Director of Learning and Development
About the role
The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is seeking an innovative, collaborative, and mission-driven leader to serve as the Director of Learning and Development for the Central/West Region. This position provides strategic leadership in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of regional learning initiatives that strengthen workforce competency, leadership capacity, and organizational performance.
Responsibilities
Develop and implement a comprehensive regional learning and development strategy that supports workforce excellence and organizational priorities.
Assess organizational learning needs through data analysis, stakeholder engagement, performance metrics, and operational trends.
Translate organizational goals into measurable learning strategies that improve employee performance and service delivery.
Serve as a trusted advisor to regional leadership regarding workforce development, succession planning, and organizational learning.
Lead the design, development, revision, and evaluation of high-quality learning programs utilizing adult learning theory, instructional design models, and evidence-based instructional practices.
Develop blended learning solutions, including instructor-led training, virtual learning, e-learning, microlearning, job aids, performance support tools, and competency-based curricula.
Ensure instructional materials are engaging, accessible, inclusive, and aligned with learning objectives and organizational standards.
Apply learning science principles to maximize learner engagement, retention, knowledge transfer, and performance improvement.
Oversee regional onboarding and New Employee Orientation (NEO) programming while ensuring consistency with statewide expectations.
Evaluate learning effectiveness using participant feedback, performance data, knowledge assessments, and operational outcomes to continuously improve programs.
Manage multiple learning initiatives simultaneously while ensuring timely implementation and high-quality deliverables.
Design and facilitate leadership development programs that strengthen supervisory, management, and executive competencies.
Support emerging leaders through coaching, mentoring, and competency-based development initiatives.
Partner with regional leadership to identify future workforce development priorities and succession planning opportunities.
Collaborate with subject matter experts to translate complex operational and clinical content into effective instructional materials.
Foster strong partnerships with statewide Learning and Development leadership to ensure consistency, innovation, and alignment across the agency.
Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and professional development to regional Learning and Development staff.
Promote a culture of continuous learning, innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
Monitor workload, project timelines, and resource allocation to ensure efficient operations.
Stay current on trends in instructional design, learning technologies, adult education, organizational development, and workforce training.
Recommend innovative learning solutions that enhance employee engagement and improve organizational effectiveness.
Utilize learning analytics and performance data to drive continuous improvement and demonstrate the impact of learning initiatives.
Qualifications
At least five years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, financial management, or professional experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical).
Three years of the required (A) experience must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major in business administration, business management, public administration, financial management, or degree related directly to the specialty may be substituted for one year of the required (A) experience.
A Graduate or higher degree with a major in business administration, business management, public administration, financial management, or degree related directly to the specialty may be substituted for two years of the required (A) experience.