Director of Learning & Development

Cooper's Hawk Winery•Downers Grove, IL

50d•$140,000 - $170,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants continues to expand its restaurant presence, innovate winery capabilities and build its Lifestyle Brand. The Director of Learning and Development will play a critical role in advancing leadership capability across our restaurants and at the Restaurant Support Center. This leader will design and deliver impactful leadership training programs that build a strong pipeline of talent, strengthen culture and enable operations excellence. By equipping current and future leaders with the skills, confidence, and mindset to grow their careers, this role will drive long-term success and support Cooper's Hawk Vision - We Create Community.

Requirements

Must represent Cooper's Hawk values
Minimum of 10 years of experience in learning and development with at least 5 years in a leadership role in a multi-unit restaurant or hospitality environment
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development/Organizational Behavior, Business Administration, Education or related field
Experience in leading and developing a high-performing team
Ability to assess training needs and develop and implement programs to support company growth objectives, operational excellence and workforce and succession planning initiatives
Excellent, effective and professional verbal and written communication skills; ability to manage a productive flow of communication in a variety of settings
Ability to partner with key stakeholders at all levels of the organization
Desire and flexibility to assume the roles of individual contributor, team player and leader simultaneously as the organization evolves
Sound understanding of adult learning principles
Strong learning design skills including eLearning and instructional design, AI experience a plus
Ability to travel, as needed

Responsibilities

Lead the design, implementation, and sustainment of learning programs that align with company strategy, operational priorities, and growth objectives.
Lead, design and evolve the Operations Management Training programs including Manager-in-Development and Areas of Responsibility, to build well-rounded and competent leaders by integrating leadership capabilities and skills along with operational expertise.
Partner with business leaders to assess needs, identify skill gaps and deliver innovative and effective training solutions for both Operations and Restaurant Support Center (RSC) leaders.
Design and deliver Leadership Development experiences that strengthen belonging, collaboration and engagement across all levels.
Facilitate leadership training sessions to both Operations and the RSC.
Partner with Operations and HR leaders to build a strong pipeline of future leaders by supporting development plans for high-potential leaders and emerging talent.
Create and lead a scalable assessment program that evaluates internal managers' readiness for their next role, ensuring objective insights to guide promotions, succession planning, and targeted development.
Evaluate effectiveness of leadership development programs by leveraging business analytics, feedback, performance outcomes, and competitive insights to measure impact and continuously refine program design and delivery.
Leverage learning technology not only to deliver engaging leadership training programs, but also to capture data and insights that inform program effectiveness and enhancements.
Support the planning and execution of the annual Leadership Conference as well as targeted development sessions including Area Team development throughout the year.

Benefits

Monthly Dining Allowance
50% Dining and Carryout
40% Retail Wine
20% Retail and Private Events
Monthly Complimentary Wine Tasting for Two
Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision Insurance plus Telemedicine and Wellness Program
Company Matching 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Flexible Savings Accounts- Health and Dependent Care
Health Savings Account
Long-Term Disability; Voluntary Short-Term Disability
Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (with option to purchase additional coverage)
Paid Parental Leave
Highly Competitive Pay plus Team Member Incentives & Rewards
Paid Time Off
Milestones Recognition Program
Complimentary Gym Membership in RSC Building
Hybrid Work Week (3 days in office, 2 days remote, depending on role)