OD Director
About ZURU
ZURU is on a mission to disrupt across industries, challenge the status quo and catalyst change through radical innovation and automation advances. This is in play in different pillars of the company: ZURU Toys are re-imagining what it means to play; ZURU Tech is shaping a better future by leading the next building revolution; ZURU Edge is pioneering new generation FMCG brands to better serve modern consumers.
Founded in 2003 by EY Entrepreneur of the Year and World Entrepreneur Hall of Fame brothers Nick and Mat Mowbray, ZURU has quickly grown to a team of over 5000 direct and indirect members across more than 30 international locations.
One of the largest toy companies in the world, globally recognized and award-winning brands include Bunch O Balloons, Mini Brands, XSHOT, Rainbocorns and Smashers. Our global FMCG brands include MONDAY Haircare, Rascals, NOOD, BONKERS, Gumi Yum Surprise, and more!
For more information, visit www.zuru.com
Role Purpose:
ZURU has grown fast without the organizational foundations that scale requires. No competency framework, no career pathways, no job architecture, no pay bands. Right now, what OD capability exists sits entirely in China.
This role owns fixing both problems: building the frameworks ZURU has never had, and leading the shift of OD from a China-only Centre of Excellence to one with strategy and leadership based in Auckland, and delivery continuing in China.
Core Roles and Responsibilities:
Framework Design
Design and own ZURU’s first competency framework, connecting capability to career pathways, job levelling and architecture, and pay bands.
Design organizational structure recommendations, spans of control and layers, that hold up as the business keeps growing.
Work with leaders to develop career pathways for all functions across the business.
Embed ZURU DNA into every framework.
Lead the transition of OD from a China-only function today to a global model: set strategy and standards from Auckland, with the existing China OD team moving to support and execution.
Review the execution capability that exists across our Global teams and decide the right resourcing model to deliver frameworks at ZURU’s pace.
Partner with the Global Head of People & Culture and business leaders to translate ZURU’s growth and DNA into structures that work.
Work hand in hand with the Training Specialist to build frameworks into practical tools people leaders use.
AI and the Future of OD
Build AI fluency into the competency framework itself: define what good use of AI looks like at every level, so it becomes a real part of how ZURU measures and grows talent.
Use AI to speed up the framework build itself, benchmarking, drafting and data analysis.
Delivery
Execute, not just advise. This is a build-and-deliver role: creating frameworks and getting them live in year one.
Work at ZURU’s pace, in a lean team, without waiting for a perfect and fully resourced OD function to exist first.
Skills and Experience Required:
Demonstrated delivery in organizational development, evidenced by frameworks you’ve personally built and landed, not just designed on a slide.
Experience designing competency frameworks, job architecture and pay banding from scratch.
Comfort working at pace in a lean team, with the creativity to design something that fits ZURU’s culture rather than importing a corporate template wholesale.
Strong stakeholder influence, including with senior leaders managing very large spans of control.
Genuine interest in how AI changes both the content of a competency framework and the way OD work gets done, not just familiarity with a couple of tools.
Comfort managing a transition: leading a China-based team through a change in scope, from owning OD direction to executing someone else’s strategy, with the cultural sensitivity that requires.
A bias to action. We’re looking for someone who delivers, not someone who’s good at talking about delivery.
LIFE@ZURU
ZURU is on a quest to reimagine tomorrow. Founded in 2003, ZURU Group has rapidly grown and now spans three core divisions—ZURU Toys, ZURU Edge (consumer goods) and ZURU Tech (construction).
At ZURU, we have cultivated a high-performing culture that encourages excellence. Our team works towards ambitious goals, learning, performing, and improving together, all while having fun. We empower talented individuals to do their best work every day.
At ZURU, you get out what you put in. You are responsible for driving your own career and we provide the platform to achieve it. As ZURU is on such a fast growth trajectory, there are opportunities here that you won’t find anywhere else.
Get to know us a little better by checking out LIFE@ZURU on Instagram or www.zuru.com
WHAT WE OFFER
🌱 Culture for Growth
🧘 Health Benefits
🌎 Global Opportunities
💡 Surrounded by an A Player Team
💰 Competitive Remuneration
🍓 Lots of fresh fruit, coffee, Pals fridge and more
ZURU – Reimagining tomorrow 🚀
#LI-KM1