Director, Learning & Leadership Development

BDO; Toronto; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A professional services firm in Toronto is seeking a Director of Learning & Leadership Development. This role involves overseeing the operational strategy for the enterprise learning function and facilitating leadership sessions with executives. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of leadership experience in Learning & Development, strong relationship-building skills, and a proven track record of managing high-performing teams.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership in Learning & Development.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Experience managing internal operations and process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operational strategy and execution of enterprise learning function.
• Facilitate high-impact leadership sessions with senior executives.
• Manage learning technology platforms, vendor relationships, and budgets.

Skills

Leadership in Learning & Development

Relationship-building skills

Executive presence

Education

15+ years of progressive leadership experience

Job description

Putting people first, every day

BDO is a firm built on positive relationships with our people and clients. Our professionals provide exceptional service, offering advice and insights clients can trust. We foster an award-winning environment that prioritizes your personal and professional growth.

Your Opportunity

BDO aims to become a Top Tier learning organization, where learning enhances business performance, talent growth, and cultural resilience. As Director of Learning & Leadership Development, you will drive this mission.

Reporting to the Chief Learning & Development Officer, you will oversee the operational strategy and execution of our enterprise learning function, ensuring alignment, consistency, and a strong culture across all programs and teams.

You will also act as a key ambassador—facilitating high-profile sessions for senior leaders and enhancing visibility and trust for the learning team across the firm.

We seek a leader who embodies our values:

• Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.
• Ownership & accountability, proactive and solution-oriented, with sound business rationale.
• Delivering top-tier talent development experiences to elevate our credibility.
• A growth mindset, leveraging strengths, and fostering a culture of feedback and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Internal Operational Leadership

• Align learning programs and initiatives with strategic goals.
• Manage work distribution and team optimization for effective project delivery.
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative, and psychologically safe team culture.
• Ensure process consistency and quality across all learning modalities.
• Promote integration across learning operations, leadership development, and delivery for cohesion and efficiency.

Team Leadership & Enablement

• Lead and coach Senior Managers overseeing L&D pillars: Leadership Development, Learning & Development, and Learning Operations.
• Empower team leaders to manage their portfolios while supporting collaboration and shared goals.
• Enhance team cohesion through clear roles, shared vision, and ongoing professional development.

Reputation Building & Executive Facilitation

• Facilitate select high-impact leadership sessions with Partners and executives.
• Build visibility, credibility, and trust for the learning function within the organization.
• Partner with stakeholders to position the learning team as a Trusted Learning Advisor.

Measurement, Technology & Systems Oversight

• Oversee learning technology platforms, vendor relationships, dashboards, and budgets.
• Lead evolution of measurement strategies to assess learning impact and inform decisions.

Success in Your Role

• Demonstrate BDO's core values in all work aspects.
• Understand client industries, challenges, and opportunities; deliver high-quality, professional work.
• Focus on effective service delivery and building an inclusive, engaging environment that attracts and retains talent.
• Participate actively in adopting digital tools and strategies for innovation.
• Commit to continuous learning and professional development.

Your Experience and Education

• 15+ years of progressive leadership in Learning & Development, with extensive experience managing enterprise learning functions.
• Proven ability to lead through others, developing high-performing teams at a strategic level.
• Experience managing internal operations: project/resource alignment, process improvements, team culture, measurement, and quality control.
• Strong relationship-building skills; trusted by stakeholders.
• Comfortable facilitating senior-level sessions and representing L&D at an executive level.
• Experience in professional services or similar fast-paced environments preferred.
• Strong executive presence, sound judgment, systems-thinking mindset.