Career Development Specialist at HST Consulting PLC, Ethiopia

HST is a knowledge company that provides services to clients across various industries. HST endeavors to help its clients solve their business growth, operational, people, financial, tax, governance, risk, learning and compliance related challenges with locally relevant solutions. As a local professional service firm, HST offers the best practices that fully consider its clients’ unique circumstances and the social, political and economic environment they are operating in.

As a professional services firm, HST is involved in consultancy engagements for clients coming from a wide range of industries. These consultancy engagements are undertaken through interdisciplinary expert teams which require a high level of teamwork and work planning.

Job Summary:

The Career Development Specialist is a senior person who can work closely with the firm’s CEO and is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing career development programs that support employee growth, retention, and succession planning. This role works closely with employees, partners, directors and HR teams to assess career aspirations, identify skill gaps, and create tailored development plans to enhance workforce capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Collaboration and Communication

• Partner with partners and directors and HR to identify skills gaps and develop targeted training strategies.
• Stay informed on best practices, trends, and innovations in training and development.
• Communicate training opportunities and career resources to employees effectively.

Career Development:

• Develop and manage career pathways and individual development plans (IDPs) for employees.
• Facilitate coaching and mentoring to support employee growth and advancement.
• Develop tools and resources (e.g., career guides, self-assessment tools) to support employee growth. Promote succession planning by identifying and preparing high-potential employees.

Talent Development and Succession Planning

• Identify high-potential employees and create individualized development plans.
• Partner with leadership to align career development with succession planning strategies.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of career development initiatives.

Employee Engagement and Retention

• Conduct stay interviews and career discussions to understand employee aspirations.
• Recommend strategies to enhance career mobility and internal promotions.
• Track career progression metrics and report on program success.

Learning and Skill Development

• Collaborate with partners and directors and learning solutions teams to recommend training, certifications, and upskilling opportunities.
• Assess workforce skill gaps and recommend development solutions.

HR and Business Partnership

• Advise partners and directors on career development, best practices and employee growth strategies.
• Ensure alignment between career development programs and HST’s strategic goals

Program Evaluation and Reporting:

• Evaluate training outcomes and measure effectiveness through feedback and performance metrics
• Monitor and report on employee progress and program impact
• Make data-driven recommendations for program improvements.

Core Competencies Required

• Ability to guide employees in career planning and decision-making.
• Knowledge of training methodologies, competency frameworks, and adult learning principles.
• Experience in succession planning, high-potential identification, and leadership development.
• An ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Organizing and planning work and an ability to deliver on projects and tasks
• A high level of learning agility with ability and passion to learn and grow

Education, Experience and Skills required

• MSc, MBA in Human Resources, Education, Organizational Development, Psychology, or a related field
• Certifications (preferred): SHRM-CP, Career Coach Certification, or similar
• 5 years of experience in training, organizational development, or a similar role.
• Knowledge of adult learning principles, instructional design, and career development frameworks.
• Experience with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and e-learning platforms.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyze data and make evidence-based decisions.