Director of Learning Operations

New York Botanical Garden•New York, NY

1d•$108,000 - $120,000

About The Position

The Director of Learning Operations leads staff learning and professional development across the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), designing and delivering programs that build skills and knowledge across its diverse professions. The role manages grant-supported workforce development, including training, cross-departmental learning, and departmental microgrants, overseeing planning, delivery, evaluation, reporting, and long-term use of learning resources. The Director integrates artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies into learning operations where applicable, applying best practices to personalize learning pathways, optimize training delivery, and support data-informed decisions. In collaboration with senior management and the AI Governance Committee, the Director develops AI-enabled learning strategies and helps ensure ethical, transparent, and effective use of AI in workforce development. The Director reports to the Associate Vice President for Employee and Volunteer Engagement and supervises part-time learning and development staff. The role partners with the Manager for Employee and Volunteer Experience to align employee, volunteer, and internship programs with NYBG's learning and development strategy, and works with training providers and peer organizations to expand learning opportunities. The Director oversees learning design and delivery, the learning management system (LMS), learning evaluation and reporting, AI and emerging-technology integration, IDEA-related learning, learning operations budgets and grant expenditures, and partnerships and funding efforts. The position also advises managers and employees on development plans, goals, and career learning resources.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Education, Organizational Development, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
5–7 years of managerial experience developing and implementing a learning and development framework.
Experience supervising staff, coordinating workloads, supporting employee development, and ensuring delivery of project commitments.
Experience managing grant-funded learning or workforce development projects, including work plans, budgets, documentation, evaluation, and reporting.
Ability to oversee accessible instructional design and LMS content delivery, and use qualitative and quantitative evidence to improve programs and produce clear reports.
Knowledge of AI applications, governance, ethics, and implementation in learning and development.
Commitment to ongoing professional learning and participation in professional networks to stay current on learning and development best practices, research, emerging technologies, and trends.
Ability to evaluate institution-wide learning from diverse perspectives in support of IDEA initiatives and NYBG's mission.
Ability to work independently, collaborate with internal and external partners, and facilitate meetings, learning programs, and workshops in varied settings.
Excellent interpersonal, writing, and communication skills, with the ability to motivate others.
Excellent time management, project management, negotiation, and change management skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing or managing AI-enhanced learning systems, such as adaptive platforms, analytics tools, or digital learning ecosystems.
Knowledge of botanical garden, horticulture, botanical science, or other green industry professional development.
Experience facilitating mentorship programs.

Responsibilities

Supervise part-time learning and development staff, coach team members, coordinate workloads, and ensure deliverables are completed.
Translate learning priorities established with the AVP into inclusive, scalable development programs across NYBG, working with department leaders, HR, and the Manager for Employee and Volunteer Experience to identify needs and align objectives, content, delivery, and evaluation.
Lead grant-funded workforce development projects within approved scope and budget; maintain work plans, schedules, milestones, deliverables, and records; coordinate partners; manage risks; and prepare progress, impact, interim, and final reports.
Lead learning design, delivery, and improvement; maintain the annual learning calendar; coordinate live and virtual training, recordings, accessible e-learning, job aids, and reusable resources; and oversee content review, pilots, quality assurance, LMS publishing, version control, and maintenance.
Coordinate outreach with departmental leads to support participation across roles, schedules, and digital skill levels, and sustain learning through departmental champions and knowledge sharing.
Oversee the departmental microgrant program, including proposal guidance, application review, award records, project support, quarterly check-ins, and a final showcase; help managers turn successful projects into reusable learning resources.
Assess learning needs and evaluate programs using surveys, interviews, listening sessions, participation and completion data, competency assessments, and evidence of on-the-job application; use findings to improve programs and document outcomes.
Drive integration of AI and emerging technology into learning operations in line with approved priorities; partner with IT, HR, and the AI Governance Committee; deliver AI literacy training; build digital fluency into leadership and onboarding programs; oversee adaptive learning and analytics-based tools; and support safe experimentation.
Oversee the LMS for training delivery, tracking, and reporting; work with IT, HR, and system and reporting owners to improve data collection, dashboards, and learning metrics; and support institutional reporting using accurate data and established safeguards.
Advise managers and employees on development plans, goals, and career learning resources; partner on mentoring, job shadowing, cross-training, and stretch-assignment learning needs.
Advance IDEA through inclusive, accessible learning and staff education; align accessibility training with learning objectives and approved content; and serve on the IDEA Senior Advisory Group.
Manage the learning operations budget and grant expenditures with Finance and Development, monitor spending, document expenditures and grant-supported time, and assess cost-effectiveness and equitable resource use.
Pursue grants, sponsorships, and philanthropic funding with Development and internal partners; support proposals and reporting; and maintain partnerships with training providers and peer organizations.
Raise risks, resource needs, lessons learned, and improvement opportunities requiring the AVP's attention.
Perform other related duties as needed.