Senior Manager, Talent Development

About the role:

We’re seeking a strategic and forward-thinking Senior Manager, Talent Development to lead our company’s learning and growth agenda in a rapidly scaling, AI-driven SaaS environment. Reporting to the SVP, People, this role will architect the strategy and execution of our talent development, leadership programs, and career pathing initiatives to enable business success through people.

As a senior member of the People Team, you will partner closely with executives and department leaders to define our learning ecosystem, integrate AI-enabled tools, and build a culture of development and performance excellence. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in instructional design, leadership development, and organizational growth, as well as a proven ability to build scalable learning programs that blend human and digital experiences.

About us:

At 8am, our vision is to power a world where professionals thrive. We start every day on a mission to empower professionals with the most trusted, innovative technology to deliver world-class outcomes for their clients and exceptional financial results for their business. They count on our purpose-built solutions to simplify operations, ensure compliance, and fuel profitable growth, so they can focus on their clients and do more of the work that matters.

Founded in 2005, 8am™ (formerly AffiniPay) is the professional business platform built to help legal, accounting, and other client-focused professionals run stronger, more profitable businesses. Today, more than 250,000 professionals across the U.S. trust 8am to help them work smarter, serve clients better, and unlock their full potential. We have been recognized as one of Inc 5000’s fastest growing companies in the U.S. for 13 years in a row, and as a result, our teams continue to grow as well!

What you'll do:

• Lead the company’s talent and learning strategy. Develop scalable global learning solutions and align development programs with business priorities, advancing AI literacy, and using data to identify skill gaps and drive workforce planning.
• Design and deliver leadership development and succession initiatives. Build manager-as-coach capabilities, creating scalable leadership programs and maintaining a strong, diverse leadership pipeline.
• Build and maintain career paths. Create the foundation for career pathing, competency models, and internal mobility programs, including an internal talent marketplace that expands equitable growth opportunities across the organization.
• Keep our teams on the cutting edge of learning. Oversee the design and delivery of 8am.edu programs, manage the learning technology stack, and ensure all learning experiences are inclusive, accessible, and driven by meaningful analytics.
• Ensure we stay compliant. Own required training programs by partnering with Legal, Security, and Operations to meet audit requirements and maintain strong completion rates across the company.
• Guide us on our AI learning journey. Lead AI enablement and up-skilling initiatives by creating certification programs, accelerating adoption of digital tools, and integrating emerging technologies into the learning ecosystem.
• Fuel a culture of continuous growth. Enable managers to foster feedback-rich, psychologically safe environments by elevating our leadership coaching program.

About you:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Learning & Development, Talent Management, or Organizational Effectiveness roles, with demonstrated impact on retention and engagement metrics.
• Proven success building scalable learning ecosystems, leadership programs, and skills-based career development frameworks in a high-growth SaaS or technology organization.
• Strong expertise in instructional design and digital learning tools, including hands-on experience with AI or adaptive learning technologies.
• Demonstrated capability in succession planning, leadership development, compliance training oversight, and internal mobility program design.
• Experience building and implementing skills taxonomies and skills-based talent strategies.
• Proven ability to leverage learning analytics and predictive data to measure business impact, forecast capability gaps, and inform talent strategy.
• Excellent stakeholder management, facilitation, and executive communication skills, including experience presenting learning strategy and outcomes to senior leadership.
  
• Demonstrated experience leveraging AI tools and technologies to improve workflows, enhance decision-making, or drive innovation.
• This position is preferably based in Austin, Texas.

Preferred:

• Coaching certification (ICF, Co-Active, EMCC, or equivalent).
• Advanced degree in Organizational Development, I/O Psychology, Education, or related field.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled learning platforms, analytics-based personalization, learning automation tools, and internal talent marketplace technologies.
• Experience leading AI literacy or digital transformation learning initiatives.
• Background in change management and supporting large-scale organizational transformations through learning interventions.
• Demonstrated commitment to DEI principles in talent development, with experience ensuring equitable access to growth opportunities across diverse and global populations.
• Experience designing and delivering learning programs across multiple countries or regions, with understanding of cultural adaptation, localization, and international compliance requirements.

Why 8am: 

At 8am, our culture is shaped by the people who bring it to life every day. Together, we build a company rooted in continuous learning, genuine community, holistic wellness, and meaningful engagement—values that empower us as individuals and unite us as a team. Our culture is grounded in our core values: Work Smart, Win Fast; Outshine Ordinary, and We Find a Way. These values drive how we serve our customers and work with each other in a collaborative, inspiring, and empowering environment, every day.

Here’s how we support our 8Team:

• Health Insurance Coverage: We offer our 8Team a variety of medical, dental, and vision plans, designed to fit your needs, including a 100% company-paid HDHP plan for employees.
• Financial perks: We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including annual bonuses, equity options and 401(k) or RRSP if in Canada, with a company match for all team members.
• Time for what matters: Flexible Time Off, paid holidays, and a parental leave program for our new parents.
• Wellness: Wellness stipends, mental health support, and one-on-one nutrition coaching.
• Learning and Development: Continuous learning through 8am.edu, leadership programs, professional development funds, and individually focused talent development.
• Giving back to the communities around us: Participate in our charitable matching gift program, paid time off for volunteer service, and company-sponsored volunteer events (both local and virtually).
• Engagement: Virtual and in-person team-building events, quarterly award recognition through our Rise & Shine Award of Excellence Program, and our peer-to-peer appreciation platform.

At 8am, we don’t just offer benefits - we create an environment where people can thrive, grow, and make a real impact every day.

Diversity, equity & inclusion at 8am:

At 8am, we recognize that innovation occurs with a strong team of people who are diverse in background, personality, talent and ideas. Experience comes in many forms and ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where we continue to learn from each other is an integral part of our culture. We are committed to creating a welcoming and transparent environment for all that embraces those differences through education, equal access to opportunities and information, inclusionary programs, and community outreach. 

Security advisory:

Our hiring teams at 8am are dedicated to recruiting top talent that share our passion for serving the professional services industry through innovative financial technology.  As such, our Talent Acquisition Team only follows legitimate hiring practices.  We will always communicate with our candidates using emails with the 8am domain and will never ask for sensitive/personal data during the application process.  All interviews take place over phone call, Zoom/Google Meet or in person.  All offers are communicated verbally by our Talent Acquisition Specialists with a written offer letter as a follow up.