Senior Associate Director, Learning and Development

Department
ADV Staff Development

Job Summary
Provides strategic direction and direct management for the design, delivery, and evaluation of frontline training programs related to fundraising, alumni relations, campaign education, systems, and data. Develops scalable, evidence-based learning solutions across multiple delivery formats and partners with key stakeholders to ensure training remains current, effective, and aligned with organizational needs and goals. This position manages the design and delivery of training offerings for all employees. Develops and implements a strategy for targeted market training courses and evaluates the efficacy of current programs. Coordinates in-person and web-based trainings and provides necessary materials and instruction to those individual trainers.

This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic direction and direct management of the design, implementation, and delivery of frontline training programs related to fundraising, alumni relations, and campaign education.
• Assesses organizational needs to establish training priorities and partners with gift officers, alumni relations staff, business analysts, and leadership to tailor curricula and training initiatives accordingly.
• Develops session agendas, learning materials, tools, case studies, guides, and facilitation strategies grounded in adult learning principles and evidence-based practices, with an emphasis on data, reflection, and practice.
• Creates training storyboards and videos, and assists subject-matter experts with writing scenarios and implementing new learning activities, providing feedback as necessary.
• Delivers training through multiple modalities, including in-person, virtual, blended, self-paced, workshops, and boot camps, and creates scalable learning solutions, such as e-learning modules and toolkits, that extend reach and reduce reliance on live facilitation.
• Ensures training content remains current and aligned with industry best practices, organizational goals, and evolving business needs.
• Maintains professional expertise in online teaching and learning, electronic pedagogy, and technology-based course delivery, including learning management systems, multimedia and instructional course software, adaptive learning tools, multimedia presentations, web conferencing, and classroom technologies. Incorporates University-approved AI tools ethically and responsibly to enhance the work.
• Proactively learns new technologies, plans associated roadmaps, and anticipates emerging issues that may affect training or require additional support.
• Defines, measures, and communicates relevant success metrics to stakeholders, demonstrating the value of training programs, learning experiences, and investments in employees. Continuously refines professional learning offerings based on participant feedback, reflection, and outcomes.
• Proactively recommends audits, adjustments to existing training, or new training to improve the effective and accurate use of systems and data.
• Serves as the internal liaison between Advancement and external consultants engaged in delivering frontline training.
• Manages training logistics, including scheduling, communications, materials, and attendance tracking.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions and with an eye towards broadly diversifying the advancement profession.
• Manages front-end needs assessments, identifying key learning outcomes, writing training objectives, applying and modifying various instructional design methods, designing practice activities and scenarios, sequencing instructional content, and writing tests and learning assessments.
• Develops and updates online manuals and user reference documentation.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Bachelor's degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Work Experience:
5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of experience designing and facilitating professional learning for adult audiences.
• Minimum five years of project management experience.
• Minimum three years of experience designing or delivering training in a fundraising or sales environment.
• Partnering with practitioners and organizational stakeholders to develop professional learning experiences.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including Phoenix, the University's Donor Relationship Management Salesforce System.
• Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
• Ease and facility with technology systems and descriptive data reporting.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent presentation, interpersonal and customer service skills with a strong orientation toward helping others succeed.
• Creativity and comfort with teaching and public speaking in classroom, small group, and one-on- one formats.
• Strong organizational, project management, and detail-oriented skills.
• Dedication to reviewing and using team performance data.
• Build, lead, mentor, and motivate a diverse team, and to encourage growth and change in both people and programs. A strong commitment to personal and professional development, and foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
• Excellent translator of technical or complex information.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
Human Resources

Role Impact
Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5

Drug Test Required
No

Health Screen Required
No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No

Pay Rate Type
Salary

FLSA Status
Exempt

Pay Range
$90,950.00 - $107,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.