Manager Learning Design & Development

Alaska Airlines • WA-Renton, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Learning Design & Development leads the team responsible for the creation of high-impact, scalable learning experiences that advance business goals and elevate employee performance. This role builds individual and team capability responsible for use of emerging technologies, including AI, to enhance learning design efficiency, learner experience, and business impact. They ensure all solutions reflect best practices in human-centered design, accessibility, and measurable outcomes and drives continuous improvement across the learning design lifecycle. As an expert in learning design, the manager will also contribute directly to the design, development and curation of learning experiences. This leader will play a key role in advancing AI literacy across our learning ecosystem, using AI as both a design partner and a learning partner in service of performance and growth.

Requirements

• 5 years of learning experience, instructional design or related discipline.
• 2 years of leadership experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Instructional Design, Learning Science, Education, UX, or related field; or 2 additional years of relevant experience/training in lieu of a degree.
• Expertise in adult learning theory, design thinking, accessibility, portfolio and project management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated curiosity and capability in applying emerging technologies, including AI, to improve learning design and learner outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of digital learning tools and experiential learning techniques.
• Proficiency with eLearning authoring tools (e.g., Articulate, Rise) and collaboration/design tools.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum age of 18.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

• ATD CPLP/CPTD certification.
• SCORM/xAPI experience and data-driven evaluation (e.g., Kirkpatrick, ROI).

Responsibilities

• Lead the learning design lifecycle (Intake & Discovery through Measurement & Continuous Improvement), owning requirements, design blueprints, instructional standards, and overall quality.
• Integrate AI-enabled tools and practices into the learning design lifecycle to accelerate analysis, design, development, personalization, and iteration while maintaining quality, accessibility, and human-centered standards.
• Build AI literacy within the Learning Design & Development team through coaching, shared practices, and experimentation informed by enterprise guidance and ethical standards.
• Seek and implement workforce AI capability building, ensuring employees develop the skills and confidence to effectively leverage AI tools in their day-to-day work.
• Lead governance checkpoints aligned to the People Team Collaborative Operating Model (requirements, sign off, design approval, pilot/beta, sign off) to confirm alignment, readiness, risk mitigation, and measurable success criteria.
• Partner with the Director, L&D and stakeholders to translate objectives into learning outcomes and success metrics, integrating feedback into future cycles.
• Institutionalize human-centered, inclusive, and accessible design practices, templates, and design patterns across teams.
• Coach, mentor, and develop Experience and Instructional Designers, establishing review cadences, peer design critiques, and feedback loops from pilots and delivery.
• Use impact data and learner insights to drive iteration, maintain maintenance roadmaps, and sunset or refresh content as needed.

Benefits

• Free stand-by travel privileges on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air
• Comprehensive well-being programs including medical, dental and vision benefits
• Generous 401k match program
• Annual bonus plans
• Generous holiday and paid time off

What This Job Offers

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