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Director Of Professional Development Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA

Professionally represent the hotel in community and industry organizations and events. * Manage the ... You possess strong account management and business development capabilities. * You demonstrate the ...

Director of Engineering

Napa, CA · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Professionally responds to guest requests promptly to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction ... Director of Engineering in a similar setting. * Requires ability to manage the department by ...

Director of Engineering

Napa, CA · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Professionally responds to guest requests promptly to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction ... Director of Engineering in a similar setting. * Requires ability to manage the department by ...

Showing results 21-40

Director Of Professional Development information

See Santa Rosa, CA salary details

$44.3K

$95.6K

$146.5K

How much do director of professional development jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for director of professional development in Santa Rosa, CA is $95,584.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,500.00 and $100,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of professional development do?

A Director of Professional Development is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing programs that enhance the skills and knowledge of employees within an organization. They work closely with leadership to identify training needs, develop learning strategies, and ensure that staff have opportunities for continuous growth. Their role often includes managing budgets, evaluating program effectiveness, and staying up-to-date with industry trends to maintain a competitive workforce.

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

To thrive as a Director of Professional Development, you need expertise in curriculum design, training program management, and adult learning principles, typically supported by an advanced degree in education, HR, or a related field. Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS), instructional design software, and relevant certifications such as CPLP or SHRM-CP is highly valuable. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent interpersonal skills help drive organizational learning and foster staff growth. These competencies are crucial for building effective development programs that enhance employee performance and support organizational goals.

What are some common challenges faced by a director of professional development, and how can they be effectively managed?

A Director of Professional Development often faces the challenge of balancing organizational goals with individual employee growth needs. Managing diverse learning styles and ensuring engagement across all departments can require creative program design and strong interpersonal skills. Additionally, keeping up with industry trends and evolving best practices is essential to deliver relevant training. Building strong relationships with department leaders and regularly soliciting feedback can help tailor initiatives for maximum impact and foster a culture of continuous learning.

What is the difference between Director Of Professional Development vs Training Manager?

AspectDirector Of Professional DevelopmentTraining Manager
Primary FocusStrategic planning of professional growth programsOverseeing training sessions and workshops
ResponsibilitiesDeveloping long-term development strategies, policy creationImplementing training programs, managing trainers
CredentialsOften requires advanced degrees and certifications in education or HRTypically requires relevant experience and certifications in training
Work EnvironmentCorporate, educational, or nonprofit sectors focusing on employee growthCorporate training departments, educational institutions

The main difference is that the Director Of Professional Development focuses on strategic, long-term development initiatives, while the Training Manager handles the day-to-day execution of training programs. Both roles require relevant credentials and work in similar environments, but the director's role is more strategic and policy-oriented.

What job categories do people searching Director Of Professional Development jobs in Santa Rosa, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Of Professional Development jobs in Santa Rosa, CA are:

What cities near Santa Rosa, CA are hiring for Director Of Professional Development jobs?

Cities near Santa Rosa, CA with the most Director Of Professional Development job openings:

Infographic showing various Director Of Professional Development job openings in Santa Rosa, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $95,584 per year, or $46 per hour.

Director Of Programs - Advanced Optical Development Group

Viavi Solutions

Santa Rosa, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 9 days ago


Job description

Summary:
VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace, and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications.
We are the people behind the products that help keep the world connected at home, school, work, at play, and everywhere in between. VIAVI employees are passionate about supporting customer success and we welcome people who bring their best every day to the company - to question, to collaborate and to push for solutions that will delight our customers.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Director Of Programs
Advanced Optical Development Group
SUMMARY
VIAVI Solutions has a 100+ year history of technical innovations that have evolved to keep pace and address our customers' most pressing business issues. We make equipment, software, and systems that help to plan, deploy, certify, monitor, and optimize all kinds of networks - like those for mobile phones, service providers, large businesses and data centers. VIAVI is also a leader in high performance thin film optical coatings and engineered diffusers, providing light management technologies to the bank note security, consumer electronics, automotive, defense and instrumentation markets.
The Optical Security and Performance Products (OSP) business segment of VIAVI leverages its core technology strengths of optics, vacuum coatings, and materials science to deliver innovative and differentiated technologies that manipulate light to improve the performance of sensors, to shape light from high performance light sources, and to create unique visual effects. With over seven decades of experience in optical coating technology, VIAVI OSP is a customer focused, market driven enterprise serving attractive and sustainable market sectors including banknote security, consumer electronics, automotive, industrial, and defense/aerospace. VIAVI OSP's customers include global leaders such as SICPA, BASF, Raytheon and STMicroelectronics.
We are seeking an exceptionally talented and highly motivated Advanced Optical Development Lead to join our Research & Development team. This is a leadership role responsible for driving the conceptualization, design, development, and validation of innovative optical systems that are critical to our next-generation products. The successful candidate will develop and lead a team of optical, opto-electronic and opto-mechanical engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous innovation.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Technical Leadership: Define and execute Advanced Optical Development R&D programs in alignment with the overall company strategy and product roadmap. Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and methodologies in optical design, opto-mechanics and precision engineering.
  • Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of optical, mechanical and electrical engineers. Foster a collaborative and high-performance environment, promoting professional growth and technical skill development.
  • Full Lifecycle Development: Oversee the entire development lifecycle, from initial concept generation, feasibility studies, and detailed design to prototyping, testing, validation, and transition to manufacturing for volume production.
  • Precision Opto-Mechanical/Electronic Design: Drive the design of high-precision opto-mechanical and opto-electronic assemblies, including stable optical mounts, alignment mechanisms, thermal management solutions, and vibration isolation systems for highly sensitive optical components (e.g. waveguides, detectors, laser, fiber optic interfaces, quantum emitters).
  • Tolerance Analysis & Budgeting: Guide tolerance analysis and error budgeting methodologies to ensure manufacturability, performance, and reliability of optical systems under various environmental conditions.
  • Material Selection & Process Optimization: Guide the selection of appropriate materials and manufacturing processes (e.g., machining, additive manufacturing, bonding) for optimal optical performance, thermal stability, and long-term reliability.
  • Simulation & Modeling: Champion the use of advanced simulation and modeling tools (e.g., FEA for structural and thermal analysis, optical modeling software) to predict system performance and optimize designs.
  • Verification & Validation: Establish comprehensive test plans and lead experimental validation activities to ensure designs meet performance specifications. Oversee the development of custom test setups and metrology solutions.
  • Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis: Lead complex problem-solving efforts for design challenges, performance deviations, and manufacturing issues related to opto-mechanical systems.
  • IP Development: Contribute to and drive intellectual property generation through patent disclosures and publications.
  • Budget & Resource Management: Work with Program Management to establish and track budgets, timelines, and resource allocations.

Pre-Requisites / Skills / Experience Requirements:
Background & Experience:
  • Education: Ph.D. or M.S. in Optical Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
  • Experience:
    • Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in project/program management with a strong technical aptitude for optical and opto-mechanical design and development, with at least 5 years in a leadership or senior technical lead role.
    • Proven track record of successfully bringing complex opto-mechanical and opto-electronic systems from R&D to production in a fast-paced, high-tech environment.
    • Knowledgeable in precision opto-mechanical design principles, including athermalization techniques, vibration isolation, and thermal management for optical systems.
    • Knowledgeable with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Inventor, Creo) and FEA simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS, SolidWorks Simulation).
    • Familiarity with schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g. Altium, OrCAD, PADS).
    • Strong understanding of optical system design principles and their impact on opto-mechanical and sensing requirements.
    • Experience with various manufacturing processes for precision components (e.g., CNC machining, grinding, polishing, injection molding, additive manufacturing).
    • Familiarity with optical metrology techniques and equipment (e.g., interferometers, autocollimators, profilometers).
    • Knowledgeable of requirements in quantum technology, aerospace, defense, scientific instrumentation, or semiconductor industries is desirable.
    • Knowledge of vacuum deposition is a plus.
    • Must be U.S. Persons as defined by ITAR. ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. "Green Card Holder"), Political Asylee, or Refugee.

If you are a visionary leader with a passion for optical innovation and a desire to make a significant impact on groundbreaking technology, we encourage you to apply.
VIAVI Solutions is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer - minorities/females/veterans/persons with disabilities.
Job Posting Pay Range:
158,200
to
293,800
Exceptional qualifications, experience and location may impact salary. VIAVI offers a competitive benefits package that includes paid time off, health, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and a bonus program.