive Performance Management Framework

• Own and continuously evolve Sonova’s performance management framework, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and leadership expectations.
• Lead goal-setting processes for the Top 200 leaders, fostering accountability and clear performance expectations.
• Partner with HR and business leaders to embed performance management practices that drive high performance and development.

Talent Development and Career Journey Design

• Lead the design and execution of individual career journeys for Sonova’s Top 200 talent, supporting personalised growth and succession planning.
• Oversee flagship talent development programmes, including approach design, assessment methodologies, and delivery.
• Develop and implement people leadership standards and related development programmes to strengthen leadership capabilities across the organisation.

Talent Review and Succession Processes

• Manage the talent review approach and processes, ensuring robust assessment and calibration of talent across business units.
• Collaborate with HR Strategy and Org E&E team to align talent development efforts with organisational capability needs and succession plans.

Skills Architecture and Taxonomy

• Partner with HR Strategy to develop, maintain, and evolve a comprehensive skills architecture and taxonomy that supports workforce planning and capability building.
• Ensure skills frameworks are integrated into learning, performance management, and talent development initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

• Work closely with business leaders, HR Business Partners, and the Talent Centre of Excellence to ensure learning and performance strategies are aligned with business priorities.
• Collaborate with external partners, including business schools and learning providers, to enhance programme quality and innovation.
• Manage vendor relationships and oversee quality management systems for external learning and assessment providers.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Champion a culture of continuous learning and development, leveraging digital and multimedia solutions to maximise reach and impact.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness, adoption, and compliance of learning and performance programmes, using data to drive improvements.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and best practices to ensure Sonova remains a leader in leadership development and talent management.

Your Profile:

• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in global learning, leadership development, and performance management, with a proven track record of designing and scaling high-impact talent development programmes in complex, matrixed organisations.
• Master’s degree in Psychology, Human Resources, Business, or a related field; formal training or qualification in talent development or coaching is highly desirable.
• Ability to develop and execute integrated learning and performance strategies that align with business objectives, drive organisational transformation, and foster a culture of continuous development and high performance.
• Deep knowledge of leadership models, coaching methodologies (including AI-enabled coaching), and talent development frameworks, with experience leading flagship programmes for senior and emerging leaders.
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in leveraging learning analytics, programme evaluation, and performance data to inform strategy, optimise learning experiences, and demonstrate measurable business impact.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and internal consulting skills, with a proven ability to influence senior executives and cross-functional leaders, champion change initiatives, and navigate organisational complexity with agility and resilience.
• Skilled in designing blended learning solutions that incorporate digital, experiential, and social learning modalities at scale, utilising cutting-edge technologies and platforms to enhance engagement and accessibility.
• Experience leading diverse, geographically dispersed teams and programmes across multiple regions (EMEA, Americas, APAC), with sensitivity to cultural nuances and local market dynamics.
• Proven capability in managing budgets, vendor relationships, and quality assurance processes to deliver cost-effective, scalable, and compliant learning and performance management solutions.
• Expertise in learning management systems (e.g., SuccessFactors) and other digital tools that support learning analytics and talent development
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and facilitation skills, capable of engaging and inspiring audiences at all organisational levels, from store sales employees to C-suite executives
• Proven experience designing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within learning and talent development strategies to build inclusive leadership capabilities.
• Experience working within a corporate headquarters environment, collaborating closely with HR Centres of Excellence, business leaders, and external partners such as business schools and learning providers
• English is a must; proficiency in multiple languages is an asset.

More about what we offer  

As one of the world’s leading hearing care providers headquartered in Switzerland, we’re committed to building an inclusive culture. We want to create an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work, through our flexible hybrid working model. We offer a wide range of training opportunities for both your professional and personal development, and there are exceptional growth opportunities with individual development plans.

For this vacancy, only direct applications will be considered.