WestEd Hiring for Director, Learning and Development Office at San Francisco, CA  Full Time

About WestEd

As a community of over 1,000 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact – asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.

Furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion is core to who we are and how we work. We are committed to working with our clients to illuminate and address disparities, value and elevate diverse voices, and ensure equitable access to our resources and services. Please review our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion on our Careers page at wested.org. Come and join us!

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION-Although WestEd provides the option of working at one of its facilities for employees, many roles allow employees to choose to work remotely for their own convenience. The decision to allow remote work at the employee’s convenience is based on the requirements of the position or project in question.

The Opportunity

WestEd seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented, inspiring, growth-minded, creative, and highly organized leader for WestEd’s newly created Learning and Development Office. The Office will build and support capacity and commitment in our staff through investments in their learning, connections, and career development.

The Director of Learning and Development will oversee the collaborative development and management of agency-supported learning experiences and resources that builds capacity and skills. This position will also work in partnership with the Human Resources Department and Executive Leaders to build upon existing work to ensure that WestEd’s policies, structures, and supports effectively address career development and advancement. In addition to the Director, there are two positions assigned to the office, plus advisors from throughout WestEd that are actively involved in the development and implementation of learning supports.

The ideal candidate for this role will have senior leadership experience with organizations similar in size and complexity to WestEd; a demonstrated understanding of adult learning approaches; the ability to oversee agency-wide initiatives and communicate with diverse audiences, applying high levels of persuasion; and be able to translate vision into sustainable action. This position reports to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and will work in close collaboration with the Director of Human Resources and Division Leaders to guide and facilitate planning and implementation of learning resources and supports that positively and tangibly impact employee development and retention.

Core Focus Areas:

• Vision and Strategy – Engage staff and WestEd leaders to inform the development of a practical long-term vision and strategy for the Learning and Development Office with clear goals and metrics to impact employee development and retention positively and tangibly through investments in learning.
• Need Sensing and Planning – Conduct a routine needs assessment with actionable recommendations brought to Executive Leadership to guide the application of time, effort, and resources to advance and improve employee career development, career advancement, and learning that furthers WestEd’s mission.
• Management and Leadership – Design, organize, and manage for coherence and effectiveness programs, initiatives, and projects with subject matter experts that advance learning, career development, and career advancement to achieve WestEd’s goals and objectives. This includes building upon existing and ongoing efforts related to job structures, professional learning (e.g., People Manager Academy, Project Management/Project Director Institutes), career development (e.g., Reciprocal Mentoring and Mentoring Circles) resources and supports, and advancing knowledge and practice related to core areas of work.
• System Improvements – In partnership with Human Resource and other WestEd leaders, identify new approaches, resources, and tools to develop WestEd’s human capital capabilities with emphasis on career pathway, career advancement, and promotion structures and systems.
• Communication and Change Management – Keep WestEd leaders apprised of project status, priorities, and opportunities for improvement. Build understanding and buy-in throughout WestEd through direct interactions, broad and targeted communication, and serving as an internal ambassador for learning and development.
• Growth and Development – Engage in personal learning to maintain and evolve knowledge and understanding of effective learning strategies, maintain knowledge of how other comparable organizations approach learning, and build skills necessary to be successful in this position (e.g., digital learning tools and approaches, job embedded learning, group facilitation).

Qualifications and Characteristics:

The Director of the Learning and Development Office must be an exceptional, results-oriented leader, with a track record of working collaboratively internally, forging productive partnerships, and managing large scale, complex initiatives.

Additionally, the successful candidate will bring most, if not all, of the following experiences, skills, and personal characteristics to the role:

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of learning and development leadership with responsibility for enterprise-wide learning strategy and programming.
• Demonstrated ability to provide enterprise-wise vision, leadership, and direction for the development and implementation of systems and practices that promote internal learning with an understanding of culture and change management.
• Experience conducting organizational and program-level analysis to identify learning and development needs.
• In-depth understanding of best practices in learning strategy development and execution.
• Experience with various learning and development methods, including on-the-job coaching, mentoring, e-learning that reflects in-depth understanding of adult-learning styles and approaches.
• Proven ability to complete full-cycle learning and development (assess needs, plan, develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate).
• Ability to prioritize initiatives based on the evolving learning and development needs of a company and making strategic recommendations to executive leadership.

Education:

• Advanced degree/degrees in areas related to WestEd’s mission and work, and/or, extensive, validated, and relevant professional credentials, experience, and success.

The Ability To:

• Use relationship skills to create and articulate a vision and lead others to execute.
• Make appropriate linkages across complex issues and lead through ambiguity to clarity.
• Support the design and implementation of a comprehensive approach to staff communication related to learning and development.
• Communicate persuasively and articulately, facilitating discussions and engaging others in collective problem-solving and collaboration.
• Demonstrate excellent communication, listening, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Operate effectively at both strategic and tactical levels.
• Demonstrate excellent and proactive planning and project management skills.

Personal Characteristics:

• Attraction to a mission-driven, results-oriented organization doing significant, exemplary work.
• Willingness to lead, facilitate, and develop content in multiple modalities.
• Appreciation of, and professional orientation toward, exemplary client service.
• Enjoyment working as a member of a team, a supporter of subordinates, and a strong but fair people manager.
• A managerial and operating style well-suited to WestEd – where collaboration, collegiality, humility, civility, good humor, and commitment to high-quality work product are highly valued.

*Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The full salary range for this position, WestEd Level K, is $216,400 to $324,000, but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $216,000 to $257,000. The actual offer takes into account multiple factors, including but not limited to education; experience; internal equity, and other organizational needs.

In addition to the base salary, benefits include:

* 15% contribution toward retirement effective day 1 of employment

* Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts

* All health/welfare benefits are effective first of the month following hire date

* PTO: 3 weeks vacation (increases to 4 weeks beginning the 4th year of employment), paid holidays, and 12 days paid sick leave per year

* Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary

* Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases + annual incentives

* Professional development opportunities & mentorship program

For more detail about our benefits, go to:

https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/benefits/

Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of social and professional learning communities, such as Employee Resource groups, the Data Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation PLC, and the WestEd Parent Community, just to name a few. We hope you’ll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more!

#LI-SanFrancisco #LI-Alameda #LI-WashingtonDC for this position.

10 years: Learning and development leadership with responsibility for enterprise-wide learning strategy and programming. (required)

Skills