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Director Learning Development Jobs in Santa Ana, CA

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Director Learning Development information

See Santa Ana, CA salary details

$45.3K

$118.2K

$191.5K

How much do director learning development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for director learning development in Santa Ana, CA is $118,233.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,200.00 and $137,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of learning and development?

To thrive as a Director of Learning and Development, you need expertise in instructional design, organizational development, and adult learning theory, often supported by a degree in education, HR, or a related field. Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), e-learning authoring tools, and certifications like CPLP or SHRM-CP is typically required. Strategic thinking, leadership, and strong communication skills help you drive change and foster a culture of continuous learning. These skills and qualities are crucial for aligning learning initiatives with business goals and ensuring workforce development.

What are the most common challenges faced by a director of learning and development when implementing new training programs across an organization?

One of the main challenges for Directors of Learning and Development is gaining buy-in from both leadership and employees for new training initiatives. Balancing diverse learning needs across different departments while ensuring consistency in delivery can also be complex. Additionally, measuring the effectiveness of programs and demonstrating their impact on business outcomes often requires careful planning and ongoing evaluation. Successful Directors typically overcome these challenges through strong communication, collaboration with stakeholders, and leveraging data-driven approaches to tailor and refine development strategies.

What is the difference between Director Learning Development vs Learning and Development Manager?

AspectDirector Learning DevelopmentLearning and Development Manager
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree in education, HR, or related field; often prefers advanced certifications like CPLP or ATD certificationsSimilar educational background; certifications like CPLP or ATD are common but less frequently required
Work EnvironmentStrategic leadership role overseeing multiple teams or departments, involved in high-level planningOperational role focused on implementing training programs and managing teams
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large organizations across various industries, especially where training is a strategic priorityCommon in organizations of all sizes, often as a mid-level position within HR or Learning departments

The main difference between a Director Learning Development and a Learning and Development Manager lies in scope and seniority. The Director typically leads strategic initiatives and manages multiple teams, while the Manager focuses on executing training programs and day-to-day operations. Both roles require similar credentials but differ in responsibilities and organizational level.

What does a director learning development do?

A director of learning development oversees the design, implementation, and evaluation of training programs to enhance employee skills and organizational performance. They often manage teams, collaborate with leadership, and utilize learning management systems to ensure effective training delivery and alignment with business goals.

What are the most commonly searched types of Learning Development jobs in Santa Ana, CA?

The most popular types of Learning Development jobs in Santa Ana, CA are:

What job categories do people searching Director Learning Development jobs in Santa Ana, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Learning Development jobs in Santa Ana, CA are:

What cities near Santa Ana, CA are hiring for Director Learning Development jobs?

Cities near Santa Ana, CA with the most Director Learning Development job openings:

Director Learning Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Learning Development job openings in Santa Ana, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,233 per year, or $56.8 per hour.

Director, Organizational Learning & Development

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals

Los Angeles, CA

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq ARWR) is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead's RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.

Arrowhead is focused on developing innovative drugs for diseases with a genetic basis, typically characterized by the overproduction of one or more proteins that are involved with disease. The depth and versatility of our RNAi technologies enables us to potentially address conditions in virtually any therapeutic area and pursue disease targets that are not otherwise addressable by small molecules and biologics. Arrowhead is leading the field in bringing the promise of RNAi to address diseases outside of the liver, and our clinical pipeline includes disease targets in the liver and lung with a promising pipeline of preclinical candidates.

Arrowhead's corporate headquarters is in Pasadena, CA with research and development teams in Madison, WI & San Diego, CA, and a state of the art manufacturing facility in Verona, WI. Our employees are nimble, science-driven innovators who are collaborating to bring new therapies to patients in need.

The Position

The Director of Organizational Learning & Development is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing the company's enterprise-wide training and development strategy. This role ensures employees across R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and Commercial functions are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to perform their roles safely, compliantly, and effectively. The Director will partner closely with senior leadership, Quality Assurance, and Regulatory teams to build a culture of continuous learning that supports GxP compliance, operational excellence, and organizational growth.

This is a full-time, on-site position that may be based in Pasadena, CA or Verona, WI.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive training strategy aligned with business goals, regulatory requirements, and organizational growth plans.
  • Establish training KPIs and metrics to measure program effectiveness, compliance rates, and business impact.

Program Design & Development

  • Lead the design of onboarding, technical/scientific, leadership development, and soft-skills training programs.
  • Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions related to training processes.
  • Collaborate with subject matter experts (SMEs) across departments (Manufacturing, QC/QA, R&D, Regulatory) to create accurate, role-specific training content.
  • Evaluate and implement innovative training methodologies (e-learning, simulation, hands-on/practical training, virtual reality for cleanroom/lab procedures, etc.).

Regulatory & Compliance Training

  • Collaborate with Quality team on design and delivery of GxP training programs (GMP, GLP, GCP, GDP) to ensure compliance with FDA, EMA, and other global regulatory requirements.
  • Partner with Quality, Compliance & Regulatory leadership to identify capability, engagement, career development, and team effectiveness needs and prioritize targeted improvement opportunities.
  • Work with leaders throughout the organization to identify required training for various roles as part of new employee onboarding.
  • Ensure timely completion of role-based training curricula and manage training compliance tracking within the Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Support CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) investigations related to training gaps or deviations.

Team & Stakeholder Management

  • Manage relationships with external training vendors, consultants, and certification bodies.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for training-related inquiries during internal audits and regulatory inspections.
  • Manage external vendors, contractors, or platforms used to develop training content (i.e.., Articulate 360)

Systems & Continuous Improvement

  • Continuously assess training needs through gap analyses, employee feedback, and audit findings.
  • Benchmark against industry best practices to keep programs current with evolving biotech/pharma standards.

Key Competencies

  • Strategic thinking with hands-on execution capability
  • Strong regulatory and compliance acumen
  • Leadership and team development
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Project management and organizational skills
  • Adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving industry

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Education, Organizational Development, Human Resources, or related field.
  • 8+ years of experience in training and development, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership role within biotech, pharmaceutical, or medical device industries.
  • Excellent instructional design, facilitation, and communication skills.
  • Strong working knowledge of GxP regulations (GMP, GLP, GCP) and FDA/EMA compliance requirements.
  • Demonstrated experience designing and managing enterprise-wide training programs and LMS platforms (e.g., Veeva Vault Training, Cornerstone, SuccessFactors).
  • Proven track record of leading teams and managing cross-functional stakeholder relationships.
  • Experience supporting regulatory inspections/audits from a training compliance perspective.

Preferred

  • Master's Degree or PhD degree in a relevant field.
  • Certification in instructional design (e.g., CPTD, ATD certification) or quality systems (e.g., ASQ CQA).
  • Experience in a manufacturing/GMP production environment.
  • Familiarity with adult learning theory and competency-based training models.
  • Experience with data analytics tools for training effectiveness reporting.
Wisconsin pay range
$190,000—$230,000 USD
California pay range
$210,000—$250,000 USD

Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.

Candidates must have current, valid authorization to work in the country where this role is located.

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