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Head Of Learning Development Jobs in Naperville, IL

Specialist Learning Dev

Chicago, IL · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

S. family of brands, which also includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands - Food Lion, Giant ... Manages, from intake to delivery, development of eLearning courses, creating content that meets the ...

Showing results 21-40

Head Of Learning Development information

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 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 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 most commonly searched types of Of Learning Development jobs in Naperville, IL?

The most popular types of Of Learning Development jobs in Naperville, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Head Of Learning Development jobs in Naperville, IL?

For Head Of Learning Development jobs in Naperville, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Head Of Learning Development jobs in Naperville, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Head Of Learning Development jobs in Naperville, IL are:

What cities near Naperville, IL are hiring for Head Of Learning Development jobs?

Cities near Naperville, IL with the most Head Of Learning Development job openings:

Infographic showing various Head Of Learning Development job openings in Naperville, IL 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.

Senior Learning & Development Specialist - Professional Development

William Blair

Chicago, IL • Hybrid

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago


Job description

Senior Learning & Development Specialist - Professional Development Focused

We are looking for a Senior Learning & Development Specialist - Professional Development to build William Blair's firmwide professional skills curriculum. You'll design, develop, and facilitate structured learning paths and courses, shaping how colleagues across the firm grow their core skills. With the curriculum strategy set, you'll spend year one developing engaging materials and facilitating sessions that land with diverse audiences. In addition, you'll partner closely with learning management system technical experts to shape how content is organized and housed within the system. A third, and smaller, portion of your role will include occasionally building custom content for teams and departments in corporate functions that include IT, Finance, Legal & Compliance, Workplace & Real Estate Management, Human Resources, Brand, Marketing & Communications, and Philanthropy & Sustainability.

Successful candidates will bring significant experience as instructional designers who have built comparable curricula before. You'll be energized by the challenge of creating something new rather than maintaining something established. We value colleagues who take pride in the quality of their work, take strong ownership over results, and bring strong instincts for what makes learning content work. This role reports to the Manager of Learning & Development.

Responsibilities include but may not be limited to:

  • Design and build a firmwide professional-skills curriculum and learning paths, covering core skills.
  • Deliver instructor-led training sessions; prioritize instructor-led and blended delivery over stand-alone eLearning.
  • Provide input into Workday Learning system configuration and reporting; partner with the HRIS team, which owns technical administration and analytics.
  • Advise the L&D team on how courses, learning paths, and completions are organized and housed within the LMS.
  • Partner with the Manager, Learning & Development to prioritize which competencies and functions to build first, sequencing work in manageable waves.
  • Lead weekly orientation for firmwide new hires globally.
  • Maintain and evolve curriculum based on participant feedback and evolving business needs.
  • Occasionally build custom content to address team- or function-specific needs.
  • Track participation, completion, and effectiveness data to demonstrate program impact.
  • Additional responsibilities, as requested.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree.
  • 3-5 years of professional experience in instructional design, learning and development, or a related discipline.
  • Demonstrated, hands-on experience building a professional skills or core-competency curriculum from scratch; candidates should be prepared to share examples of their work.
  • Strong facilitation skills; demonstrated comfort delivering instructor-led training to cross-functional audiences.
  • Strong LMS experience required; Workday Learning experience preferred, with willingness and aptitude to become the L&D team's Workday Learning subject-matter expert.
  • Working knowledge of adult learning theory and competency-based learning path design.
  • Comfort using instructional design tools (e.g. Elucidat, Articulate).
  • Comfort using generative AI tools to accelerate content development and course authoring.
  • Ability to work independently and move quickly in a build-from-scratch environment with limited existing materials.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills; skilled at establishing credibility with senior leaders across diverse functions.
  • Experience working within a regulated environment; preference for experience administering company-wide campaigns (e.g. preventing workplace harassment).
  • Experience in a financial services or professional services environment is preferred.
  • Ability to work across multiple time zones.
  • Willingness to come into the office a minimum of two days a week; more as learning programs may require.