Talent specialists identify, engage, develop, review and retain those individuals who have the potential to be of greatest value to an organisation.

What does a talent management specialist do?

A talent management specialist will typically identify: 

  • how to maximise the potential of those working within an organisation 
  • the talent populations needed 
  • the development path for the individuals who sit within these populations. 

They’ll use workforce planning information to help identify critical talent, while supporting the retention and accelerated progression of those capable of excelling. They'll also look beyond organisational boundaries to work with diverse talent pools.

Your typical activities

Here are some of the activities you can expect to be involved in as a talent management specialist:

  • Creating definitions of talent for different talent pools
  • Creating assessment approaches to identify talent
  • Measuring the value of different talent interventions
  • Working with partner organisations to devise talent strategies
  • Designing succession and contingency frameworks
  • Devising diverse approaches to talent
  • Creating development interventions for those identified as talent

Video: Great people management is an art

When you can’t afford to let your best people leave, you need to give them great careers, says Steve Rockey – and at challenger hotel business Lime Wood Group, he’s putting those ideas into practice.

Types of roles in talent management

Here is a shortlist of the types of job titles you might find in talent management. As you can see, talent management specialists are at all levels of experience and seniority:

  • Talent Co‐ordinator
  • Talent Specialist
  • Talent Coach
  • Talent Manager
  • Head of Talent
  • Director of Talent

Develop your knowledge in talent management

Talent management standards

Each standard progresses through four levels of impact. Which level do you most embody in your day-to-day work?

Talent management resources

Understand the changing context and benefits of talent management, and the key features of a talent management strategy.

CIPD Learning courses in Talent Management

Global mobility

This course will help you develop specialist knowledge in global mobility and be better equipped to develop policy and processes in your organisation

Find your perfect job in HR, L&D or any other area of the people profession

Browse jobs

Career options in the
people profession

Explore the twelve career areas within the people profession, and the typical activities you may find yourself doing

Callout Image

Career guidance

Information and guidance to help you excel in your role, transition into the profession, and manage a career break

Callout Image