Director of Learning & Development

Marcus Hotels & Resorts; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 155,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Discounts at Marcus Hotels & Resorts properties

Generous paid time off

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401k with employer match

Job summary

Marcus Hotels & Resorts is seeking a Director of Learning & Development in Milwaukee for a strategic role overseeing educational initiatives across the organization. The successful candidate will partner with senior leaders to align talent development with the company’s goals, fostering a culture of service excellence.

This position entails significant travel and requires over six years of experience in Learning and Development, as well as expertise in instructional design and facilitation. The role offers competitive salary, benefits, and unique perks at our properties.

Qualifications

• 6-8+ years of related progressive Learning and Development experience.
• Background in hospitality, restaurant, retail, or similar multi-unit environments highly preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and business writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead a multi-year, enterprise-wide L&D strategy.
• Build differentiated learning pathways for different employee levels.
• Oversee training delivery across various platforms.

Skills

Learning and Development experience

Adult learning principles

Facilitation skills

Instructional design

Communication skills

Organization

Tools

Learning Management System

Microsoft Office

Job description

Director of Learning & Development

We are seeking a Director of Learning & Development to join our team in a highly visible, strategic role that will be responsible for the design, implementation, and delivery of enterprise‑wide learning initiatives that support both property level operations and corporate functions across Marcus Hotels & Resorts and Marcus Corporation. Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources, this leader will partner closely with corporate, divisional, and property leadership, serving as a trusted advisor to leaders, ensuring all learning strategies are aligned with operational priorities and broader business goals. This role requires a significant amount of travel and the ideal candidate is based in the Milwaukee/Wisconsin area. Success in this role will be defined by the ability to develop and elevate talent at every level of the organization, while aligning L&D programs with our mission and culture to Serve People, Create Memories, and Deliver Exceptional Experiences. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Marcus Hotels & Resorts brings over 60 years of operational excellence and a deep commitment to providing exceptional service. Our growing portfolio of 17 hotels and resorts across the U.S. reflect a unique sense of place, character, and style. As "People Pleasing People," we are dedicated to creating extraordinary experiences for both our guests and our associates. Marcus Corporation is a recognized leader in the lodging and entertainment industries, with substantial company‑owned real estate assets across 19 states and a proven track record of success spanning more than 90 years.

What you will be doing:

• Define and lead a multi‑year, enterprise‑wide L&D strategy supporting hotel property operations (departmental, experience, service, leadership, etc.) and corporate functions (finance, legal, HR, sales, marketing, compliance, etc.) across Marcus Hotels & Resorts and Marcus Corporation.
• Partner with senior leaders to identify capability gaps, workforce priorities, and strategic talent needs, aligning L&D with enterprise talent, culture, and performance initiatives.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, service excellence, and hospitality‑driven leadership, serving as a champion of talent development and guest experience.
• Build differentiated learning pathways for frontline, operational, and corporate employees while strengthening leadership pipelines, succession planning, and internal mobility.
• Champion a unified culture grounded in Marcus values, while respecting business unit and brand differences and identities.
• Design and deliver an innovative portfolio of learning solutions (leadership development, service training, digital learning, coaching, experiential programs, etc.) to optimize leadership capability, operational consistency, and guest satisfaction.
• Lead development of an enterprise learning portfolio, including leadership/management development, service excellence, operational training, corporate skill‑building, and digital/on‑demand learning.
• Oversee training delivery across in‑person, virtual, and e‑learning platforms, ensuring scalability, consistency, brand alignment, and measurable business impact.
• Manage L&D budgeting, governance, and resource allocation, including enterprise Learning Management System (LMS) strategy, administration, optimization, segmentation, reporting, and user experience across business units.
• Evaluate and implement learning technologies and tools to improve accessibility, engagement, and measurement; continuously assess program effectiveness using data and insights.
• Provide leadership with regular reporting on capability development, leadership pipeline health, and readiness for growth, while acting as a trusted advisor and driving cross‑functional L&D integration across operations and corporate teams.
• Other duties as assigned.

What we are looking for:

• 6-8+ years of related progressive Learning and Development experience
• Background in hospitality, restaurant, retail, or similar multi‑unit environments highly preferred
• Strong knowledge of adult learning principles, diverse training methodologies, instructional design, corporate training, and curriculum development
• Excellent facilitation skills (in‑person, virtual, and e‑learning/LMS‑based delivery)
• Experience administering a LMS; Schoox experience a plus
• Skilled in instructional design, including converting content to digital/e‑learning formats
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and business writing skills (reports, manuals, training materials, etc.)
• Strategic thinker and advisor with ability to assess needs, solve problems, and recommend solutions
• Highly organized self‑starter with attention to detail; able to multitask in fast‑paced environments
• Proficient with learning technologies and business tools (LMS, HCMS, Microsoft Office, etc.)
• Ability to design engaging, visually effective training and presentation materials
• Willingness to travel 4060% (air, car, train)

What's in it for you:

• Eligible for annual bonus and leadership perks
• Discounts at Marcus Hotels & Resorts properties for hotel rooms and restaurants - not to mention, great deals on golf, ski and spa
• Marcus Movie Theatres discounts
• Brand new, modern office space
• Generous paid time off
• Medical, dental, vision company‑paid life insurance, employee assistance program offered after one month of employment
• 401k with employer bi‑weekly match
• And more!

Salary Estimate: $155,000 - $170,000