Director of Learning and Evaluation
Career GuideKey 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
1
Create a one page learning and evaluation strategy for your current or target organization2
Develop a metrics framework that connects learning activities to behavior change and business outcomes3
Build a portfolio case study showing program goals, evaluation approach, results, and improvements made4
Strengthen data skills with practical work in survey analysis and dashboard reporting5
Practice executive storytelling by presenting insights and recommendations in a short briefing format6
Network with learning leaders and evaluation leaders in your target sector and request informational interviews