Senior Director, Learning Design & Development

JOB SUMMARY 

The Sr Director of Learning Design & Development is responsible for defining and executing a strategic vision for impactful learning and development initiatives. This role plays a central part in positioning Marriott as a leader in talent development by designing, developing, and implementing high-quality, innovative learning solutions that align with our "digital first" approach. Leveraging industry best practices, data-driven insights, and emerging learning technologies, the role will drive programs that enhance business performance, foster a culture of continuous learning, and elevate associate engagement and satisfaction. This position ensures that all learning content is optimized to meet current and future organizational needs, supporting Marriott’s commitment to professional growth and a world-class employee experience across our global workforce. 

CANDIDATE PROFILE  

Education and Experience  

Required 

• BA/BS in instructional design, human resources, or a related field; or equivalent work experience. 

• 10+ years of experience in learning and development, including instructional design. 

• Proven track record in designing, developing, and implementing high-impact talent development solutions.  

Preferred 

• Experience leading learning initiatives during significant organizational changes. 

• Strong leadership and team-building skills. 

• Excellent communication, coaching, and mentoring abilities. 

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES  

• Leverage proven practices from research-based design methodology and adult learning theory to pilot and test new learning approaches, creating scalable prototypes that significantly enhance engagement, knowledge retention, and performance outcomes.  

• Identify, evaluate, and lead the implementation of emerging learning technologies, including AI, immersive experiences, adaptive learning systems, and mobile learning tools, to create personalized, impactful, and flexible learning experiences.  

• Develop and maintain comprehensive project documentation, including detailed project plans, task lists, timelines, and progress reports, to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficient project tracking across the lifecycle.  

• Define critical project paths, set clear milestones, and establish delivery dates, ensuring that stakeholder deliverables meet the need.  

• Cultivate and manage a network of external development vendors, ensuring access to high-quality learning resources that scale with the organization’s changing needs.  

• Drive the philosophy, strategy, and execution of the TD’s content optimization approach.  

• Recruit, mentor, and retain a cohesive team of learning professionals, fostering an environment that promotes collaboration, innovation, and high performance.  

• Establish and communicate clear expectations and quality standards for instructional design and content across all programs and conduct regular performance reviews and feedback sessions to ensure both individual and team success. 

• Develop and implement resource management strategies to optimize team capacity, utilization, and productivity, ensuring efficient and effective deployment of skills and talents across projects, balancing workload to maximize output while supporting employee well-being. 

• Facilitate continuous professional development in instructional design, offering team members access to stretch assignments, training in best practices, emerging tools, and other development opportunities.  

• Establish evaluation methods to assess the impact and effectiveness of training programs and utilize feedback and data to make evidence-based improvements that enhance learning impact. 

• Maintain strong, collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders to stay attuned to evolving business needs.  

• Set project priorities based on business needs, resource availability, and potential impact, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to deliver high-quality, timely learning programs.  

• Track and analyze budget performance, ensuring efficient use of resources and identify opportunities for cost savings that maintain or enhance program quality. 

• Work closely with the Performance Advisory team to review stakeholder feedback, uncover performance gaps, and identify future learning and development needs.  

The salary range for this position is $171,900 to $207,600 annually. Marriott offers a bonus program, comprehensive healt