Director, Learning & Development

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Job Description:

YOUR MISSION

As a Director of Learning & Development, you’ll be at the forefront of shaping the future of talent at Microsoft Gaming. You’ll lead the strategy, design, and global scaling of innovative, blended learning programs that empower employees, managers and leaders to thrive—across technical craft, leadership, and career growth.

In this role, you’ll manage a high-performing team that blends instructional design with business partnership, delivering impactful learning experiences tailored to the unique needs of our studios and business units. From onboarding and performance development to leadership labs and technical upskilling, to high potential leadership development programming and executive coaching,  you’ll drive programs that are globally scalable and locally relevant.

You’ll also be a key leader of our center of excellence that partners with senior HR and business leaders to activate learning across our diverse gaming ecosystem. You will directly manage a business partnership team that activates learning in each of the many diverse studios and businesses within Microsoft Gaming. Collaborating with executives, SMEs, and world-class vendors, you’ll bring to life a curriculum strategy rooted in adult learning theory, experiential design, and measurable outcomes.

This is a rare opportunity to lead at scale, influence executive development, and build a learning culture that fuels innovation and growth. We’re redefining how talent is developed in gaming—and we’re looking for a bold, strategic leader to help us level up.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Curriculum Strategy & Development

• Partner with the VP of L&D, HR, and business leaders to architect scalable, enterprise-wide learning strategies that drive employee, manager and leadership development across Microsoft Gaming.

• Lead the design and delivery of multi-modal learning programs spanning onboarding, technical upskilling, leadership growth, career development, feedback, and coaching.

• Develop and manage a team that executes on a multi-year curriculum roadmap aligned to business priorities and future capabilities.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (e.g., Talent, People Analytics, Tech) and Microsoft’s L&D COE partners to ensure curriculum integration, scalability, and customization across brands and business units within Microsoft Gaming.

• Align with DE&I, Compliance, and other peer teams to deliver cohesive, cross-functional learning experiences across the employee lifecycle.

Instructional Design & Learning Innovation

• Lead a team of instructional design to deliver AI-augmented, learner-centric experiences grounded in adult learning theory and agile ADDIE methodology.

• Own the full lifecycle of L&D products—from needs analysis to activation and impact measurement—tailored for senior HR and business audiences.

• Mentor and lead managers on your team to develop and manage a network of contract designers and vendors to scale delivery of high-impact programs.

• Serve as a strategic advisor to internal and external L&D partners on instructional design best practices.

Enterprise Learning Partnerships

• Lead and mentor a global team of business partnership managers to assess needs, localize global solutions, and activate learning across diverse populations including studios, engineering, and business operations.

• Proven experience and expertise in leading and facilitating SVP level offsite workshops and learning programming.

• Drive the prioritization and learning strategy for global corporate functions and serve as a primary escalation point for senior HR and business leaders in learning.

• Build trusted relationships with executive stakeholders within localized business teams to align learning initiatives with business strategy and talent priorities.

• Drive prioritization and performance measurement of learning programs, including quarterly business reviews with Microsoft Gaming leadership.

• Serve as the primary L&D liaison for executive leaders and HR partners, ensuring alignment and visibility across the enterprise.

Vendor Strategy & Management

• Source, onboard, and manage external vendors to deliver high-quality, scalable learning solutions including but not limited to executive coaching, high-potential programming, facilitation and design.

• Manage global, multi-million dollar budget vendor relationships with learning content vendors, learning technology partners, and services.

• Partner with Microsoft’s central L&D team to ensure alignment and leverage shared resources including working with procurement and managing yearly budget rhythms.

High Potential Executive Development Programs & Coaching

• Oversee executive coaching engagements and manage relationships with external coaching partners, including those supporting SVP-level leaders.

• In partnership with the VP of Learning and Development, directly oversee the design oversight and activation of multiple high potential programming within studio and business teams that span multiple months.

• Proven ability to facilitate and lead high-impact sessions for senior leaders.

• Mentor and develop a network of facilitators to ensure excellence in delivery across all levels.

• Certified in industry-recognized leadership tools (e.g., DISC, StrengthsFinder, Insights, Mind Gym, Crucial Conversations).

SUCCESS FACTORS

• Ability to lead, mentor and grow a high-performing team of L&D professionals, fostering innovation, accountability, and excellence in execution.

• Clear product focus, ensuring learning products are not “one-and-done” programs, but have a clearly defined, multi-year roadmap with incremental improvement.

• Backwards design measurement mindset and focus around delivering clearly articulated outcomes enabling maximum value out of learning programs from analysis through activation and long-term sustainment.

• Forward-thinking focus around the future of learning and development including implementing AI to enable productivity and experience across all facets of the L&D lifecycle.

• Proven ability to oversee global vendor relationships and manage multi-million dollar L&D budgets to ensure quality and scalability.

• Clear track record of building strong relationships across global business units and L&D teams; becoming the key point of contact for learning design & development, activation and business partnership for the Microsoft gaming organization.

• Proud to create a best-in-class instructional design center of excellence, focused on consulting with then developing practical tools to enable business success at all levels.

QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• 8+ years professional experience design and developing training solutions; preferred in a corporate learning and development environment

• Proven expertise in scaling global learning and development programming; especially in a corporate learning and development environment

• Strong knowledge of upskilling and reskilling vendors and external partners including instructional design, executive coaching, learning technology etc.

• Demonstrated experience presenting to executives and gaining alignment among multiple stakeholders on enterprise-wide initiatives.

• Proven team leader with experience managing both individual contributors and managers.

• Expert in adult learning modalities, ADDIE, agile learning development and learning experience

• Strong project/program management focus, with the demonstrated ability to manage multiple, complex and global programs and curriculum, including project implementation, stakeholder management, and budget management 

• Experience owning program strategy and presenting outcomes to senior leadership 

• Data-driven mindset with a consistent ability to measure impact and optimize learning solutions.

• A bias toward action and creative problem solving in a fast-paced environment that experiences constant change.

• Skilled at working across organization and geographic boundaries.

• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving results in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

• Proficient with MS Office Suite (i.e., PowerPoint, Word, Excel)

• Experience working with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and/or Learning Experience Platforms 

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s (preferred) in related subject area, or relevant certifications.

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!  Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company.  You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.