Senior Manager APAC Talent & Organization Development (Retail F&B)

About the Client

Our client is a premium consumer brand with a strong Asia-Pacific presence, known for its differentiated product experience and rapid market expansion. Headquartered in Asia, the organization is currently undergoing an accelerated international growth phase, scaling its operations across multiple APAC markets. With a commitment to operational excellence and people-first culture, they are building a future-ready workforce to support their regional ambition. This is a confidential search, and shortlisted candidates will be briefed on further details at the appropriate stage.

About the Role

This is a high-impact, dual-scope leadership role that combines Organization Development and Talent Development to shape the people agenda for the APAC region. Reporting to the APAC Talent & Organization Development Director, you will be responsible for designing and executing strategies that drive organizational effectiveness, leadership bench strength, and talent mobility across a fast-growing, multi-market environment.

You will play a critical strategic partnership role—bridging business priorities with people solutions—while also maintaining a hands-on approach to program design and implementation. This role is ideal for a practitioner who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys building from the ground up, and has demonstrated success in high-growth or international expansion settings.

Job Responsibilities

Organizational Development

• Develop and drive the APAC OD agenda, including organizational effectiveness, capability building, and transformation initiatives that support business scalability and market entry.
• Lead change management efforts to ensure smooth transitions during periods of organizational evolution, new market expansion, and structural shifts.
• Design and implement employee engagement and retention strategies, leveraging data-driven insights to continuously improve workplace experience and culture.
• Partner with business leaders to diagnose organizational health, identify capability gaps, and design tailored interventions that enhance team and unit performance.
• Monitor OD metrics, analyze trends, and provide actionable recommendations to senior leadership.

Talent Development

• Own the end-to-end talent development framework for APAC, encompassing talent review, succession planning, HiPo identification, and individual development planning (IDP) with a strong business lens.
• Design and execute practical, business-driven leadership development initiatives—including action learning, cross-functional projects, mobility programs, job rotations, and executive coaching—that go beyond traditional curriculum-based training.
• Strengthen the talent pipeline for current and future market needs, with a focus on building internal readiness for new market entries and regional leadership roles.
• Oversee the creation and delivery of scalable learning solutions that address both immediate skill gaps and long-term organizational capability needs.
• Track and report on talent metrics, ensuring visibility of pipeline health, mobility success, and program ROI to regional leadership.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with HR Business Partners, regional department heads, and external consultants to ensure seamless integration and execution of OD and TD programs.
• Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders, translating people strategies into business impact and vice versa.

Job Requirements

Must-Have

• Industry Background: Candidates must come from the retail or Food & Beverage (F&B) sector, with a deep understanding of the operational realities, people dynamics, and scaling challenges unique to these industries.
• Experience Profile: We are looking for candidates who fit one or more of the following archetypes:
  • Talent Management + Business Exposure: Proven experience in HiPo identification, succession planning, talent review, and IDP, coupled with strong business acumen and the ability to partner strategically with commercial leaders.
  • Talent Development + OD Blended: Demonstrated track record in both talent development and organizational development—including organization design, capability building, and transformation projects.
  • Practical Leadership Development: Deep experience in leadership development that is not curriculum-centric, but rather focused on action learning, business project assignments, mobility/rotation programs, coaching, and experiential exposure.
  • High-Growth / APAC / International Expansion: Prior experience in fast-scaling organizations, managing multi-market talent pipelines, or leading people initiatives in newly entered markets.
• Regional Exposure: Solid experience operating across APAC markets, with cultural sensitivity and the ability to navigate diverse regulatory and talent landscapes.
• Strategic & Hands-On: Ability to think at a strategic level while remaining deeply execution-oriented—comfortable designing as well as delivering programs.
• Excellent Stakeholder Management: Strong communication, presentation, and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.

Please be informed that only shortlisted candidate will be notified.

For more information, you may reach out to Jamie at her email at jamie.tan@peoplelake.asia or WhatsApp her at +6012 238 9953