Leadership Development Program Manager
About The Position
The Leadership Development Program Manager leads the planning, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement of Easterseals Southern California’s enterprise leadership development ecosystem. Reporting to the Director of Learning & Development, the manager partners with the Director to translate strategy into a shared, human-centered leadership foundation and development pathways spanning emerging leaders through C-suite executives. The role leads cross-functional initiatives and works with Learning Experience Design, Instructional Design, and Operations colleagues to deliver connected, accessible learning experiences with measurable results. The manager oversees leadership programs and pathways, manages program delivery, stakeholder engagement, timelines, resources, risks, and budgets, and supports development beyond formal programs through peer learning, practical tools, and workplace application. The position also consults on leadership needs, facilitates conversations and team-building experiences, develops internal facilitators and faculty, and partners with external learning and coaching vendors. It evaluates learning effectiveness, behavior change, leadership readiness, and organizational outcomes, using data and feedback to improve programs and report impact. The position supports a safe, compliant, and responsive workplace and must follow applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. The role has no direct or indirect reports and manages approved leadership-program budgets. Day-to-day decisions concern program planning, implementation, delivery, vendor coordination, and continuous improvement within established strategy and approved resources; significant budget, capacity, or strategic decisions are escalated to the Director. Local travel is required up to 10% of the time. The working environment is generally favorable. Physical requirements include occasional lifting or carrying up to 30 pounds, occasional standing and walking for up to three hours per day, and sitting for up to eight hours per day. Repetitive activities include keyboard use, telephone use, and writing.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development, Leadership, Adult Education, Human Resources, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Advanced professional development in leadership development, adult learning, organizational change, and program evaluation.
- At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in leadership development, organizational development, or talent development within a complex, multi-site or multi-service organization.
- Strategic perspective and sound judgment connecting leadership development with organizational priorities, culture, operational needs, and measurable outcomes.
- Deep knowledge of adult learning, competency-based development, experiential learning, coaching, workplace application, and evaluation.
- Expertise in blended learning approaches integrating in-person experiences, e-learning, and social and virtual collaboration.
- Strong consultation, facilitation, and executive communication skills, with the ability to build trust and influence across functions and leadership levels.
- Strong program management and analytical skills, including responsible resource management and translating evidence into clear recommendations.
- Ability to create inclusive, accessible learning environments, foster psychological safety, develop others’ capabilities, and use learning technologies and assessments effectively.
- Demonstrated success launching, expanding, and improving competency-aligned leadership pathways across multiple levels, including directors and senior executives, with evidence of workplace application and behavior change.
- Ability to engage stakeholders, lead cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority, and manage resources, vendors, and competing priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to facilitate leadership learning using coaching approaches, develop faculty or facilitators, and partner with curriculum and instructional design specialists.
- Experience using evaluation findings to improve programs and connecting leadership development with performance management, succession readiness, and organizational change.
- Ability to follow applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures and report potential compliance or risk concerns through appropriate channels.
- Ability to successfully pass and maintain required background screenings, fingerprint clearances, and drug testing.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree.
- Credentials in learning evaluation or leadership assessments.
- International Coaching Federation coaching credential.
- Experience in human services, healthcare, nonprofit, or a similarly mission-driven setting.
Responsibilities
- Partner with the Director of Learning & Development to refine the leadership development ecosystem, define learning journeys and outcomes, and guide phased implementation, evaluation, and expansion.
- Oversee leadership development programs and pathways for emerging and high-potential leaders through C-suite executives, aligning them with organizational competencies, leadership standards, performance expectations, and needs.
- Manage program delivery, stakeholder engagement, timelines, resources, risks, and budgets; elevate capacity and priority decisions to the Director as needed.
- Extend learning beyond formal programs through ongoing development, peer learning, practical tools, and workplace application.
- Partner across functions to integrate organizational competencies and align leadership development with performance management, talent development, succession, and other organizational priorities.
- Provide consultation, facilitated conversations, and team-building experiences to address leadership needs and strengthen team effectiveness.
- Partner with Learning Experience Design and Instructional Design colleagues to create accessible blended learning experiences that support practical application and sustained behavior change.
- Develop Leadership Faculty, facilitators, mentors, and subject-matter experts through shared practices and developmental feedback.
- Use emerging approaches, technologies, and learner insights to strengthen learning quality, relevance, and impact.
- Evaluate learning effectiveness, behavior change, leadership readiness, and organizational outcomes in partnership with the Director and Operations Manager.
- Work with stakeholders and committees to identify development needs, address barriers, and use data and feedback to improve programs and inform strategic recommendations.
- Contribute to annual impact reports and other internal and external reporting to demonstrate program value and organizational impact.
- Partner with the Director to select assessments, practitioners, and external learning and coaching partners; oversee vendor performance, resources, and alignment with leadership standards and program outcomes.
- Follow applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; report potential compliance or risk concerns through appropriate channels and use resources responsibly.
- Successfully pass and maintain required background screenings, fingerprint clearances, and drug testing.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
