Director, Learning Excellence

Nationwide Mutual Insurance•Columbus, OH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This role is responsible for leading the enterprise Learning Excellence team, which is part of the broader corporate learning function. The Director will ensure learning excellence across Nationwide by implementing effective, modern, digital-first and automated workplace learning architecture, standards, guidelines, and processes in support of key strategies and programs. This position requires partnering and collaborating with leaders and associates both inside and outside Talent Management (TM) to advance consistency and excellence for learning programs across the enterprise. The role also supports and aligns enterprise learning solutions to AI, Future of Work, and talent development strategies, championing responsible adoption of generative AI, intelligent learning tools, and human-centered experience design across TM learning programs.

Requirements

An undergraduate degree in business, learning and development, management, business, human resources, organization development or related subject is preferred.
Ten or more years of demonstrated experience in human resources, business consulting, organizational development and/or learning and development, including at least five years of proven experience in leading teams in a large, complex environment.
Experience partnering with other learning and human resources leaders to formulate and execute a coordinated strategy through a matrixed structure.
At least three years of demonstrated experience in learning analysis, solution design and development.
Experience in multiple learning solution techniques and methodologies.
Large program initiation and management experience.
Experience interacting with and influencing executives and peers to achieve desired outcomes.
Experience designing, deploying, and governing AI-enabled and automated learning solutions—including generative AI authoring, agentic workflows, and Power Platform tools—in a large, complex enterprise environment.
Demonstrated experience leading enterprise required learning programs with regulatory, compliance, and multi-country deployment complexity.
Experience founding or sustaining professional learning communities and governance structures across matrixed organizations.
Background in human-centered experience design, including user research, persona development, journey mapping, and iterative design processes.
Extensive business, technology, industry and profession awareness.
Solid understanding of learning and development methodologies, people management and business/process management concepts.
Understanding of modern workplace instructional technology, design techniques and solution development.
Ability to identify, select and manage vendors to support any aspect of solution development.
Solid knowledge of learning measurement methodologies and their appropriate use.
Performance consulting, learning solution design and development and program management.
Able to analyze needs and then design and develop learning solutions to meet those needs.
Possesses solid verbal and written communication skills in various mediums to interact with all levels of the company in both one-on-one and large audience venues.
Able to manage a team responsible for collaborating to identify, prioritize and act upon learning excellence opportunities.
Strong decision-making skills for problem identification and solution recommendation.
Strong project leadership and management skills.
Blend ability to establish strategic vision with solid execution of plans to achieve that vision.
Demonstrated ability to optimize resources efficiently and effectively to respond to varying demands for services.
Knowledge of generative AI, agentic AI, and automation platforms as applied to learning design and operations.
Ability to translate learning impact data into executive-level narratives, data visualizations, and storytelling that support strategic decision-making and stakeholder influence.
Understanding of global regulatory frameworks affecting learning content requirements including vendor management in that context.
Skilled in digital product ownership for learning hubs, knowledge environments, and SharePoint-based communication platforms.
Ability to build, sustain, and lead professional learning communities, councils, and communities of practice at the enterprise level.
Understanding of modern learning technology ecosystems—including AI-powered platforms, learning management systems (e.g., Workday Learning), and emerging tools—sufficient to evaluate, influence, and govern technology decisions.

Nice To Haves

Graduate studies in related field is a plus.
Corporate centers of excellence and/or shared services experience, as well as experience in a Fortune 100 company, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Partners with peers, learning leaders, HR Operations and Procurement to provide oversight and governance of learning vendors, contractors, and suppliers.
Scans external environment for latest learning innovations and technologies and evaluates new partners for potential collaboration.
Partners with TM leaders, digital learning architect, and other key partners to ensure effective use of learning technology.
Directs the application of automation tools (e.g., Power Automate, Power Apps, Copilot Studio, Gen AI/agentic workflows) to simplify learner and content-owner experiences, reduce manual processes, and improve operational efficiency.
Establishes governance standards enabling learning designers across the enterprise to safely and consistently integrate AI and automation into their work.
Responsible for capture, analysis and reporting of key learning metrics (efficiency and effectiveness) across TM.
Partners with other TM and enterprise learning leaders to ensure the ongoing internal and external professional development related to learning expertise.
Translates learning impact data into compelling executive-level narratives, data visualizations, and storytelling that support strategic decision-making and stakeholder influence.
Leads or contributes to external benchmarking and award submissions (e.g., Training Magazine, ATD BEST, Learning Elite) to elevate Nationwide's reputation as an enterprise learning leader.
Chairs and sustains enterprise learning communities of practice (e.g., Learning Leader Advisory Committee, Learning Accelerator, LEARNx series, Learning Leader Exchange) to build learning professional capability, share innovation, and advance consistent practices across business units.
Coordinates and delivers AI and automation learning experiences specifically for learning professionals, positioning TM as a trusted guide for responsible innovation in L&D.
Directs the design and development of large-scale, enterprise learning solutions through a variety of digital delivery methods to efficiently and effectively meet the needs of the learner populations at all levels based on identified and prioritized needs.
Lifts the expertise of the team around human-centered design approaches—including persona development, journey mapping, and iterative user research—to ground learning solutions in real learner needs and ensure measurable performance outcomes.
Guides the team in front-end design thinking, UX principles, and agile/iterative design to elevate the learner experience across digital modalities.
Serves as program lead and strategic owner for enterprise required learning, overseeing the deployment calendar, compliance standards, and cross-functional governance for high-stakes programs.
Oversees design and deployment of required learning programs with country-specific regulatory requirements, including India-specific mandates, managing vendors and ensuring accessibility and compliance across global associate populations.
Owns and continuously evolves digital learning hubs and enterprise knowledge environments as strategic access points for learning content, governance standards, and professional resources.
Ensures intuitive navigation, current content, and a cohesive associate and leader experience across owned digital properties.
Coaches, mentors, engages and motivates a team of digital learning experience designers that advance best practices and modern learning solutions within their own work, across TM and across the company.
Hires and develops talent, provides consistent coaching and feedback and completes leader administrative functions.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.