Manager, Leadership Development

Putting people first, every day

BDO is a firm built on a foundation of positive relationships with our people and our clients. Each day, our professionals provide exceptional service, helping clients with advice and insight they can trust. In turn, we offer an award-winning environment that fosters a people-first culture with a high priority on your personal and professional growth.

Your Opportunity

Our National Office in Toronto is looking for an experienced Manager, Leadership Development to join the Talent & Culture team and take ownership of the following responsibilities:

Design, develop, and deliver top tier learning and leadership programs

• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to identify leadership development needs
• Enhance existing solutions and design new programs to address firm-wide capability priorities
• Build and execute leadership and coaching programs (e.g., high-potential initiatives, career development, mentoring, executive development)
• Define and track KPIs to assess effectiveness and strategic alignment of solutions

Facilitate impactful leadership learning experiences

• Co-deliver strategic learning programs to senior leaders across the firm
• Bring an engaging and credible presence to the classroom (in-person and virtual)

Lead with strategic insight

• Act as a sense-maker, connecting internal client needs to firm priorities
• Synthesize and communicate complex information clearly and concisely across stakeholder groups
• Generate buy-in and build strong partnerships to ensure successful rollout and adoption of programs and initiatives

Designs and delivers with excellence

• Leads the design, development, and delivery of impactful leadership programs that align to business needs
• Creates innovative sustainment strategies that extend learning beyond the classroom
• Proactively recommends enhancements that evolve programs in line with firm strategy

Facilitates with confidence and clarity

• Brings a dynamic, engaging presence to the room-driving clarity, connection, and skill development
• Tailors delivery for diverse audiences, including senior leaders

Builds strong relationships

• Develops meaningful partnerships with key stakeholders-internal clients, senior leaders, learners, and delivery partners
• Communicates clearly, inspires collaboration, and establishes trust across the organization

How do we define success for your role?

• You demonstrate BDO's core values through all aspect of your work: Integrity, Respect and Collaboration
• You understand your client’s industry, challenges, and opportunities; clients describe you as positive, professional, and delivering high quality work
• You identify, recommend, and are focused on effective service delivery to your clients
• You share in an inclusive and engaging work environment that develops, retains & attracts talent
• You actively participate in the adoption of digital tools and strategies to drive an innovative workplace
• You grow your expertise through learning and professional development.

Your experience and education

We recognize that great candidates bring diverse experiences. The following qualifications will set you up for success in this role:

• Experience in talent development in a Professional Services firm, including strategy and execution of key programs aimed at elevating talent capability across organizations and developing future leaders
• 8+ years of experience in Leadership Development, Executive Development, or Coaching in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
• A Master’s degree in Leadership Development, Organizational Leadership, Organizational Development, Organizational Learning or a related field
• Completion of an ICF-accredited Coach Certification Program
• Proven experience designing and executing high-impact talent development programs that build leadership capability

Experience with common tools, methods, procedures related to Talent Development, for both individual employee/leader development and team effectiveness:

• Behavior and/or skill-based psychometric assessment tools & engagements
• Competency and capability models and frameworks
• 360 assessment tools & engagements
• Development planning tools and engagements
• Career development and succession planning

Demonstrated project management expertise:

• Leading multiple priorities with agility in an evolving environment
• Designing and implementing evaluation strategies that show program ROI
• Aligning outcomes to business strategy and firm priorities

Strong facilitation skills:

• Comfortable delivering to a wide range of audiences, including senior leaders
• Experienced in blending facilitation, teaching, and presentation to drive engagement and learning

Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills:

• Builds trust with diverse stakeholders
• Collaborates effectively across levels and functions
• Adapts communication to clearly articulate strategy, vision, and impact

Experience with:

• Psychometric and 360 assessment tools
• Competency and capability frameworks
• Development planning tools
• Career development and succession planning

Models future-focused behaviors:

• Adaptable, agile, and resilient in a fast-moving environment
• Demonstrates a growth mindset-personally and in how work is approached
• Applies critical thinking and curiosity to continuously elevate programs
• Embraces a solution-oriented mindset-focused on “how we can”
• Leverages digital tools and emerging technologies (e.g., AI) to enhance impact and efficiency

Thinks and works strategically:

• Understands both the organization’s goals and internal client needs, aligning work at their intersection

Is seen as a strategic partner who is:

• High-performing, professional, and reliable
• Responsive and easy to work with
• Consultative and insightful

Demonstrates the L&D team’s values:

• Ownership & accountability - proactive, solutions-oriented, and reliable follow-through
• Professionalism & credibility - delivers best-in-class learning experiences that elevate the function
• Self-awareness & continuous growth - leverages strengths, seeks feedback, and models a learning mindset

Other relevant experience and education:

• Completion of a Change Management Certification Program (or equivalent experience)
• Familiarity with DEI principles and how they inform leadership development strategies
• Comfort with leveraging digital tools and emerging technologies (e.g., AI) to increase program reach and effectiveness

Why BDO?

Our people-first approach to talent has earned us a spot among Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2025. This recognition is a milestone we’re thrilled to add to our collection of awards for both experienced and student talent experiences.

Our firm is committed to providing an environment where you can be successful in the following ways:

• We enable you to engage with how we change and evolve, being a key contributor to the success and growth of BDO in Canada.

• We help you become a better professional within our services, industries, and markets with extensive opportunities for learning and development.

• We support your achievement of personal goals outside of the office and making an impact on your community.

Giving back adds up: Where company meets community. BDO is actively involved in our communities by supporting local charity initiatives. We support staff with local and national events where you will be given the opportunity to contribute to your community.

Total rewards that matter: We pay for performance with competitive total cash compensation that recognizes and rewards your contribution. We provide flexible benefits from day one, and a market leading personal time off policy. We are committed to supporting your overall wellness beyond working hours and provide reimbursement for wellness initiatives that fit your lifestyle.

Everyone counts: We believe every employee should have the opportunity to participate and succeed. Through leadership by our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader, we are committed to a workplace culture of respect, inclusion, and diversity. We recognize and celebrate the valuable differences among each of us, including race, religious beliefs, physical or mental disabilities, age, place of origin, marital status, family status, gender or gender identity and sexual orientation. If you require accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us.

Flexibility: All BDO personnel are expected to spend some of their time working in the office, at the client site, and virtually unless accommodations or alternative work arrangements are in place.

Our model is a blended approach designed to support the flexible needs of our people, the firm and our clients. It’s about creating work experiences that meet everyone’s needs and providing flexibility to adjust when, where and how we work to meet the expectations of our role.

Code of Conduct: Our Code of Conduct sets clear standards for how we conduct business. It reflects our shared values and commitments and includes guiding principles to help us make ethical decisions and maintain trust with each other, our clients, and the public.

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Ready to make your mark at BDO? Click “Apply now” to send your up-to-date resume to one of our Talent Acquisition Specialists.

To explore other opportunities at BDO, check out our careers page.

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above