Director, Learning & Development

firstglobalmanagementservicesinc; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

FIRST is seeking a Director of Learning & Development to lead the design and execution of the global L&D strategy. You will partner with business leaders to identify capability gaps and implement scalable learning solutions that support leadership development and employee growth.

The role requires 10+ years in L&D, with 5+ years in leadership roles, and a track record of building impactful programs across regions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive Learning & Development experience.
• 5+ years leading Learning & Development teams.
• Experience designing and implementing enterprise learning strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution and evolution of FIRST's global Learning & Development strategy.
• Partner with business leaders and People Partners to identify capability gaps and develop learning solutions.
• Develop and maintain a global learning roadmap for leadership development, onboarding, compliance, and commercial capability.
• Support enterprise talent management through career development, succession planning, and leadership readiness.
• Champion a culture of continuous learning across global regions, ensuring inclusivity and alignment with FIRST's culture.

Skills

Leadership

Learning & Development

Strategic planning

Budget management

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's Degree

10+ years L&D experience

5+ years leading L&D teams

Job description

Building a Brand Starts with a Story

FIRST is a leading global brand experience agency providing Content, Creative, Digital Technology, Management & Delivery, and Data & Insights services. For 30 years, we have utilized three flexible delivery models: Embedded teams, Corporate Campus operations, and a Full-Service Agency.

Managing over 37,000 events & projects annually across 110 countries, FIRST serves 130+ brands, specializing in Fortune 500 companies within the Financial Services, Technology, Healthcare, Media, and Professional Services sectors. FIRST is part of the broader Encore family of companies. Encore is a global leader in event production and technology.

Consistently recognized for excellence, recent honors include 2026 Chief Marketer Agency of the Year, the Ad Net Zero Award for sustainability, and more.

Location: New York. This is a hybrid role, must live in the NY tri state area and be able to go into office.

Learn more at www.firstagency.com

What You Would Get To Do

The Director, Learning & Development leads the execution of FIRST's global learning strategy by designing and delivering programs that build organizational capability, strengthen leadership effectiveness, and support employee growth. The role partners closely with business leaders and People & Culture to identify development needs, implement scalable learning solutions, and foster a culture of continuous learning. In addition, the role supports enterprise talent management initiatives by contributing to career development, succession planning, and leadership pipeline readiness to ensure the organization is equipped with the capabilities required for future success.

Your Contributions

Direction

• Lead the execution and continuous evolution of FIRST's global Learning & Development strategy, ensuring alignment with business priorities and People & Culture objectives
• Partner with business leaders and People Business Partners to identify capability gaps and develop learning solutions that support organizational performance and employee growth
• Develop and maintain a global learning roadmap that supports leadership development, professional development, onboarding, compliance, and commercial capability
• Support enterprise talent management by advancing career development, succession planning, leadership readiness, and internal mobility
• Champion a culture of continuous learning by promoting development opportunities that strengthen employee engagement, performance, and career growth
• Evaluate emerging learning methodologies, technologies, and industry best practices to continuously improve the employee learning experience
• Ensure learning programs are scalable, inclusive, and adaptable across global regions while maintaining consistency with FIRST's culture and values

Results

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of enterprise learning programs that support strategic business objectives
• Oversee the annual Learning & Development budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and responsible financial management
• Establish metrics to evaluate learning effectiveness and use data and business outcomes to drive continuous improvement
• Monitor organizational capability needs and proactively develop learning initiatives that address current and future business requirements
• Partner with leaders to strengthen talent pipelines through leadership development, succession planning, and career development initiatives
• Ensure leadership development, onboarding, and employee development programs are delivered effectively and consistently across the organization
• Manage the learning technology ecosystem and external vendor relationships to maximize program quality and operational efficiency
• Support organizational change initiatives by developing learning and enablement solutions that facilitate successful adoption

People

• Lead, coach, and develop the global Learning & Development team, fostering a collaborative, high-performing, and customer-focused environment
• Build strong partnerships with leaders across the business to understand development priorities and deliver practical, business-focused learning solutions
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition, People Business Partners, and business leaders to support talent development, succession planning, and internal mobility
• Ensure learning experiences accommodate diverse learning styles, cultures, and regional requirements across FIRST's global workforce
• Manage relationships with external learning providers, facilitators, and consultants to deliver high-quality development programs
• Provide guidance and subject matter expertise to leaders on learning, leadership development, and employee capability building

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor's Degree preferred
• Position requires 10+ years of progressive Learning & Development experience.
• Position requires 5+ years leading Learning & Development teams.
• Experience designing and implementing enterprise learning stra