Director, Astra Learning and Development

Overview

At Astra Service Partners, we believe learning and development is a never-ending journey. We are committed to investing in continued learning and development for all the employees in our network, at all stages of their careers.

The Director of Learning and Development will be responsible for the development of Astra University, a best-in-class learning and development program across a network of Commercial Services companies. This position will have the opportunity to build and drive one of the most exciting, wide-reaching, impactful initiatives in the company.

This position will report to the Head of Strategic Growth Programs as an individual contributor and will be an integral part of the team at Astra.

This position is for you if you...

• Feel driven by an entrepreneurial spirit. You are a builder, and love starting things from the ground up.
• Prefer a high pace of play, ramp up to tasks very quickly, and have a bias toward action
• Are comfortable with ambiguity and enjoy problem solving
• Want to build something unique, impactful, and meaningful for employees
• Have an appreciation for, and interest in the commercial trades
• Enjoy and are talented in planning and executing
• Can manage multiple workstreams and stakeholder groups comfortably
• Thrive when working with autonomy
• Are intrinsically motivated to do top notch work
• Are naturally curious and continuously pursue opportunities to learn
• Can shift comfortably and with agility between strategic thinking and tactical task execution
• Are a learning, development and training expert
  
  

Responsibilities

Project and Change Management

• Lead and drive the establishment of Astra University and facilitate adoption across all the companies in the Astra network.
• Design, build, document, track and report progress against a Project Management Plan to implement Astra University (Learning and Development program at Astra)
• Design, implement, roll out, and manage a learning management system (Cornerstone LMS) as the platform for our learners to access training and information. Lead change management efforts with operating companies to implement and sustain the adoption of the LMS.
• Identify opportunities to connect our learners with existing training content, vendors, resources
• Support integration of new operating companies into Astra University and the supporting learning management system.
• Lead the development of metrics and KPIs to ensure that we measure our performance against our goals for learning and development
• Build and foster positive relationships with external commercial services trade-industry vendors, instructors, advisors, and organizations.
• Manage relationships with training and technology vendors as needed.
  
  

Stakeholder and Community Engagement

• Conduct regular site visits with operating companies across the U.S. to learn each company’s unique employee population, business goals, and operating model.
• Manage and grow partnerships with HR and learning and development professionals at our companies.
• Facilitate and manage the Astra U “coaches” network, continuously building relationships to increase the number of volunteer instructors in the network and building a 24-month pipeline for instructors for learning summits
• Serve as a liaison between operating companies and the LMS Administrative contract support staff, providing information and facilitating conversations as needed.
• Build communications materials (newsletter, blog articles, social media posts, website posts and updates) as needed
  
  

Content and Community Development

• Lead annual train-the-trainer LMS summits to activate super-user, change-agents across the Astra network of companies
• Build and manage on-demand and in-person and virtual live training for technicians, managers, office staff, sales employees, service employees
• Manage manager and leadership development programs
• Manage virtual and in-person learning summits (approx. 12-24 in person summits per year)
• Develop, create, and curate learning collateral (Info sheets, brochures, presentations, video content, and other materials as needed), using a variety of technical tools.
• Build badges, certificates, communities, and custom pages into the LMS.
• Convert existing materials (PPT, video, MS word documents, etc.) into high-quality learning materials and curriculum, working closely with the SMEs of each topic area.
  
  

Requirements

The ideal candidate is seeking an opportunity to start a highly impactful program in a de-centralized environment. This candidate will thrive when building relationships with peers, company leaders, staff, and technicians. The ideal candidate can work successfully at both the tactical level, and at a strategic level, shifting intuitively between each to ensure constant progress against goals. The candidate is seeking a high performance, fast-paced business environment, that is growing exceptionally quickly.

• Education – bachelor’s degree
• Experience – Ideal candidate will have 10 years’ experience in combination of work experience and continued education, above and beyond a bachelor’s degree
• Previous experience implementing a training program and/or learning management system - – required
• Project management experience – required
• Change management experience - required
• Technical acumen: Comfortable and experienced working in Microsoft Suite, Adobe Pro, Content Development platforms (e.g. Articulate, Synthesia), LMS administration (i.e. Cornerstone), and project management platforms (e.g. Smartsheets, Monday.com)
• Proven success in managing timelines, tracking milestones, and meeting deadlines.
• Event management experience
• People management experience – highly desired
• Robust emotional and social skill set, ability to lead with empathy
• Exceptional verbal and written presentation skills
• Creativity and agility in thinking
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work with ambiguity and comfortable starting new initiatives, learning and adjusting continuously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to create original products (i.e. presentations, articles, web content, print content, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience in managing vendor relationships.
• Group facilitation skills and experience
• Data analysis and presentation skills
• Willingness to travel up to 35% of the time
  
  

Other Details

• Remote and Hybrid Opportunities Available
• Normal working hours: M-F, 8-5
• Salary Range: $140k – $180k
• Benefits
• Potential Bonus Plans and Incentives
• PTO
• 401k
• Phone Reimbursement
• Insurance Options
• Health
• Dental
• Vision
• Life
• Short/Long Term Disability
• Additional Supplemental Insurances
• Application Deadline: Accepting candidates until the role is filled