Director of Learning and Evaluation

Career Guide

A Director of Learning and Evaluation leads how an organization designs learning programs and measures whether they work. The role blends strategy, program quality, research and evaluation, and cross-team leadership to improve learner outcomes and prove impact to funders and leadership.

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Key Responsibilities

Set the learning and evaluation strategy aligned to organizational goals
Design or oversee learning programs, curricula, and facilitator support
Build an evaluation plan to measure outcomes and program effectiveness
Define learning and impact metrics and reporting routines
Lead qualitative and quantitative research to understand learner needs
Use findings to improve programs through continuous improvement cycles
Manage budgets, timelines, and vendor relationships for learning and evaluation work
Coach and manage learning staff and evaluation staff
Partner with program, operations, product, and leadership teams to drive adoption
Communicate results clearly to executives, boards, and funders

Top Skills for Success

Learning Strategy

Program Design

Curriculum Development

Evaluation Design

Survey Design

Interviewing

Facilitation

Data Analysis

Data Visualization

Impact Measurement

Stakeholder Management

Executive Communication

People Management

Change Management

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Learning and Development Manager

Program Evaluation Manager

Training Manager

Research and Insights Manager

Program Director

Transition Opportunities

Head of Learning and Development

Director of Impact

Director of Research and Insights

Senior Director of Program Strategy

Vice President of People Development

Chief Learning Officer

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Impact Metric DesignEvaluation BudgetingExperimental DesignData GovernanceDashboard OwnershipVendor ManagementLearning Technology AdministrationTeam Coaching

Development SuggestionsBuild a sample evaluation plan for one program, including outcomes, metrics, data sources, and reporting. Practice translating results into clear recommendations for nontechnical stakeholders. Strengthen leadership skills by leading a cross functional improvement project with a defined timeline and measurable outcomes.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 95,000 to 125,000

Mid LevelUSD 125,000 to 165,000

Senior LevelUSD 165,000 to 220,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand, with higher hiring in education, healthcare, government, and mission driven organizations as measurement and accountability expectations increase.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Large hospital systemsHealth insurersPublic school districtsUniversitiesState agenciesFederal agenciesInternational development organizationsNational foundationsLarge nonprofit networksEnterprise software companies

Industry Sectors

EducationHealthcareGovernmentNonprofitInternational DevelopmentTechnologyFinancial ServicesManufacturing

Recommended Next Steps

Create a one page learning and evaluation strategy for your current or target organization

Develop a metrics framework that connects learning activities to behavior change and business outcomes

Build a portfolio case study showing program goals, evaluation approach, results, and improvements made

Strengthen data skills with practical work in survey analysis and dashboard reporting

Practice executive storytelling by presenting insights and recommendations in a short briefing format

Network with learning leaders and evaluation leaders in your target sector and request informational interviews