Learning Specialist (Leadership Development)

Zs Associates; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

ZS Associates, a leading global management consulting and technology firm, seeks a Human Resources Specialist - Learning (Leadership Development Lead) to shape leadership capability across the organization. You will partner with senior leaders to accelerate leadership readiness, drive high performance, and navigate complex organizational challenges.

The role requires experience designing scalable leadership programs, strong executive presence, and the ability to translate business priorities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in leadership development, organisational effectiveness, talent management, learning strategy, consulting, or related field.
• Proven success designing and scaling leadership programmes that drive measurable business outcomes.
• Experience building programmes from concept through implementation with executive buy-in.
• Experience working directly with executive leadership and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen and ability to leverage data to guide decisions.
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute a multi-year leadership development strategy aligned with firm priorities and workforce planning.
• Provide end-to-end ownership for flagship leadership development programs including strategy, design, governance and delivery.
• Establish trusted advisor status with executive leaders and influence decisions through data and partnership.
• Design leadership experiences and programs using coaching, cohorts, simulations, and experiential learning.
• Lead and develop one direct report and collaborate with Learning Strategy, Enablement, Instructional Design, and Operations teams.

Skills

Leadership development

Stakeholder management

Executive presence

Learning strategy

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

PowerPoint

Presentation design

Job description

ZS is a place where passion changes lives. As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, we transform ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity to deliver better outcomes for all. Here you’ll work side‑by‑side with a powerful collective of thinkers and experts shaping life‑changing solutions for patients, caregivers and consumers, worldwide. ZSers drive impact by bringing a client‑first mentality to each and every engagement. We partner collaboratively with our clients to develop custom solutions and technology products that create value and deliver company results across critical areas of their business. Bring your curiosity for learning, bold ideas, courage and passion to drive life‑changing impact to ZS.

Human Resources Specialist - Learning (Leadership Development Lead) will be responsible for defining, building, and scaling leadership development experiences that accelerate leadership readiness, strengthen organizational capability, and support ZS's long‑term business strategy. This role is accountable for building the leadership pipeline that will carry the organization into its next chapter. This is not a training coordination role—it is a strategic leadership capability role focused on identifying, developing, and accelerating leaders who drive high performance across the firm.

As the strategic owner of ZS's Leadership Development portfolio, you will partner with senior leaders throughout the organization to develop leaders who can navigate complexity, drive growth, build high‑performing teams, and create lasting impact for our clients and people. Reporting to the Director of Global Learning, this role will work closely with the Chief People Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and other senior leaders across HR and the business. The position will oversee one direct report and serve as a coach, mentor, and capability builder across the broader Learning organization. The ideal candidate combines business acumen, executive influence, leadership development expertise, strategic thinking, and operational excellence. They are comfortable building programs from the ground up, earning executive sponsorship, and translating business priorities into impactful leadership experiences.

What you'll do

Leadership Development Strategy

• Design and execute a multi‑year leadership development strategy aligned with firm priorities, business objectives, and workforce planning.
• Define leadership readiness expectations and capability frameworks across key leadership transitions.
• Build a cohesive leadership journey that supports leaders from Manager through Associate Principal, Principal, and beyond.
• Identify current and future leadership capability gaps and develop innovative solutions to address them.
• Establish clear measures of leadership effectiveness and readiness aligned to business outcomes.
• Position ZS as the industry benchmark for Principal and leadership excellence.

Principal Leadership Development Portfolio  Provide end‑to‑end ownership for ZS's flagship leadership development programs. The responsibilities include:

• Program strategy and roadmap development
• Learning experience design
• Curriculum architecture
• Stakeholder engagement and governance
• Faculty identification and preparation
• Program communications
• Participant experience design
• Measurement and continuous improvement
• Budget and vendor management

Executive Partnership & Influence

• Earn trusted advisor status with executive leaders through credibility, insight, and business partnership.
• Facilitate leadership discussions, design sessions, governance forums, and planning meetings.
• Influence decisions without formal authority through strong recommendations, data, and relationship‑building.
• Help leaders identify capability gaps and build development plans aligned to business priorities.

Leadership Experience Design

• Design and launch leadership programs from concept through implementation.
• Develop learning experiences grounded in real business challenges and organisational priorities.
• Leverage coaching, mentoring, cohort‑based learning, peer learning, executive panels, simulations, and experiential learning approaches.
• Partner with business leaders and subject matter experts to co‑create relevant and impactful experiences.
• Continuously evaluate and improve program effectiveness based on participant, stakeholder, and business outcomes.
• Create compelling executive‑level presentations, communications, and learning materials.
• Translate complex business and leadership concepts into engaging, practical learning experiences.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead and develop one direct report.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and quality review support.
• Partner across Learning Strategy, Learning Enablement, Instructional Design, and Learning Operations teams.
• Build leadership development expertise and capability across the broader Learning organisation.

What you will bring

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in leadership development, organisational effectiveness, talent management, learning strategy, consulting, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success designing and scaling leadership programmes that drive measurable business outcomes.
• Proven ability to build programmes from concept through implementation, including securing executive buy‑in and stakeholder sponsorship.
• Experience working directly with executive leadership teams and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen, including the ability to leverage financial, operational, talent, and performance data to guide decisions.
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, and facilitation skills.
• Advanced PowerPoint and presentation development capabilities.
• Experience creating compelling executive narratives and strategic communications.
• Strong project and programme management capabilities.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution in a fast‑moving environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Principal, Partner, executive, or senior leadership populations.
• Experience in professional services, consulting, technology, or similarly complex organisations.
• Experience with leadership assessments, succession planning, executive coaching, and talent acceleration.
• Experience facilitating leadership team sessions, workshops, and off‑sites.
• Experience managing external learning providers, faculty, and coaching partners.
• Coaching, facilitation, or organisational development certifications preferred.

How you’ll grow:

• Cross‑functional skills development & custom learning pathways
• Milestone training programmes aligned to career progression opportunities
• Internal mobility paths that empower growth via s‑curves, individual contribution and role expansions

Perks & Benefits:

At ZS, your growth matters. We offer a comprehensive total rewards package that supports your health and well‑being, financial future, time away, and professional development. With robust skills‑building programmes, multiple career progression paths, internal mobility, and a deeply collaborative culture, you’ll have the opportunity to do meaningful work, expand your capabilities, and thrive as part of a global community. For details on total rewards in United States, visit ZS US office locations | Where we work | ZS.

Hybrid working model:

We are committed to giving our employees a flexible and connected way of working. A flexible and connected ZS allows us to combine work from home and on‑site presence at clients/ZS offices for the majority of our week. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face‑to‑face connections.

Travel:

Travel is a requirement at ZS for client facing ZSers; business needs of your project and client are the priority. While some projects may be local, all client‑facing ZSers should be prepared to travel as needed. Travel provides opportunities to strengthen client relationships, gain diverse experiences, and enhance professional growth by working in different environments and cultures.

Considering applying?

At ZS, we honour the visible and invisible elements of our identities, personal experiences, and belief systems—the ones that comprise us as individuals, shape who we are, and make us unique. We believe your personal interests, identities, and desire to learn are integral to your success here. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Learn more about our inclusion and belonging efforts and the networks ZS supports to assist our ZSers in cultivating community spaces and obtaining the resources they need to thrive.

ZS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities without regard to any class protected by applicable law.

Work Authorization:

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must have authorisation to work in the United States that does not now or in the future require employer sponsorship.