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Head Of Learning Development Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Head of Machine Learning

Mountain View, CA · Hybrid

$477K - $583K/yr

POSITION SUMMARY We are seeking an experienced and visionary Head of Machine Learning to lead and scale our machine learning efforts across the company. As a fintech company where data and machine ...

Socket.dev

Learning & Development Lead

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$220 - $234/hr

Wing's fleet of highly automated delivery drones can transport small packages directly from ... About the Role Wing is looking for a Learning & Development Lead to join our People team. We are ...

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Head Of Learning Development information

See California salary details

$16.2K

$96.1K

$183.1K

How much do head of learning development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for head of learning development in California is $96,125.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,222.00 and $127,789.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the main challenges faced by a head of learning development when implementing new training initiatives across an organization?

One of the primary challenges for a Head of Learning Development is ensuring organization-wide buy-in for new training programs. This often involves aligning training initiatives with business goals, addressing resistance to change among employees, and tailoring content to diverse learning needs. Additionally, managing resources effectively and demonstrating the ROI of learning initiatives to senior leadership are common hurdles. Successful Heads of Learning Development regularly collaborate with department heads and HR to ensure smooth rollout and ongoing improvement of development programs.

What is the difference between Head Of Learning Development vs Learning & Development Manager?

AspectHead Of Learning DevelopmentLearning & Development Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees overall learning strategy, sets vision, manages teams, and aligns learning initiatives with organizational goals.Implements training programs, manages day-to-day learning activities, and supports learning projects within departments.
Required CredentialsTypically requires advanced degrees in education, HR, or related fields; certifications like CPLP or ATD are common.Often requires similar certifications and experience in training or HR, but may have less emphasis on strategic planning.
Work EnvironmentStrategic, leadership-focused, often in senior HR or Learning & Development departments.Operational, team-oriented, working closely with trainers, HR, and employees.

The Head Of Learning Development focuses on strategic leadership and long-term learning goals, while the Learning & Development Manager handles the implementation and management of training programs. Both roles require relevant certifications and experience, but differ mainly in scope and level of responsibility.

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

To thrive as a Head of Learning Development, you need expertise in instructional design, adult learning principles, and strategic leadership, often supported by a degree in education, HR, or organizational development. Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), digital content creation tools, and certifications like CPLP or ATD are highly valued. Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and change leadership skills help drive learning initiatives effectively across the organization. These skills ensure the design and delivery of impactful learning programs that support talent development and organizational goals.

What does a head of learning development do?

A Head of Learning Development is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing training and professional development programs within an organization. They assess employee learning needs, develop strategies to enhance skills, and ensure that training initiatives align with organizational goals. This role often involves managing a team, collaborating with other departments, and measuring the effectiveness of learning programs to drive continuous improvement.
What are popular job titles related to Head Of Learning Development jobs in California? For Head Of Learning Development jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Head Of Learning Development jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Head Of Learning Development jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Head Of Learning Development jobs? Cities in California with the most Head Of Learning Development job openings:
Head Of Learning Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Head Of Learning Development job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,125 per year, or $46.2 per hour.

Head of US Commercial Learning and Development

AbbVie

Irvine, CA • On-site

$206K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago

AbbVie rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 100 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 86 rated pharmaceutical

Job description

Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
The Head of Learning and Development, Commercial (US-based) is a senior, enterprise-level leader responsible for owning and driving the end-to-end Learning & Development strategy for AbbVie's US Commercial organization. This role serves as the primary L&D partner to senior Commercial leaders, ensuring that learning investment is tightly aligned with US commercial strategy, brand priorities, and portfolio launch objectives.
The Head of L&D, Commercial leads a high-performing team of L&D professionals and is accountable for building a future-ready US Commercial workforce through the design, execution, and continuous improvement of impactful, measurable learning programs. This includes developing critical capabilities across field sales forces, commercial managers, and newly promoted leaders to drive performance, accelerate launches, and sustain competitive advantage in the market.
Responsibilities:
  • Partner with US Commercial VPs, Brand Team Leaders, and Sales Leaders to align learning priorities with US commercial strategy, brand priorities, and launch objectives - delivering high-quality therapeutic area and product knowledge training and capability programs within agreed timelines and to the highest standards.
  • Partner with Market Access and Patient Services to ensure field force training and capability development initiatives deliver measurable, in-market outcomes, continuously refining programs based on performance data and business feedback.
  • Leverage digital platforms, virtual learning technologies, and data to drive innovative, scalable, and experiential learning solutions that meet the evolving needs of the US Commercial organization and position AbbVie as a best-in-class learning organization.
  • Work with the Compliance Steering Committee to govern, document, and measure the development and execution of all US Commercial organization training on corporate policies, procedures, PhRMA guidelines, and AbbVie's Code of Business Conduct - ensuring compliance readiness across the entire commercial workforce.
  • Manage vendor relationships, training program budgets, and end-to-end program implementation; demonstrate cost efficiency and fiscal discipline through strategic vendor selection, and ongoing assessment of return on learning investment.
  • Partner with Enterprise Learning and cross-functional learning colleagues, bringing US Commercial perspective and best practices to enterprise-wide programs and ensuring alignment between US Commercial L&D and the broader AbbVie learning ecosystem.
  • Inspire, coach, and lead direct reports to set and achieve impactful, measurable learning and business outcomes - fostering a team culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous professional development.

Qualifications
Required:
  • Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Business, Organizational Development, Learning & Development, or a related field strongly preferred.
  • 10+ years of progressive experience in Learning & Development, Sales Training, Commercial Excellence, or a related discipline within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry.
  • Sales and/or sales management experience required at the District Manager level or above; Regional Director level or above strongly preferred.
  • Proven experience leading large-scale L&D strategies and programs in a complex, matrixed US Commercial organization with accountability for measurable business outcomes.
  • Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with senior Commercial leaders at the VP level and above, aligning learning investment and program design with strategic business priorities.
  • Experience managing teams, multi-million dollar budgets ($3MM+), and vendor relationships, with a track record of delivering results on time and within budget.

Preferred:
  • Experience operating within a high-performing matrix organization with cross-functional leadership responsibilities spanning multiple business units or therapeutic areas.
  • Strong working knowledge of pharmaceutical compliance regulations, including PhRMA guidelines, AbbVie Code of Business Conduct, and Operating Guidelines governing commercial training and promotional activity.
  • Proficiency with digital learning platforms, Learning Management Systems (LMS), and virtual delivery technologies; demonstrated ability to scale learning solutions through technology.
  • Demonstrated ability to design and implement evaluation frameworks that measure learning effectiveness and translate outcomes into quantifiable business impact.
  • Active engagement with external industry forums, professional learning networks, and key learning specialists to continuously inform, benchmark, and differentiate AbbVie's US Commercial L&D strategy.

Key Stakeholders
  • US Commercial VPs and Senior Leaders
  • Brand Team Leaders and Marketing Directors
  • US Sales Leaders
  • Enterprise Learning & Development Leadership
  • External Vendors and Learning Partners

Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
  • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
  • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

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About AbbVie

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health, and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

North Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

2013

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