Head of Program Design

Braven • Chicago, IL

4h • $154,500 - $224,400 • Hybrid

About The Position

Braven is seeking a Head of Program Design to lead the evolution, quality, and integrity of all program experiences offered to students, volunteers, and staff. This role is crucial for scaling Braven's program to serve a significant number of Fellows over the next decade. The Head of Program Design will translate research findings and field insights into high-quality, pedagogically sound program assets and learning sequences. This individual must balance a commitment to human-centered, pedagogically excellent design with the imperative to simplify and scale, ensuring programs are effective for students and institutions alike. The role is part of the Product team and reports to the Chief Product Officer.

Requirements

• BS/BA degree
• 10+ years of experience designing clear, engaging, purposeful, and culturally competent learning experiences
• 3+ years of experience managing a team toward outcomes

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree or other certification in learning design, instructional design, or a related field
• Expert practitioner in human-centered design and adult learning science, with a strong point of view on effective learning experiences for adults in high-stakes career moments
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining a program or curriculum library that serves multiple delivery teams or contexts, with a focus on designing for reuse
• Experience designing human-centered learning experiences that scale through technology
• Experience designing training for program facilitators, including facilitation guides, design rationale, and enablement materials
• Experience and agility in managing old, evolving, and piloting new designs simultaneously
• Exceptional written and verbal communicator who expresses ideas clearly, simply, and with strong design instincts
• Competent in synthesizing multiple data types (observations, user interviews, research, feedback, quantitative data) to identify root problems and drive design improvements
• Deep alignment with Braven's core values and mission, informed by experience working with or for student populations like Braven's Fellows (predominantly people of color from low-income backgrounds)
• Proven track record of building and growing high-performing teams, including developing talent and scoping new roles
• Strategic thinker capable of balancing the quality of individual experiences with the coherence of the full student journey
• Skilled at working across teams and influencing without formal authority
• Experience contributing to organizational strategy as a senior leader, including cross-functional collaboration at the leadership team level
• Proficient in learning management systems and content editors (e.g., Canvas, Articulate)

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve the entire program experience continuum, from the Accelerator course to post-graduation support.
• Maintain a high-quality, multi-modal library of program experiences (in-person, virtual, on-demand) including workshops, learning modules, facilitated sequences, resources, tools, and event designs.
• Create and pilot new program assets in response to field observations and partner needs, prioritizing scale and simplicity.
• Translate research findings into concrete design decisions, ensuring evidence-based practices are reflected in program structure, sequencing, and facilitation.
• Maintain and refresh program assets based on stakeholder feedback, student outcome data, and shifts in the college-to-career landscape and labor market.
• Adjust designs based on feasibility constraints and new technology realities to ensure scalability.
• Act as a continuous learner and consumer of in-person and digital products to stay informed about the field and emerging trends.
• Define, ensure execution of, and evolve Braven's standards for high-quality program design, including structure, duration, learning assessment, and facilitation approach.
• Ensure all program experiences are grounded in adult learning science, cultural competence, and a deep understanding of Braven's student population.
• Stay current on external trends in career readiness research, employer expectations, adult learning best practices, higher education career preparation, and digital tools.
• Design and deliver ongoing training for program staff and volunteers to ensure confident and faithful facilitation of Braven's programs.
• Design and deliver training on design intent so facilitators understand the rationale behind program elements and can adapt effectively.
• Integrate training and staff enablement into new program development from the outset.
• Lead conversations with staff about future programmatic evolution.
• Lead, develop, and grow a team of designers responsible for the full scope of program design work.
• Manage the team's agility to handle business as usual, flex, and innovate.
• Contribute design expertise to the Product Leadership Team for cross-functional decisions on program strategy and evolution.
• Partner with Research, Data, Program Delivery, and Operations to ensure design decisions are evidence-based, field-informed, and executable.
• Engage directly with the field through online and ground-based visits to inform perspective.
• Focus on program simplification, identifying essential design elements and eliminating complexity that doesn't drive value.
• Partner with program delivery, operations, and technology teams to identify design changes that unlock scale.
• Help scope and grow the Design team as the organization scales.
• Contribute to organization-wide strategy and steward a healthy, high-performing culture as a member of the 'One Braven' leadership team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Unlimited vacation time
• Org-wide holidays
• Week-long shutdowns in July and at the end of the calendar year (minimum of 19 days per year)
• $25,000 in lifetime Carrot benefits for fertility, family-building, and hormonal health
• 401K contribution match up to 5% of base annual salary, starting first full month
• Coverage of 85% of health insurance premium for employees and dependents
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• One-month paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior