Digital Learning Enablement Assistant Director.

northwesternmutual; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Mutual in Milwaukee, WI seeks a senior leader to drive strategy, operations, and continuous evolution of learning technology solutions for the 22,500+ U.S.-based field force. You will lead a small team responsible for day-to-day platform operations and build scalable, data-informed learning experiences.

The role emphasizes governance, vendor coordination, and applying AI-enabled capabilities to improve learning efficiency and impact across the organization.

Qualifications

• Ten+ years of progressive experience in learning and development with a focus on learning technology.
• Bachelor's degree in learning technology or instructional design; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience leading a team of learning technology professionals.
• Expertise with LMS ecosystems, Docebo and Zoom experience preferred.
• Strong analytics, data reporting, governance, and platform operations skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a small learning technology team responsible for platform operations, configuration, administration, reporting, and support.
• Act as the learning business lead for the field-facing learning platform and its ongoing operations.
• Execute the learning technology roadmap in collaboration with Field Talent, Digital Product, and Field Function teams.
• Identify and apply AI-enabled capabilities to enhance the learner and leader experience and learning in the flow of work.
• Ensure compliance, governance, and reporting requirements are met with controls and documentation.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define requirements for new learning technology capabilities.

Skills

Team leadership

Learning technology

Analytics

Project management

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in learning technology or instructional design

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Docebo

Zoom

LMS

xAPI

SCORM

Job description

About the Job:

Lead the strategy execution, operations, and continuous evolution of learning technology solutions to meet the expectations of modern learners and enable the future of learning for the 22,500+ U.S.-based field force.

Reporting to the Sr. Director, Content Strategy & Digital Learning Enablement within the Field Talent Acquisition and Development division, this role provides hands‑on expertise and leads, manages, and develops the team responsible for day‑to‑day learning platform operations and implementing scalable, engaging, data-informed learning experiences that drive business impact.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead, coach, and develop a small learning technology team responsible for platform operations including configuration, administration, reporting, and support for learners, field leaders, and business partners.
• Act as the learning business lead responsible for the implementation, ongoing operations, and evolution of the field-facing learning platform.
• Execute the learning technology roadmap in alignment and collaboration with partners in Field Talent, Digital Product, and the broader Field Function organization.
• Identify, assess, and apply AI-enabled capabilities to enhance the learner and leader experience, enable learning in the flow of work, and drive operational efficiency.
• Ensure learning platforms and processes support regulatory, compliance, product qualification, field enablement, and reporting requirements with appropriate controls, documentation, and governance.
• Lead or support Field Function initiatives with learning technology implications across learning, business, digital product, vendor, and field stakeholder teams.
• Consult with learning and development program owners on technology solutions that meet the program requirements, including learner and leader experience, program administration, and reporting.
• Lead ongoing assessment and improvement to the learning platform operating model, including intake, governance, documentation, service processes and standards, and business partner enablement.
• Partner with learning and business stakeholders to gather feedback, evaluate use cases, and define requirements for new or enhanced learning technology capabilities.
• Collaborate with partners across Field Function and Digital Product to evaluate, plan, and implement internal or vendor-based solutions, including vendor assessment, implementation planning, release readiness, stakeholder enablement, and change management.
• Monitor and evaluate vendor roadmaps and product releases to identify opportunities that improve engagement, efficiency, scalability, and business impact.
• Stay current on industry best practices, trends, and emerging learning technology capabilities; translate relevant insights into practical recommendations, pilots, and innovation opportunities.

What You’ll bring to the role:

• Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in the learning and development field, with proven track record in leveraging learning technology to drive business results.
• Bachelor's degree in learning technology, instructional design, or related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience leading, coaching, and developing a team of learning technology professionals.
• Expertise in learning technology ecosystems, including learning management systems, LXPs or learning portals, virtual classroom platforms, integrations, data and reporting, and end-user support. Docebo and Zoom experience preferred.
• Deep proficiency in leading platform operations, including configuration, user and catalog management, security and permissions, automated assignments, integrations, reporting and dashboards.
• Experience partnering with vendors and internal teams to manage platform enhancements, issue resolution, releases, and service expectations.
• Understanding of and experience with modern and emerging learning capabilities, including AI-enabled learning experiences, roleplay and simulation, adaptive and personalized learning, learning in the flow of work, social and collaborative learning, and learning analytics and intelligence.
• Experience with learning authoring tools, content standards such as SCORM and xAPI, and content catalog integrations.
• Ability to balance operational leadership, execution, stakeholder partnership, and team development.
• Ability to work effectively across the organization, including learning and other business partners, leadership, digital product and technology partners, as well as field-based stakeholders and vendor partners.
• Proven ability to assess technology needs, evaluate solutions, define requirements, support business cases, and lead implementation of new capabilities.
• Strong project, program, and change management skills with the ability to manage priorities, align stakeholders, mitigate risks, and deliver results.
• Strong analytical skills and experience using learning metrics, dashboards, platform data, learner insights, and business measures to inform decisions.