Sr Director - L&D and Performance

At Cengage, our employees have a direct impact in helping students around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose – driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Cengage's portfolio of businesses supports student choice by providing a range of pathways that help learners achieve their goals and lead a choice-filled life.

Our business is driven by our strong culture, and we know that creating an inclusive workplace is absolutely essential to the success of our company and our learners, as well as our individual well-being. We recognize the value of diverse perspectives in everything we do, and strive to ensure employees of all levels and backgrounds feel empowered to voice their ideas and bring their authentic selves to work. We achieve these priorities through programs, benefits, and initiatives that are integrated into the fabric of how we work every day. To learn more, please see https://www.cengagegroup.com/about/inclusion-and-belonging/.

We are a dynamic, 3,500-person education technology company redefining how people learn and work. As we integrate AI into our products and internal operations, we are building a future-ready organization grounded in skills, adaptability, and continuous learning. Our mission is to empower our workforce—and our customers—to thrive in a constantly evolving, AI-driven world.

We are seeking a Senior Director of Learning & Development and Performance Management to lead our enterprise talent development strategy and execution. This role will be instrumental in building a skills-first organization, demonstrating 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. The ideal candidate is a strategic operator who can translate vision into scalable programs that drive measurable impact across the business.

• 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 o 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.

• 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.

• Leadership development programs
• Change management training
• Strong people leadership experience, including running and developing teams. Preferred Experience
• 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).

• Strategic and forward-thinking with strong eye for business
• Deep expertise in skills-based talent models
• Data-driven and outcomes-oriented
• Strong executive presence and stakeholder influence
• Change leadership and transformation capability
• Passion for inclusive leadership and employee engagement

Successful implementation of a skills-first talent strategy powered by Eightfold. Measurable improvements in employee capability, performance, and internal mobility. Scalable, high-impact leadership and organizational change programs. High adoption and ROI from learning and talent technologies. A high-performing team delivering clear business outcomes.

Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws.

Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at [email protected].

Cengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Compensation

At Cengage Group, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy.

The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location.  Sales roles often incorporate a significant incentive compensation program beyond this base pay range.

In this position,  you will be eligible to participate in the company’s discretionary incentive bonus program.  This position's bonus target amount, which is not guaranteed and is dependent on individual performance and overall company results among other factors, is provided below.