Director of Learning and Design

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world‑changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) is a diverse community of learners, teachers, and employees who are passionate about changing the world through education and striving for maximum impact in the field of education.

The Director of Learning Experience and Design serves as a key senior member of the Professional Education (PPE) team at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The Director joins the Portfolio Director (PD) team and reports to the Senior Portfolio Director. In this critical leadership role, the Director manages the Learning Experience and Design (LXD) team of learning designers and learning technologists to drive the strategic development and continuous improvement of high‑quality, learner‑centered programs and extensions, focusing primarily on online, hybrid, and on‑demand.

The Director collaborates closely with the other Portfolio Directors, faculty, practitioners, and external partners to ensure the design and implementation of innovative learning experiences that align with HGSE’s mission and advance its positive impact on the education sector.

The Director oversees the program design process—including instructional design and course development—and provides leadership in identifying and adopting new educational technologies and best practices. They will be responsible for developing and leading a team of learning designers and technologists to ensure adequate support for a growing online portfolio of program offerings. In addition to direct personnel management, the Director helps shape PPE’s online program strategy and processes, champions continuous improvement, and upholds rigorous quality and accessibility standards across all program modalities.

The ideal candidate is an experienced people manager and project lead with a strong track record managing technical teams; demonstrated expertise in project management, instructional systems design, and vendor/contractor management; and a proven ability to lead the design, development, and implementation of professional learning solutions for education practitioners.

• Lead the creation, implementation, and continuous improvement of instructional design standards, processes, and practices across the PPE portfolio.
• Serve as the primary liaison with HGSE faculty, Portfolio Directors, and subject matter experts to translate learning goals into compelling, research‑informed learning experiences.
• Oversee learning design for online, blended, and on‑demand programs for professional educators, ensuring alignment with adult learning principles and instructional best practices.
• Lead the integration of innovative learning technologies and multimedia resources to enhance the engagement and effectiveness of PPE programs, courses, and extensions.
• Serve as an administrative leader of a portfolio of programs and related professional development opportunities designed to support educational leaders across the US and globally.

• Direct, manage, and mentor the LXD team of learning designers and technologists, supporting their growth and ensuring high performance across multiple, concurrent projects.
• Allocate LXD team resources proactively across the department to meet portfolio and program priorities, adapting and reassigning dynamically as needed. Delegate tasks and foster collaboration and professional development within the team.
• Proactively assess projects to identify when additional technical support is needed and clearly determine when to engage external resources including external contractors, vendors, or specialty experts—to successfully meet scope, schedule, and quality requirements. Recruit, hire, and manage those positions to complete the projects successfully.
• Work with the Senior Portfolio Director to ensure…