Professional Talent Development Lead
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 27, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 26, 2026. Downer Group scores A on the Alion truth index.
We are seeking a highly organised and proactive Professional Talent Development Lead to coordinate and continually improve professional talent pathways across our Rail & Transit Systems business.
In this role you will lead the end-to-end delivery of our graduate and cadet programmes while supporting broader professional development initiatives, mentoring programmes and workforce capability outcomes. You will partner with discipline leaders, hiring managers, Recruitment and the wider People & Culture team to deliver consistent and engaging experiences across attraction, selection, onboarding, development, wellbeing and programme completion.
This role can be based in either our North Ryde, Brisbane CBD or Melbourne CBD office.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end coordination and continuous improvement of graduate and cadet programmes across Rail & Transit Systems.
- Partner with discipline leaders and hiring managers to determine programme requirements, participant numbers and recruitment strategies.
- Coordinate community engagement, promotional activities, information sessions, assessment days and final selections.
- Deliver welcoming and effective onboarding, induction and programme expectation sessions for participants.
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders across operational sites to ensure national consistency and effective programme delivery.
- Prepare accurate monthly reporting covering programme performance, diversity, funding, completions and retention.
- Coordinate the launch and ongoing delivery of professional development initiatives, including the Managers Essentials Toolkit programme.
- Contribute to relevant enterprise working groups and identify opportunities to strengthen professional talent pipelines and development pathways.
About you
You will be an experienced programme coordinator or talent development professional who can confidently manage multiple priorities and build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
Your background may include graduate or early careers programme coordination, learning and development, human resources, executive support or complex administration. Most importantly, you will bring the organisation, communication and stakeholder-management capability required to deliver multiple programmes successfully across a national business.
You will ideally bring:
- Experience coordinating graduate, cadet, early careers or corporate development programmes.
- Tertiary qualifications in Learning and Development, Human Resources or a related discipline.
- Confidence engaging with senior leaders, hiring managers, participants and broader stakeholder groups.
- Experience preparing programme reports and maintaining accurate records.
- Knowledge of learning management systems and professional development frameworks.
- Exposure to the rolling stock, rail, transport or infrastructure sectors would be advantageous.
If you are passionate about creating positive participant experiences and delivering professional talent programmes that support long-term workforce capability, we would welcome your application.
You want your work to matter and so do we. With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas.
We know that diversity makes us stronger and we actively celebrate it through our commitment to inclusion and belonging.
We're committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals.
Even if your experience doesn't align perfectly with this role, we would still like to hear from you. If it feels like the right fit, apply. Potential counts, and so do you.
As a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it.
If you need support or adjustments through the recruitment process, just let us know.
We are here to help you put your best foot forward.