Overview
Human Resources is continuing to advance the Strategic Talent and Performance Framework at Waterloo. By bringing together key talent processes, programs, and systems, the framework establishes a more connected, consistent, and transparent approach to how Waterloo attracts, develops, supports, and grows its people.
This framework includes:
- Job Architecture
- A modernized talent recruitment platform
- A refreshed Performance Development program
- A Capabilities Framework
Together, these components create a foundation for a future-focused approach to talent development across the University, reinforcing our strategic priorities and commitments outlined in Waterloo at 100.
About the framework
The Strategic Talent and Performance Framework is designed to help employees and leaders better understand roles, develop capabilities, and support career mobility at Waterloo. By aligning key talent practices, the framework creates a shared foundation for meaningful development conversations, clearer expectations, and ongoing learning and growth.
Through the framework, Waterloo aims to:
- Clarify roles, responsibilities, and opportunities for career growth
- Support meaningful performance and development conversations
- Align learning and development opportunities with individual and institutional needs
- Foster a more transparent, consistent, and future-focused approach to talent development
The framework is supported by tools and resources in Workday that help employees and leaders apply these practices in meaningful ways, including the Talent Profile, which enables employees to capture their skills, experiences, and career aspirations in one place.
The Talent Profile enables employees to maintain information about their professional experience, skills, capabilities, interests, education, certifications, and career goals. As the framework evolves, the Talent Profile will help employees better understand their strengths, identify development opportunities, and engage in meaningful and effective career and performance conversations with their leaders.
The Talent Profile connects several elements of the framework by supporting career development, capability growth, learning opportunities, and workforce planning.
Framework Components
Job Architecture:
Job Architecture is a framework that organizes jobs across the University.
It groups similar jobs together based on the work being performed, regardless of department or Faculty. Jobs are organized into Job Family Groups, Job Families, Career Tracks, and Levels, creating a clear and consistent structure across the institution.
Each role is linked to a Job Profile that describes the work, responsibilities, and qualifications typically associated with that job.
Job Architecture helps employees and leaders:
- Understand where a role fits within the University
- Explore career growth and development opportunities
- Have more effective conversations about career progression
- Gain clarity on how roles relate to one another across the institution
Visit Job Architecture for more information.
Talent Acquisition:
The Workday Recruiting platform is helping to modernize how Waterloo attracts and hires talent. It has streamlined recruitment processes, enhanced the candidate experience, and strengthened support for hiring managers.
Recruiting at Waterloo is supported by the foundation established through Job Architecture. Future enhancements will further improve role clarity, consistency, workforce planning, helping Waterloo attract and recruit talent aligned with both current and future organizational needs.
Visit Careers at Waterloo for more information.
Performance Development:
The Performance Development program is designed to help employees grow with the University of Waterloo and feel engaged and enabled in their work. Supported by Workday, it encourages employee-driven goal setting, regular check-ins with managers, and ongoing feedback and recognition — not just at year-end. Built on clear accountabilities and guided by the university’s values, the program helps employees build the skills and capabilities they need to succeed, with support every step of the way.
Visit Performance Development for more information.
Capabilities Framework:
The capabilities framework establishes a foundation for identifying the essential capabilities and behaviours required at each job level: all employees, managers and senior leaders. The framework is designed to support workforce readiness for our evolving institutional needs.
Visit Capabilities Framework for more information.
Introducing the Talent Profile in Workday
Think of it as your internal LinkedIn — a space to showcase you. From job history and education to certifications, languages, and skills, your Talent Profile helps us see the full picture of your professional journey.
Here’s the exciting part: the more we all fill in our skills, the smarter the system gets. Powered by AI, Workday learns from our profiles to suggest relevant skills, surface hidden talents, and spark new career development pathways across the institution.
Update your Talent Profile today — and help shape the future of growth at the University of Waterloo.
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