Director of Learning and Development

Golden State Food Corporation; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Golden State Foods is seeking a highly skilled Director of Learning and Development to lead and enhance training initiatives across the organization. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in creating training programs, managing teams, and aligning learning strategies with business objectives. This influential role offers the opportunity to shape the learning culture and drive professional development initiatives nationwide.

Benefits

Holistic wellness benefits

A community-focused workplace

Commitment to innovation and excellence

Opportunities for philanthropy and sustainability

Qualifications

• 10+ years of training and development experience, primarily in leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of adult learning principles and instructional design.
• Experience with digital learning tools and project management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Learning and Development strategy.
• Lead the design of training programs across various roles within the organization.
• Manage vendor relationships and optimize training delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

E-learning technologies

Job description

Overview

ABOUT GOLDEN STATE FOODS

Golden State Foods is a distinguished leader in the foodservice industry, offering an extensive array of products and services to a diverse clientele. Rooted in the values of quality service and integrity, we are dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where employees can advance, innovate, and contribute to our ongoing success.

ABOUT THE JOB

Golden State Foods is seeking a dynamic and strategic Director of Learning and Development to spearhead our organization's learning initiatives. This critical role is designed for a visionary leader with a proven track record in crafting, executing, and managing innovative training programs that promote skill enhancement, performance improvement, and professional development across the organization. The ideal candidate will exhibit outstanding leadership qualities, creativity, and the ability to align learning strategies with our overarching business objectives.

Responsibilities

• WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a standardized enterprise-wide Learning and Development (L&D) strategy aligned with Golden State Foods’ strategic objectives. Champion the creation of a Center of Excellence (CoE) model to drive consistency, scalability, and excellence in learning practices across all business units, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and lifelong learning.
  • Program Design and Development: Lead the design and deployment of structured, scalable training programs tailored to various employee roles and levels including but not limited to knowledge, skills, and competency matrixes and skills assessments. Standardize core learning curricula—such as leadership development, technical training, compliance, and soft skills—ensuring alignment with industry best practices and operational consistency across all sites, especially in high-velocity production environments.
  • Content Development: Collaborate with internal subject matter experts and stakeholders to develop and curate high-impact, standardized training content. Implement a CoE approach to content governance and delivery using blended methodologies including e-learning, instructor-led training, and virtual platforms.
  • Team Management and Development: Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing Learning and Development team. Establish and maintain a CoE framework to ensure best practices, shared resources, and continuous capability development across the L&D function.
  • Needs Assessment: Conduct regular, standardized training needs assessments across all business units to identify gaps and opportunities. Use CoE-led methodologies to ensure a consistent approach to identifying and addressing learning priorities enterprise-wide.
  • Vendor and Platform Management: Strategically select and manage external vendors and platforms to support standardized training delivery and infrastructure. Promote integration and consistency across the organization by streamlining and consolidating the L&D digital ecosystem.
  • Performance Metrics: Define and standardize key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure training effectiveness and organizational impact. Utilize data-driven insights through the CoE to continuously improve learning initiatives and inform decision-making.
  • Change Management: Lead and standardize training initiatives that support organizational change and digital transformation efforts. Ensure employees across all business units are uniformly prepared to adopt and sustain new processes and technologies.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with leadership and cross-functional teams to understand and consolidate training needs into unified learning strategies. Use the CoE model to ensure alignment, accountability, and stakeholder collaboration.
  • Budget Management: Oversee and optimize the L&D budget with a focus on cost-effective, standardized programs that maximize impact and ROI across all business units.
  • Compliance and Regulatory Alignment: Ensure that all training programs adhere to legal, regulatory, and industry-specific compliance requirements, with centralized oversight and documentation via the CoE.
  • Business Unit Support: Provide consistent, high-quality L&D support across all five primary business units nationwide. Drive adoption of standardized programs and practices from the Irvine headquarters, ensuring a unified learning experience enterprise-wide.

Qualifications

• WHAT YOU'LL NEED

  • Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Organizational Development, Training and Development, Education, Business, or a related field; master’s degree strongly preferred.
  • At least 10+ years of experience in training and development, with a significant portion in a leadership capacity within a diverse and dynamic organization.
  • Deep understanding of adult learning principles, instructional design methodologies, and the latest e-learning technologies.
  • Proven record of building a training and development function using best in class tools, systems, and processes
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to inspire and motivate teams.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a keen eye for identifying trends, gaps, and opportunities.
  • Experience with learning management systems (LMS), digital learning tools, and innovative training solutions. Experience with Alchemy, and Articulate 360 is a plus.
  • Experience leveraging, utilizing, and managing LinkedIn Training, and Franklin Covey All Access
  • Demonstrated project management skills, capable of managing multiple projects with competing deadlines.
  • Knowledge of current industry trends, best practices, and advancements in the field of learning and development.
  • Relevant professional certifications (e.g., CPLP, CPTD) are advantageous.
  • Up to 25% Travel as needed.

  WHAT YOU’LL GET

  • People First: At Golden State Foods, we're not just a company; we're a dynamic community where your talents are celebrated, and your ambitions are nurtured.
  • Values Driven: Our core values drive everything we do, creating a culture of innovation, integrity, and excellence. But we're not content with just being great; we strive for greatness in every aspect of our work.
  • People Development: At GSF we strive to continually develop our people to prepare us all for the needs of tomorrow.
  • Philanthropy & Sustainability: We're committed to making a difference beyond our walls through philanthropy and sustainability efforts across all our locations around the globe.
  • Extensive Benefits: Golden State Foods believes in a holistic approach to wellness focusing on the whole person with benefits that support those needs.