Senior Director, Learning and Development
Remote
Network Support – Talent /
Full-time /
Remote
At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique potential and it is our responsibility and our privilege to unleash the potential inside every Rocketeer we serve. Our non-profit network of public elementary charter schools propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community. We are a collective of parents, teachers, leaders, and students working together to transform the future for underserved communities across our country. At Rocketship Public Schools, we are unleashing potential.
The Senior Director of Learning and Development will lead the national Talent Development team (which includes two direct reports) to set vision and design and implement and operationalize all programming, practices, content, and tools to drive the development of Rocketship’s 1,200+ employees. This highly collaborative leadership role will require close partnership with the Rocketship Program Team (focus on school-specific model and training content) as well as functional and regional leaders across the organization. This critical leader will help drive organizational effectiveness and culture. This position reports to the Chief People Officer and may be based in any of Rocketship’s regional offices (California Bay Area; Milwaukee, WI; Washington, DC; Nashville, TN; Fort Worth, TX). Travel up to 15% of the time may be required.
Learning and Development Vision and Direction
- Define approach to learning and development at Rocketship
- Partner with regional leaders to understand and respond to regional-specific development needsIdentifies organization learning needs in alignment with organizational strategy
- Works closely with leadership in the implementation of organizational and team member development at all levels
- Lead the creation of scope and sequence maps for various levels and roles in the organization (e.g. managers, functional leaders)
- Set direction for current and future pipeline programsDirects initiatives and programs to assist with organizational change management
- Lead organizational approach to onboarding
- Provide on-going consultation on training and development research, learning theory, and new techniques and methods.
- Partner closely with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team to ensure Talent Development is inclusive and driving toward equity in outcomes for staff advancement with a special focus on leaders who reflect and represent that students we serve
- Oversee progress monitoring and program evaluation of Talent Development content and programs
Team Leadership
- Lead a high performing team with an exemplary team culture
- Set, track, and communicate ambitious goals and progress toward them
- Coach and develop team members to continuously build skill and drive results
- Serve as a thought partner, advisory, and collaborator with senior leaders across the organization
Platforms and Tools for Learning and Development (Learning Management System)
- Identify and implement systems for knowledge management related to learning and development tools
- Ensure that content is readily available and accessible to employees
- Lead research, adoption, and implementation of Learning Management System (LMS)
Leadership Development Content Design and Facilitation
- Lead the design of leadership, management, onboarding, and other content for employees
- Partner with the Program Team (Professional Learning team) and regional leaders to ensure alignment and relevance of all content for school-based staff
- Keep abreast of key trends and research-based best practices to talent development
- Ensure that all content aligns with Rocketship’s core values, beliefs, and approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Ensure that all compliance and regulatory training requirements are met
- Identify highly effective vendors or content for purchase
Onboarding
- Refine vision and approach to new employee onboarding
- Collaborate with national, regional, and team leaders to ensure strong execution and follow through of onboarding programming
- Create and implement organization-wide content for new employee onboarding
- Serve as cross functional leader to drive implementation of onboarding plans across team and regions
- Design and implement buddy or ambassador program for new hire support
- Lead evaluation of onboarding program effectiveness
Talent Pipeline Management
- Lead design and revision of competency maps and job leveling frameworks
- Work with senior leaders and Human Resources team to implement a talent review process
- Lead systems of succession planning and long term leadership pipeline needs for regional and national teams
Knowledge & Skills
- Strategic thinking and problem solving
- Problem solving skills grounded in data, judgment, and capacity for complexity
- Exceptional project management skill
- Analytical skills and data driven decision making
- Ability to create operational excellence at scale
- Analyzes and forecasts
- Relationship-building and communication
- Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders through knowledge, judgment, advice, and decisions
- Ability to invest diverse stakeholders across multiple teams without direct authority
- Builds consensus
- Ensures understanding of technical matters by non technical, executive decision makers
- Advises and councils key leadership on the latest principles, practices, and/or technologies and their practical application
- Knowledge and content expertise
- Deep knowledge of best practices and content in adult learning
- Adapts and integrates own experience with Rocketship strategy
- In-depth knowledge of professional standards and trends within area of expertise
- Innovation
- Invents new products and processes to achieve strategic business objectives
- Decisions are strategic in nature, have long-term impact, and tend to relate to business strategy, financial performance and effective resource utilization
- Fit
- Deep commitment to Rocketship’s mission of eliminating the achievement gap
- Alignment with core characteristics required of every Rocketeer: pursuit of excellence, innovation, community, tenacity, and authenticity
- An entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm for joining a growing organization
- Willingness and ability to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Master’s degree in related field preferred
- A minimum of 5 years of experience leading organizational learning and development initiatives
- A minimum of 7 years of people management experience including a track record of developing leadership in others
- Experience leading in a complex multi-region organization
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.
Compensation:
Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and wellness benefits, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.
Rocketship Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Rocketship Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Rocketship Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rocketship Public Schools’ employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. Click here for our . For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact Human Resources.
