Head of Professional Learning

Career Guide

A Head of Professional Learning leads an organization’s strategy for training and ongoing development, often for educators, managers, or client-facing teams. The role sets the learning vision, ensures programs improve performance, manages budgets and teams, and uses data and feedback to continuously improve learning experiences.

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Key Responsibilities

Set the professional learning strategy and annual roadmap
Align learning goals to organizational priorities and performance needs
Design and improve professional learning programs and learning pathways
Lead and develop a team of learning leaders, trainers, and program managers
Select and manage learning tools and external training partners
Create standards for learning quality and consistency
Oversee delivery formats such as workshops, coaching, and online learning
Build measurement plans to track participation, satisfaction, and outcomes
Manage budgets, staffing plans, and vendor contracts
Partner with senior leaders to drive adoption and change
Ensure learning is inclusive and accessible for diverse audiences
Communicate impact through clear updates and reporting

Top Skills for Success

Learning Strategy

Program Management

People Leadership

Coaching

Curriculum Design

Facilitation

Stakeholder Management

Change Management

Learning Measurement

Budget Management

Vendor Management

Communication

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Director of Professional Learning

Director of Learning and Development

Director of Talent Development

Head of Learning and Development

Head of Talent

Transition Opportunities

Chief Learning Officer

Vice President of Talent

Vice President of People

Chief People Officer

Head of Customer Education

Head of Enablement

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Learning MeasurementBudget ManagementExecutive CommunicationChange ManagementVendor ManagementLearning Technology SelectionWorkforce Planning

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple measurement framework, lead a cross-functional learning project, practice concise reporting for senior leaders, and take ownership of a budget or vendor relationship to strengthen business impact skills.

Market Intelligence Report

Head of Professional Learning is part of the Instructional Design category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelNot typical for this role; most hires require 8 to 12 years of experience

Mid LevelUSD 120,000 to 170,000

Senior LevelUSD 170,000 to 240,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand, with stronger hiring where organizations are scaling training, improving retention, or updating skills due to new technology and changing regulations.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

School districts and education officesUniversities and collegesEducation technology companiesHealthcare systemsFinancial services firmsLarge retailersTechnology companiesProfessional services firmsGovernment agenciesNonprofit organizations

Industry Sectors

K-12 EducationHigher EducationEducation TechnologyHealthcareFinancial ServicesRetailTechnologyGovernmentNonprofitProfessional Services

Recommended Next Steps

Create a one-page professional learning strategy sample with goals, audience, programs, and measures

Build a portfolio with two program examples showing design, delivery, and outcomes

Strengthen measurement skills by defining a small set of success metrics and tracking them for one program

Update your resume to highlight team leadership, budget ownership, and measurable outcomes

Prepare a 30 to 60 to 90 day plan tailored to a target organization

Network with learning leaders in your sector and request informational interviews

Target roles that match your scope, such as district-wide learning, enterprise learning, or customer education