Director, Learning Design

Suffolk Construction; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 214,000; Full time

Job summary

Suffolk Construction in Boston seeks a Director, Learning Design to lead the internal instructional design function within Red & Blue University, driving curriculum design, eLearning, and learner experiences aligned with business priorities.

This hands-on leadership role requires on-site presence four days per week at the Boston office, with access to Suffolk's comprehensive benefits and a collaborative culture that supports growth and innovation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Learning & Development, Education, Organizational Development, Communications, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in Instructional Design, Adult Learning, Learning Technologies, or a related field preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in instructional design, learning experience design, corporate learning, or talent development.
• Strong experience applying adult learning principles to create impactful learning experiences.
• Experience designing and developing eLearning, job aids, manuals, facilitator guides, and learner resources.
• Experience building, leading, and developing instructional design teams.
• Experience with Learning Management Systems, Learning Experience Platforms, Oracle HCM, Articulate Storyline, Rise, Vyyond, Tango, and related learning technologies.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and project management skills.
• Construction, engineering, operations, or technical workforce learning experience preferred.
• Ability to balance hands-on design work with strategic leadership.
• This role requires working on-site in Suffolk's Boston office four days per week.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% to support learning initiatives, partner with regional teams, and drive program implementation across the organization.
• Possess and demonstrate Suffolk Core Values: Passion, Integrity, Hard Work, Professionalism, and Caring.

Responsibilities

• Lead learning design strategy.
• Establish standards for instructional design, curriculum development, and learner experience.
• Partner with business leaders to identify learning needs and capability gaps.
• Translate business priorities into scalable learning solutions.
• Ensure alignment with RBU standards, brand, and workforce strategy.
• Lead the design and development of learning experiences across digital, virtual, classroom, and blended formats.
• Serve as a hands-on instructional design leader while building the function.
• Develop eLearning, job aids, manuals, facilitator guides, and learner resources.
• Create curriculum frameworks, learning pathways, and development programs.
• Apply adult learning principles to develop engaging and effective learning solutions.
• Evaluate learning effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Build and lead Suffolk's internal instructional design function.
• Recruit, develop, and mentor instructional design talent.
• Establish processes, governance, and quality standards.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Manage external vendors and learning partners as needed.
• Leverage learning technologies to improve learner engagement and scalability.
• Support the evolution of the RBU Learning Hub and digital learning ecosystem.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, including AI-enabled learning solutions.
• Apply best practices to enhance the learner experience.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design or related field

Master's degree in related field preferred

Tools

Learning Management Systems

Articulate Storyline

Rise

Vyyond

Tango

Oracle HCM

Job description

Director, Learning Design

ID 2026-11623

Job Location : Location US-MA-Boston

Type Regular Full-Time

Category/Department Learning & Development

Salary Range $152,000.00 - 214,000.00

Overview

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. We provide value across the entire project lifecycle through our core construction management services and complementary business lines in real estate investment, design, self-perform construction, and technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies). By integrating data, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology through our Seamless Platform, we connect design, construction, and operations to deliver smarter, more predictable results and redefine how America builds.

Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $9 billion in annual revenue, 3,000 employees, and 17 offices, including Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Herndon, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other key markets. Suffolk manages some of the most complex and transformative projects in the country, serving clients across healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, aviation, transportation, government, mission critical, and commercial sectors.

Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

At Suffolk, we believe that our total rewards program should offer you and your family the support you need when it matters most. That’s why we have created a program that provides employees with access to a wide variety of options that can be personalized to support you and your loved ones physically, emotionally, and financially.

Benefits include, competitive salaries, auto allowances and gas cards for certain roles, access to market leading medical and emotional and mental health benefits, dental, and vision insurance plans, virtual care options for physical therapy and primary care, generous paid time off, 401k plan with employer match and access to expert financial resources, company paid and voluntary life insurance, tax deferred savings accounts, 10 backup daycare days each year, short- and long-term disability, commuter benefits and more. For more information, click here.

Role Summary

The Director, Learning Design leads the instructional design function within Red & Blue University (RBU), Suffolk's internal learning and development organization. Reporting to the Head of Red & Blue University, this role is responsible for advancing Suffolk's learning capability through innovative instructional design, high-impact development programs, and learner-centered experiences that support business priorities.

This newly established, hands-on leadership role will build and lead an in-house instructional design function, bringing curriculum design, eLearning development, and learning expertise within RBU.

This role requires on-site presence four days per week in our Boston office and offers access to free parking, an on-site fitness center, cafeteria, and other amenities that contribute to Suffolk's collaborative culture and employee experience.

Responsibilities

Learning Design Strategy

• Lead RBU's learning design strategy.
• Establish standards for instructional design, curriculum development, and learner experience.
• Partner with business leaders to identify learning needs and capability gaps.
• Translate business priorities into scalable learning solutions.
• Ensure alignment with RBU standards, brand, and workforce strategy.

Instructional Design & Content Development

• Lead the design and development of learning experiences across digital, virtual, classroom, and blended formats.
• Serve as a hands-on instructional design leader while building the function.
• Develop eLearning, job aids, manuals, facilitator guides, and learner resources.
• Create curriculum frameworks, learning pathways, and development programs.
• Apply adult learning principles to develop engaging and effective learning solutions.
• Evaluate learning effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.

Team Leadership & Design Operations

• Build and lead Suffolk's internal instructional design function.
• Recruit, develop, and mentor instructional design talent.
• Establish processes, governance, and quality standards.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Manage external vendors and learning partners as needed.

Learning Technology & Innovation

• Leverage learning technologies to improve learner engagement and scalability.
• Support the evolution of the RBU Learning Hub and digital learning ecosystem.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, including AI-enabled learning solutions.
• Apply best practices to enhance the learner experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Learning & Development, Education, Organizational Development, Communications, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in Instructional Design, Adult Learning, Learning Technologies, or a related field preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in instructional design, learning experience design, corporate learning, or talent development.
• Strong experience applying adult learning principles to create impactful learning experiences.
• Experience designing and developing eLearning, job aids, manuals, facilitator guides, and learner resources.
• Experience building, leading, and developing instructional design teams.
• Experience with Learning Management Systems, Learning Experience Platforms, Oracle HCM, Articulate Storyline, Rise, Vyyond, Tango, and related learning technologies.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and project management skills.
• Construction, engineering, operations, or technical workforce learning experience preferred.
• Ability to balance hands-on design work with strategic leadership.
• This role requires working on-site in Suffolk's Boston office four days per week.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% to support learning initiatives, partner with regional teams, and drive program implementation across the organization.
• Possess and demonstrate Suffolk Core Values: Passion, Integrity, Hard Work, Professionalism, and Caring.

Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stands; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level. Job site walking.

EEO Statement

Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk.

Compensation Information

Where required by law, pay ranges can be found in Suffolk's job postings. Base Salary for this position is just one component of Suffolk’s total rewards package for employees. Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's skill set, experience, education and other qualifications. Suffolk offers a comprehensive benefits package as part of its overall total rewards strategy. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly to reflect market trends.