CALLING ALL LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT ENTHUSIASTS

Best Friends is seeking a high-energy Senior Manager, Leadership and Development to drive our learning programs. If you’re passionate about building strong leaders, enhancing culture, facilitating engaging learning experiences, and measuring real impact, this is for YOU. In this role you’ll assess training needs, craft learning strategies, design initiatives, and highlight their value—while championing our Guiding Principles, inclusion, and a kind, transparent workplace.

Our dream candidate brings 5–10 years of Learning & Development magic, a proven track record of leadership program design and delivery, and an ability to fuse strategy with hands-on implementation. You’re an engaging facilitator who easily builds trust and connection, empowers learners, thinks strategically, uses data to measure impact, and shines across virtual, in-person, and blended formats. You’ll partner with SMEs, manage vendors and assessments, help build a robust Workday LMS, and translate needs into culture-forward training that elevates engagement and retention—while thriving in a collaborative team. If you are ready to help elevate leadership across our organization, send us your resume and a note on your impact - we’d love to learn more about you!

Location: Remote within the contiguous United States

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $80,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Culture Statement and Responsibility: We believe in treating everyone with kindness and compassion, building trust through authenticity and following through on commitments. We prioritize well-being alongside our mission, fostering strong relationships through open communication and transparent feedback. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our culture, enriching team dynamics by valuing diverse perspectives. Each team member is responsible for creating an inclusive environment where all voices are respected and contributing to a workplace that embodies our shared values and commitment to progress. By consistently aligning our actions with our Guiding Principles, we strengthen our culture and ensure that our values are lived every day.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Treats people as our most valuable resource by leading with Kindness and Compassion in all actions, build trust by demonstrating authenticity and work to build strong relationships with our team and BF staff by creating communication loops to share and receive honest feedback.

• Incorporates leadership expectations, culture, Guiding Principles, and DEIB considerations into learning programs.

• Works with internal and external SME’s to create and deliver learning content in alignment with Best Friends priorities, culture Guiding Principles, and workforce capability gaps.

• Delivers and maintains plans for ensuring that state and local compliance training is met and tracked by Best Friends.

• Stays current with leadership and learning industry trends, offerings, and best practices to influence curriculum decisions and design. Remain up-to-date in facilitation techniques and practices, while utilizing various blended learning resources and instructional design for effective learning and delivery.

• Selects and manages external vendors, consultants, and learning partners

• Oversee TriMetrix, DISC, and Driving Forces Assessments for employees and job candidates

• Acts as key driver and contributor to building out the Workday Learning Management System (LMS) to advance the participation, dissemination, and tracking of employee training.  Leads a cross-organizational effort consisting of Best Friends training partners (IT, Risk Management, Security, etc.). Oversee LMS administrative function.

• Defines success metrics and evaluates the effectiveness of learning initiatives.

• Uses data and feedback to improve programs and demonstrate impact.

• Fosters a collaborative, high-trust team environment; coaches and develops the Learning and Development team.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Travel up to 10%.

Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Organizational Development, Education, or related field, or 4+ years of equivalent experience. Advanced L&D/OD certifications are a plus.

• 5–10 years of progressive L&D/OD experience with a track record leading or advising teams; preferably in remote or multi-site environments.

• Demonstrated leadership and management experience: 5+ years of proven successful experience, including overseeing strategy, operations, budgets, goal setting, mentorship, training and staffing. Experience managing a remote team is preferred, but is not required.

• Experience designing and delivering leadership/management development programs across multiple modalities (in-person, virtual, blended); proven ability to diagnose needs, create content, and measure impact with data-driven improvements.

• Ability to align learning initiatives with culture, guiding principles, DEIB priorities, and workforce capability gaps.

• Proficiency with assessments (e.g., TriMetrix, DISC, Driving Forces) for development and selection; strong data/analytics skills to track compliance training and learning outcomes.

• Experience managing a Learning Management System (e.g., Workday LMS) and coordinating internal/external SMEs, vendors, and learning partners.

• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to influence leaders and collaborate with stakeholders across the organization.

• Strong organizational skills, prioritization, and a proven ability to deliver on time and within budget.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint); comfortable leading live sessions via Teams or Zoom.

Physical Requirements

• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.

• Must have a valid driver's license for at least 3 years, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance.

• Travel may be up to 10%. Ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed.

• Exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status when traveling to onsite locations.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.