Director of Learning - Retail

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute a comprehensive talent management and learning strategy that aligns with the company’s vision and business goals.
• Identify current and future talent gaps and create learning and development programs to address them.
• Create and maintain a high-performance culture by ensuring ongoing development opportunities for employees at all levels.
• Lead the design, implementation, and management of a wide range of learning initiatives, from onboarding and skills training to leadership development programs.
• Ensure programs are engaging, impactful, and adaptable to various learning styles (e.g., in-person, virtual, blended learning).
• Partner with internal teams and external vendors to provide diverse training resources, including e-learning platforms, workshops, seminars, and certifications.
• Create and execute leadership development programs that nurture the next generation of leaders within the organization.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to senior leaders, managers, and high-potential employees.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of leadership programs and adjust as needed to ensure optimal impact.
• Collaborate with HR and senior management to identify and develop high-potential talent for succession planning.
• Support talent assessment processes to align career development with organizational needs.
• Ensure succession planning programs are in place to create a pipeline of qualified candidates for key positions.
• Promote a culture of learning and personal development across the organization.
• Measure and assess the effectiveness of development programs through feedback, performance metrics, and engagement surveys.
• Foster an inclusive environment that supports diversity in learning and professional growth.
• Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success and ROI of talent development initiatives.
• Regularly report on the progress of learning and development programs to senior leadership, highlighting successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.
• Ensure that programs align with organizational objectives and deliver measurable results.
• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of talent and learning development professionals.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and supportive team culture focused on continuous improvement.
• Ensure the team stays up to date with industry trends, best practices, and new learning technologies.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, I/O Psychology, Organizational Development, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in talent management, learning and development, or a related field.
• 5+ years of leadership experience, including managing high-performing teams and influencing senior leaders.
• 2+ years of experience at the Director level or leading enterprise-scale learning initiatives.
• Proven success in designing and implementing large-scale talent development and learning programs.
• Strong understanding of adult learning principles, instructional design, and leadership development frameworks.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Experience with learning management systems (LMS) and other digital learning tools.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess program effectiveness and drive improvements.
• Ability to influence and work collaboratively with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.

Desired Skills

• Experience supporting multi-unit retail, hospitality, restaurant, or operational environments.
• Experience leading leadership development and organizational capability initiatives at scale.
• Ability to translate business priorities into scalable learning solutions.
• Executive presence and influencing capability, with the ability to lead through organizational complexity and change.
• Knowledge of emerging trends in learning and development, including virtual learning, gamification, and AI-driven training tools.
• Certification in professional development or coaching (e.g., SHRM-SCP, ATD, PCC, etc.) is a plus.