Sr Director - L&D and Performance

Cengage Group

About The Position

At Cengage, employees have a direct impact in helping students around the world discover the power and joy of learning, driven by a shared purpose of innovation to improve lives through education. Cengage's portfolio supports student choice by providing pathways for learners to achieve their goals. The company culture values inclusion, engagement, and discovery, recognizing the value of diverse perspectives and empowering employees to voice ideas and bring their authentic selves to work. Cengage is a dynamic, 3,500-person education technology company redefining how people learn and work, integrating AI into products and internal operations to build a future-ready organization grounded in skills, adaptability, and continuous learning. The mission is to empower the workforce and customers to thrive in an evolving, AI-driven world. Cengage is seeking a Senior Director of Learning & Development and Performance Management to lead the enterprise talent development strategy and execution. This role is instrumental in building a skills-first organization, leveraging AI-powered platforms like Eightfold to align talent, performance, and business outcomes. This leader will supervise a team responsible for learning, leadership development, performance management, and employee engagement initiatives, and is expected to be a strategic operator who can translate vision into scalable programs that drive measurable impact across the business.

Requirements

10–15+ years of dynamic experience in Learning & Development, Talent Management, or related HR leadership roles.
Proven track record leading enterprise L&D and performance management functions.
Hands-on experience with Eightfold (or similar AI-driven talent platforms) and implementing skills-first talent strategies.
Proven success in enterprise-wide upskilling and reskilling initiatives.
Experience designing and delivering: Leadership development programs.
Experience designing and delivering: Change management training.
Strong people leadership experience, including running and developing teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience in ed tech, technology, or high-growth environments.
Exposure to AI or digital transformation initiatives.
Familiarity with modern learning ecosystems (LMS, LXP, skills platforms).

Responsibilities

Define and implement an enterprise-wide Learning & Development and Performance Management strategy aligned to business priorities and AI transformation.
Own the transition to a skills-first talent model, using platforms like Eightfold to enable skills mapping, workforce planning, and internal mobility.
Partner closely with executive leadership, HRBPs, and business leaders to anticipate future skill needs and align talent strategies accordingly.
Design and scale impactful learning programs, including: Leadership development at all levels, Change management training to support organizational transformation, AI and digital fluency initiatives, Role-based and functional upskilling programs.
Develop a culture of continuous learning and growth, demonstrating modern learning technologies and innovative delivery methods.
Supervise curriculum strategy, vendor partnerships, and internal content development.
Lead the evolution of a modern, data-driven performance management framework that drives accountability, growth, and engagement.
Drive new performance management processes that are customer-centric and efficient.
Integrate performance management with skills development and career pathways.
Establish metrics and analytics to measure effectiveness and continuously improve outcomes.
Drive enterprise-wide upskilling and reskilling initiatives, particularly in support of AI adoption and organizational change.
Lead and scale change management enablement programs across the organization.
Ensure learning initiatives translate into measurable improvements in productivity, retention, and employee experience.
Supervise enterprise employee listening strategy, including engagement surveys, pulse checks, and feedback mechanisms.
Translate insights into actionable strategies that improve employee experience and business outcomes.
Provide executive sponsorship and strategic oversight for ERGs.
Leverage Eightfold and other talent technologies to power skills intelligence, career mobility, and workforce insights.
Use data and analytics to identify skill gaps, track program effectiveness, and advise decision-making.
Drive adoption of AI-enabled learning and talent tools across the organization.
Lead, develop, and scale a high-performing L&D and performance management team.
Develop a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Lead budgets, resources, and priorities to improve organizational impact.

Benefits

Programs, benefits, and initiatives that are integrated into the fabric of how we work every day.
Reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
Comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package.
Discretionary incentive bonus program.

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