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Industry: Accounting
Company Size: 5,001-10,000 employees

Grant Thornton (US)

Savvy Admin PROD

**Job Description**

**Grant Thornton is seeking a PMD Talent Effectiveness Associate Director to join the team. Approved office locations can be found below.**

The PMD Talent Effectiveness Associate Director (AD) leads the strategy activation and end‑to‑end execution of the Partners and Managing Director (PMD) performance management process for the U.S. Aligned to the firm’s broader talent and performance agenda, this role is pivotal in enabling a high‑accountability, performance‑driven partner experience that reinforces clarity of expectations, transparency of outcomes, and continuous, high‑quality feedback for the firm’s most senior leaders.

While scope of responsibilities currently includes PMD performance for the U.S. only, the AD supports strategic design development and operational execution to facilitate the PMD performance process with a global mindset, establishing scalable standards, governance, and operating rhythms that can support future global expansion. Reporting to the Director, Global Talent Effectiveness, the AD serves as the U.S. PMD performance owner, accountable for translating global PMD performance strategy into a cohesive operating model for the U.S. firm. This role exercises significant autonomy, maintaining focus and navigating ambiguity to drive decisions. The AD is accountable for facilitating and governing the PMD performance execution model end-to-end (plans, timelines, cadence, tooling/data readiness including Oracle inputs, reporting/insights, and Canvas content stewardship).

The AD partners closely with colleagues in the firm’s Go to Market function under the Chief Operating Officer (scorecard strategy/design owner) and cross-functional stakeholders (HRIS, People Experience, Service Line Operations, Quality, etc.) to ensure accurate, timely, and well-governed design and execution. In this capacity, they will also independently engage PMDs and senior leaders across the firm, as well as serve as people manager for a direct report, the INDUS-based Global TE Senior Associate.

**Qualifications (Personal Characteristics, Skills/Abilities, Academic):**

**The ideal candidate will be:**

- A business‑minded talent effectiveness professional who excels at owning and operating complex programs and processes, with strong planning, coordination, and follow‑through.

- Operationally rigorous and outcome‑accountable, delivering accurate, high‑quality work in a fast‑moving, matrixed environment.

- Analytical and judgment‑driven, comfortable using metrics and data to drive decisions, and set timelines; an ability to engage with and provide clear guidance to senior executives.

- A concise, audience‑aware communicator who can independently write, edit, and sequence communications that drive clarity and action.

- A strong collaborator across GTM, People & Culture, Tech/HRIS, Service Line Operations, and Quality teams; adept at role clarity, RACI management, and influencing without direct authority.

- Trusted with highly confidential information; exercises sound judgment, discretion, and executive‑facing professionalism.

**The Ideal Candidate Will Possess:**

- 10+ years of progressive experience in performance management, HR program management, PMO/operations, or organizational effectiveness within a professional services environment; global experience preferred.

- Hands‑on experience owning and executing complex, multi‑stakeholder program plans (e.g., Smartsheet), including development and maintenance of SOPs and process documentation.

- Strong data and reporting capability (Excel, Power BI, or similar) and experience partnering with HRIS/Technology teams to ensure system and data readiness (e.g., Oracle workflow inputs and validations).

- Proficiency with MS Office, SharePoint/Teams, and content maintenance on Canvas or similar intranet platforms.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including independently drafting broad‑reach communications, FAQs, job aids, and leader‑ready talking points.

- People leadership experience preferred, including delegating work, quality‑assuring outputs, and developing junior team members.

**Core Responsibilities:**

-  U.S. PMD Performance Process Facilitation

- Own and build the annual calendar and execution plan for PMD expectation-setting, mid-year and year-end performance cycles, including milestones, dependencies, risks, and cutovers.

- Partner with GTM to provide strategic input into the PMD scorecard approach, informed by execution insights, PMD feedback, and process outcomes, while GTM retains scorecard design ownership.

- Design and maintain the operational playbook (SOPs, timelines, roles/RACI), serving as the single source of truth for all stakeholders.

- Lead and coordinate leader and participant briefings (slides, agendas, run of show) and align logistics with cross-functional partners (e.g. People Experience, Internal Communications, and Service Line Operations).

- Oversee and manage PMD support mailbox triage for related inquiries and ensure timely, accurate Q&A routing and closure

-  PMD Scorecard Partnership

- Partner with the Office of the COO on the PMD scorecard approach, providing strategic perspective informed by execution insights, PMD feedback, and downstream process impacts, while the COO retains scorecard design and strategy ownership.

- Lead the operationalization of the scorecard by coordinating with the Office of the COO and HRIS/Technology teams to ensure Oracle performance‑cycle data is prepared and delivered accurately and on time (data definitions, required fields, upload templates, load monitoring, issue resolution).

- Own and manage issue and risk logs tied to scorecard use (e.g., targets, sales crediting impacts, quality or lead integration points); assess implications, elevate tradeoffs, and escalate with clear recommendations.

-  Partner with the People Experience team to shape and steward the U.S. partner and managing director experience, ensuring the process align with overall expectations of the partner and managing director roles.

-  Communications, Training & Canvas Content

- Translate annual PMD scorecard updates and process changes into clear enablement resources, applying judgment to determine messaging emphasis, sequencing, and level of detail needed for senior audiences.

- Lead development and delivery of PMD performance process communications and supporting materials (cycle announcements, instructions, FAQs), ensuring alignment to strategic intent and clarity of required actions.

- Own PMD program content on Canvas (guidance, timelines, tool links), setting content standards for accuracy, version control, and usability; coordinate archival and structural improvements as needed.

- Partner with the Office of the COO and Service Line/Quality teams to provide clarifying guidance where PMD scorecard measures intersect with SL‑specific standards or lead behaviors; elevate themes and implications for broader alignment.

-  Data, Reporting & Insights

- Own PMD cycle reporting (participation, timeliness, exceptions, cycle progress), applying judgment to highlight insights, risks, and decision‑relevant themes for leaders.

- Ensure end‑to‑end data integrity for PMD‑related data flowing into and out of systems (Oracle uploads, dashboards); proactively partner with Technology, HRIS, and Analytics to resolve issues and improve reliability.

- Synthesize trends, recurring questions, and pain points from reporting, office hours, and mailboxes into actionable insights and recommendations to inform process improvements and future approach decisions.

-  Governance, Documentation & Continuous Improvement

- Own and maintain PMD SOPs, RACI, and decision logs, setting governance standards and ensuring version control across shared repositories.

- Lead post‑cycle retrospectives, assess effectiveness of timelines, tooling, and communications, and prioritize improvements based on impact and feasibility.

- Monitor external best practices in performance enablement and apply relevant insights to enhance clarity, quality, speed, or scalability of the PMD process.

-  People Leadership & Collaboration

- Directly manage the INDUS‑based Global Talent Effectiveness Senior Associate (U.S. PMD TE; U.S. Promotions; Global Core Succession); set priorities, provide coaching, and review outputs for quality and completeness; coordinate dotted‑line work with the Global Succession & Readiness Manager.

- Partner with Total Rewards to align PMD performance and rewards timelines and processes, anticipating downstream impacts and resolving interdependencies.

- Enable and train HRBPs on PMD core processes they support (e.g., calibration facilitation), providing guidance on complex or sensitive scenarios.

- Coordinate with Analytics and Finance to ensure PMD performance processes are supported with accurate data and reporting.

- Act as business owner for PMD‑specific Oracle performance forms, defining requirements, validating usability, and driving continuous improvement based on user and process feedback.

The base salary range for this position in the firm’s Chicago, IL, Downers Grove, IL, Cleveland, OH, Minneapolis, MN, and Baltimore, MD offices only is between $144,000 and $216,000 per year.

The base salary range for this position in the firm’s Washington, DC, Boston, MA, Edison, NJ, and New York, NY, and Melville, NY offices only is between $155,520 and $233,280 per year.

**About Us**

At Grant Thornton, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result – for our clients and you. Here, we go beyond your expectations of a career in professional services by offering a career path with more: more opportunity, more flexibility, and more support. It’s what makes us different, and we think being different makes us better.

In the U.S., Grant Thornton delivers professional services through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ― and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services.

In 2025, Grant Thornton formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform offers a premier Trans-Atlantic advisory and tax practice, as well as independent American and Irish audit practices. With $2.7 billion in revenues and more than 50 offices spanning the U.S., Ireland and other territories, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of 12,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture.

Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets.

**About The Team**

**The team you’re about to join is ready to help you thrive. Here’s how:**

-  Whether it's your work location, weekly schedule, or flex time off, we empower you with the options to work the way that it best serves your clients and your life. Consistent with the firm's hybrid work model, this position will require in-person attendance at least three days per week, either at a GT office or client site.

-  Here, you are supported to prioritize your overall well-being through work-life integration options that work best for you and those in your household.

-  We understand that your needs, responsibilities and experiences are different — and we think that’s a good thing. That’s why we support you with personalized and comprehensive benefits that recognize and empower all the identities, roles and aspirations that make you, well, you. See how at www.gt.com/careers

-  When it comes to inclusion, we are committed to doing more than checking boxes. Explore all the ways we’re taking action for diversity, equity & inclusion at www.gt.com/careers

**Here’s what you can expect next:**

If you apply and are selected to interview, a Grant Thornton team member will reach out to you to schedule a time to connect. We encourage you to also check out other roles that may be a good fit for you or get to know us a little bit better at www.gt.com/careers.

**Benefits:**

We understand that your needs, responsibilities and experiences are different, and we think that’s a good thing. That’s why we support you with personalized and comprehensive benefits that recognize and empower all the identities, roles and aspirations that make you, well, you. For an overview of our benefit offerings, please visit: https://www.grantthornton.com/careers/rewards-and-benefits

- Benefits for internship positions: Grant Thornton interns are eligible to participate in the firm’s medical, dental and vision insurance programs and the firm’s employee assistance program. Interns also receive a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick leave and are paid for firm holidays that fall within their internship period.

- Benefits for seasonal employee positions: Grant Thornton seasonal employees are eligible to participate in the firm’s medical, dental and vision insurance programs and the firm’s employee assistance program. Seasonal employees may also be eligible to participate in the firm’s 401(k) savings plan and employee retirement plan in accordance with applicable plan terms and eligibility requirements. Seasonal employees receive a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick leave.

Grant Thornton employees may be eligible for a discretionary, annual bonus based on individual and firm performance, subject to the terms, conditions and eligibility criteria of the applicable bonus plan or program. Interns and seasonal employees are not eligible for bonus compensation.

**Additional Details:**

It is the policy of Grant Thornton to promote equal employment opportunities. All personnel decisions (including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, working conditions, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, evaluations, and termination) are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital or civil union status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic predisposition or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws, it is the policy of Grant Thornton to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. To make an accommodation request, please contact HRHelp@us.gt.com.

For Los Angeles Applicants only: We will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with Criminal Histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

For Massachusetts Applicants only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Grant Thornton does not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment or continued employment.

PMD Talent Effectiveness Associate Director

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