Head Of Learning Development Jobs in Waukegan, IL

At Johnson Outdoors, home to some of the world's most innovative and best-known outdoor recreation brands, we create amazing outdoor experiences - for adventurers, by adventurers.

Check out each of the unique Johnson Outdoor brands in Fishing, Watercraft, Camping and Diving!

With 1,300 employees, 19 global facility locations and selling into over 80 countries, the Manager of Learning & Development leads the vision, architecture, and execution of the Enterprise Learning & Development (L&D) function at Johnson Outdoors. Owns enterprise learning frameworks, including foundational education on change management principles. Ensures our workforce is "future-ready" by bridging current skill gaps and anticipating the capabilities needed for long-term growth. By balancing high-touch internal solutions with technology-enabled platforms including UKG Pro Learning and strategic vendor partnerships, delivers scalable, high-impact development that fuels individual career growth and organizational performance.

Located at our beautiful Headquarters along Lake Michigan in downtown Racine: 555 Main Street, Racine, WI.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develops and executes the L&D roadmap, strategies and frameworks that directly support strategic business objectives and talent needs.
• Identifies emerging skill requirements and leads upskilling and reskilling initiatives to ensure workforce agility.
• Manages and optimizes UKG Learning and other L&D technologies, maximizing automation and user engagement.
• Partners with legal, HR and other internal teams to ensure compliance training needs are identified, integrated and effectively delivered.
• Develops and delivers foundational education on change management principles and tools to help leaders support change effectively. Partners with Enterprise Program Management to integrate change management principles into the execution of enterprise projects and initiatives.

Design & Content Innovation

• Translates technical expertise from subject matter experts into intuitive, performance-based learning pathways.
• Develops high-quality content using a blended learning ecosystem approach including internally developed content, technology-enabled modules in UKG Pro Learning and other platforms, AI-assisted content creation, virtual workshops, and self-paced modules.
• Sources and manages external training partners to provide best-in-class resources that complement internal offerings.
• Ensures training materials are accessible, engaging, and resonate with a diverse workforce.

Career Growth & Talent Mobility

• Partners with HR and business leaders to understand capability needs and talent priorities and build role-specific frameworks and pathways.
• Develops career development resources that enable employee growth and internal mobility.

Organizational Excellence & Coaching

• Facilitates high-impact coaching and leadership labs to strengthen bench strength and enhance leadership development initiatives.
• Conducts rigorous assessments and analysis to ensure L&D investments address critical business needs and drive performance.

L&D Operations & Culture

• Establishes and reports on KPIs (such as skill proficiency gains, ROI, and employee retention impact) to demonstrate business value.
• Manages the L&D budget and vendor lifecycle to ensure cost-effectiveness and high service levels.
• Champions a continuous learning mindset that aligns with Johnson Outdoors' core values and innovation-driven culture.

Artificial Intelligence

• Appropriately uses enterpriseapproved AI tools to improve efficiency, quality, analysis, and execution within the scope of the role.
• Applies sound professional judgment and maintains appropriate human oversight when using AIgenerated outputs.
• Incorporates AIenabled insights into workflows, decision making, and communication where it adds value.
• Ensures AI usage aligns with company standards for security, privacy, and ethical use.

Other:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

What you need to succeed:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, organizational development, education, business management, or equivalent.

• Typically requires a minimum of 7 years of experience in learning & development, including independently designing, building, and scaling new L&D programs, facilitating adult learning for a diverse global workforce, leading LMS execution and optimization, and managing external vendor partnership.

• Mastery of adult learning principles, instructional design models, and human-centered design to ensure solutions are intuitive and learner-focused.

• Ability to design for multiple modalities-virtual, in-person, micro-learning, and social learning.

• Strong consulting skills with the ability to translate complex business needs into performance-based learning pathways.

• Resilience and agility to lead others through organizational evolution in a fast-paced environment.

• Proven ability to build credibility and influence for L&D investments and cultural shifts.

• Digital fluency with advanced knowledge of LMS/HCM platforms, and content authoring tools. Proficiency in leveraging AI tools to accelerate content development, personalize learning experiences, and automate administrative L&D tasks.

• Proficient in using L&D metrics and KPI's to measure behavior change, proficiency gains, and program ROI.

• Sharp organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously.

• Strong negotiation and contract management skills to ensure high-quality, cost-effective external solutions.

Artificial Intelligence

• Working knowledge of AI concepts and practical business applications relevant to the role.
• Ability to use AIenabled tools to support analysis, planning, communication, and problem solving.
• Understanding of responsible AI principles, including data privacy, security, and bias awareness.
• Ability to review, validate, and appropriately apply AIgenerated outputs.
• Comfort learning and adapting as AI tools and capabilities evolve.

A few pointers about our culture:

• Entrepreneurial spirit and innovation are in our bones! We authentically innovate trusted equipment that gets people out in the great outdoors.
• We are laser-focused on our consumers, and passionate about providing superior solutions flexible to meet any event's needs or mission requirements.
• We strive to create meaningful, healthy change in the world as individuals and as a family of brands.
• We value team members who are willing to wear many hats; who take personal initiative, anticipating what needs to be done, and figuring things out to make them happen; but who are also willing to ask for help, to assist others and work together.

What you will receive:

• Share in the company's success with competitive base salary with additional earning potential through participation in the management bonus program, and eligibility for annual pay increases.
• Find work/life balance with generous Paid Time Off and holiday benefits, a full benefits package, and broad range of employee support and fitness and wellness plans.
• Further your career with performance development and training opportunities, including our tuition assistance program.
• Have fun at work, enjoy a collaborative and casual work environment, participating in fun company events, and taking advantage of great employee discounts on all our outdoor recreational products.
• Plan for your future with our 401(k) with company match and deferred retirement contributions, Sons & Daughters Scholarship program, college savings program, life and LTD insurance, and more.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at Johnson Outdoors (and all subsidiaries) without regard to race; creed; color; religion; national origin; sex; age; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; genetic predisposition or carrier status; veteran, marital, or citizenship status; or any other status protected by law. Johnson Outdoors is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact Human Resources at HRSpecialAccommodations@johnsonoutdoors.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global innovator of outdoor recreation equipment and technologies that inspire more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft Recreation, Fishing, Diving and Camping. Johnson Outdoors' iconic brands include Old Town canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak; Carlisle paddles; Minn Kota fishing motors, batteries and anchors; Cannon downriggers; Humminbird marine electronics and charts; SCUBAPRO dive equipment; Jetboil outdoor cooking systems. Founded in 1970 by Samuel C. Johnson, the Company has delivered double-digit compound annual growth over its history, evolving from a single brand into a nearly $663 million global enterprise with around 1,300 employees across 20 countries.