Director, Learning and Development

Director, Learning and Development

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world.

We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

To support our mission, we are seeking a Learning and Development Director, to join our People Team. As the Learning and Development Director at National Wildlife Federation, you will play a pivotal role in designing, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive learning and development strategies that align with NWF’s goals and employee development needs. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to create and deliver effective training programs that enhance individual and organizational performance.

Your innovative approach to learning will drive our employees  skills, knowledge, and career progression.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES (major areas of responsibility):

• Refine and execute a strategic learning and development roadmap that supports business objectives and promotes a culture of learning.
• Collaborate with department leaders to identify skill gaps and training needs across various teams and levels.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve training programs, workshops, e-learning modules, and other learning initiatives.
• Leverage various learning methodologies, technologies, and resources to enhance training effectiveness and engagement.
• Monitor and assess the impact of training initiatives through metrics and feedback, making data-driven adjustments as necessary.
• Stay updated on industry trends and best practices in learning and development to bring innovative ideas to the organization.
• Build relationships with external training providers, vendors, and experts to enhance the range of development opportunities.
• Collaborate with other members of the People team to ensure alignment of learning initiatives with performance management and career development processes.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required

• At least 5 years of progressive L&D experience
• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, Business Administration, or a related field.
• CPLP / CPTD Certification required
• Everything DiSC Certified Practitioner required
• Strong grounding in adult learning principles instructional design, or organizational behavior.
• Hands-on experience building training programs (classroom, virtual, and blended learning).
• Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS) and digital learning tools.
• Proven ability to analyze organizational needs and translate them into scalable learning solutions.

Preferred

• Master’s Degree in Organizational Development, Education, Human Resources, or MBA (with focus on talent management).
• Leadership experience with building new functions—designing L&D strategies from the ground up rather than inheriting established systems
• Certification in Prosci highly preferred
• Familiarity with instructional design methodologies e.g., Kirkpatrick, ADDIE
• Experience with change management and leadership development.
• Exposure to data-driven learning evaluation (Kirkpatrick Model, ROI, engagement metrics).
• Experience in managing a small team and external vendors/consultants.
• Cross-functional experience (working with stakeholders, business unit leaders and external partners).

SKILLS &

COMPETENCIES:

• Strategic visioning + tactical execution with the ability to set long-term learning strategies while also creating immediate deliverables.
• Strong consulting and facilitation skills—credibility to influence leaders and engage employees.
• Program design & evaluation (from onboarding to leadership programs).
• Communication & storytelling—translating…