Director, Learning & Development

Job Description

Chicago Zoological Society | Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Rd, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America

Position: Director of Learning & Development (Full‑time, salaried, grade 13). Salary range: $154,932 - $170,600 per year.

Overview

Join the PRIDE and Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s mission to ignite emotional connections with wildlife that spark conservation action while leading vital programs to protect endangered species. The Director of Learning & Development partners with staff, business unit leaders, and subject‑matter experts to design, administer, coordinate, and evaluate high‑quality training experiences that increase workforce performance and employee engagement.

Responsibilities

Needs Assessment and Strategy

• Partner with stakeholders to identify skills gaps and training needs across departments.
• Build scalable learning frameworks that align with company goals and support employees at all levels.
• Develop and execute a multi‑year strategic learning framework aligned to enterprise goals.

Program Development

• Design, create, and implement comprehensive training programs (in‑person workshops, e‑learning, onboarding, leadership development).
• Spearhead change management, culture transformation, and leadership development that supports institutional growth.
• Embed DEAI principles in every facet of learning and development practices.
• Ensure training initiatives strengthen regulatory compliance, mitigate risk, and support operational readiness.

Facilitation and Training

• Deliver dynamic training sessions, facilitate interactive workshops, and lead engaging new‑hire orientation.
• Coach and advise senior leaders on succession planning and development strategies.

Evaluation and Improvement

• Position learning as a driver of operational performance, safety culture, and employee engagement.
• Define and implement strategic L&D KPIs that connect workforce training to measurable performance, engagement, and retention outcomes.
• Deliver executive‑level insights on workforce capability and ROI, utilizing analytics to drive strategic, data‑informed talent decisions.
• Oversee LMS strategy and digital learning technologies to ensure scalable, compliant, and high‑quality user‑centric experiences.

Budget and Vendor Management

• Manage vendor relations, content licensing, and training resources.
• Manage the learning budget in partnership with P&C leadership.

Other

• Actively monitor and adopt emerging e‑learning technologies, tools, and industry trends.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to ensure successful achievement of Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s goals and objectives.

Position Requirements

• High school diploma or educational equivalent (e.g., GED) required. Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development, Human Resources, Instructional Design, Business Administration, or related field, or eight years of equivalent experience, required.
• Five years of experience in learning & development, instructional design, and/or organizational development that includes supporting senior leaders and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Expertise in designing and delivering engaging, learner‑centered educational experiences that drive performance.
• Skilled in virtual and in‑person facilitation that encourages active participation, peer‑to‑peer learning, and high engagement.
• Experience in full‑life‑cycle training portfolio from onboarding to leadership development across multiple functional areas of a complex organization.
• Demonstrated capability in instructional design utilizing learning theory and e‑learning software.
• Proficiency in designing and executing training needs assessment, leveraging data analytics and evaluation frameworks to track pre‑ and post‑training metrics against organizational performance and ROI.
• English fluency at a professional working proficiency.
• Cultural competency; experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience.
• Valid driver’s license required on date of hire. Illinois residents must possess a valid Illinois driver’s license at the time of hire or within 90 days. Out‑of‑state residents must provide a valid out‑of‑state license.

Desirable/Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience using a Learning Management System and administration functions.
• Multilingual ability; Spanish fluency is a plus.

Additional Information

Must be able to work within a very fast‑paced environment with rapidly shifting priorities. The position may require early mornings, evenings, and occasional Saturdays to meet the training needs of the organization. The role involves safely operating a golf cart to transport training equipment to various locations within the Zoo.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

EEO Statement

This position is open to all qualified applicants. Brookfield Zoo Chicago is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace.