Purpose of the Job

The Director of Learning Experience Design & Development leads the enterprise capability responsible for designing, developing, and enabling modern learning experiences that build workforce capability and drive organizational performance.

This role oversees both Learning Experience Design and Facilitation teams and ensures that learning solutions are grounded in learning science, enabled by modern learning technology, and scalable across the organization.

The Director of Learning Experience Design & Development plays a key role in leading the transformation of traditional curriculum development and training roles into modern Learning Experience Design and facilitator-coach models focused on application, performance, and learning in the flow of work.

Through strong leadership, resource management, and cross-functional collaboration, the Director ensures that learning initiatives align with enterprise priorities, support the Academy’s operating model, and deliver measurable performance impact.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities     

Leads and evolves the enterprise learning design, development, and facilitation capability. Leads managers of Learning Experience Design and Facilitation, ensuring strong leadership, coaching, and team development. Oversees Learning Experience Designers and Facilitators in creating and delivering high-quality learning solutions. Establishes enterprise standards, tools, templates, and governance for consistent, high-quality, evidence-based learning experiences. Builds a culture of innovation, collaboration, learner-centered design, and continuous capability evolution. Drives the evolution of learning design and facilitation practices to align with modern learning science, technologies, and digital approaches. Upskills curriculum developers into Learning Experience Designers and transitions trainers into facilitator-coach roles focused on engagement and application. Builds capability in modern development tools, digital media, AI-assisted content creation, and rapid-development technologies. Establishes and enforces standards to ensure learning solutions apply adult learning principles, accessibility standards, and science-backed methodologies such as spaced learning, retrieval practice, and performance support. Oversees design reviews, content lifecycle management, and internal quality assurance processes. Promotes innovative modalities such as blended learning, microlearning, simulations, scenario-based learning, and in-the-flow-of-work support. Ensures facilitators deliver consistent, high-quality learning experiences and provides coaching and development to strengthen facilitation capability. Ensures readiness for pilot sessions, program launches, and enterprise learning deployments. Manages capacity planning, workload distribution, and resource allocation across multiple learning initiatives. Deploys designers and facilitators to project teams and ensures effective operation within a matrixed environment. Partners with Learning Business Partners, Academy Directors, Technology teams, and Measurement & Insights to align solutions, integrate platforms, and assess effectiveness. Engages subject matter experts and business leaders to ensure learning solutions reflect operational realities and support the adoption of new capabilities. Contributes to the evolution of the Learning & Performance strategy by tracking emerging trends, introducing modern tools, and using data and feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Assists with other tasks and projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must have strong leadership capability with experience managing managers and specialized professionals.
• Must have a strong understanding of modern learning science and evidence-based learning practices.
• Must have familiarity with AI-enabled learning design tools and modern digital learning development technologies.
• Must have knowledge of learning platforms, including LMS and Learning Experience Platforms.
• Must have the ability to lead teams in a matrixed project environment with competing priorities.
• Must have strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills across multiple organizational levels.
• Must have strategic thinking combined with strong operational execution.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods.
• Occasional participation in workshops, stakeholder sessions, or pilot learning programs.
• Must be able to moderately lift or move up to 5 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 10 pounds

Education and Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design, Organizational Development, Education, or related field required; Master’s preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in Learning & Development, including experience in learning design, learning technology, and learning delivery required.
• 5+ years of leadership experience, including managing managers or senior professionals required.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise learning initiatives in complex, matrixed organizations required.
• Experience applying modern learning design methodologies and technologies required.
• Experience implementing digital learning strategies and scalable learning programs required.
• Deep expertise in learning experience in design, instructional design, and adult learning principles required.
• Experience implementing digital, blended, and performance-based learning strategies required.
• Financial services or other regulated industry experience preferred.