Manager of Program and Learning

Overview

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service.  We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What You Will Do:

NLU seeks a Manager of Program and Learning, to lead the end-to-end development of new workforce-aligned certificate training programs, from early employer engagement through the launch of initial pilot cohorts. This role drives cross-functional collaboration across Accelerate U and NLU teams—including admissions, enrollment, financial aid, marketing, and academic affairs—to design high-impact learning experiences that meet employer and student needs.  They will oversee the visioning, course and materials development, and implementation of each program, partnering with subject matter experts, instructional designers, and employer stakeholders. Continuous improvement through data-informed evaluation, student feedback, and innovation in teaching and learning is central to this role’s success.

Essential Responsibilities

• Project manage the development of new certificate pathways from initial conversations with employers through implementation of the first pilot cohort in the program. Identify the major milestones and key stakeholders, facilitate the cross-team collaboration, and monitor progress. This includes close partnership with teams across Accelerate U and NLU, including admissions, enrollment, financial aid, Provost Office, and marketing/outreach
• Develop the vision for each new certificate pathway in partnership with employer partners and the Accelerate U team, including the learning objectives that must be met for success on the job and certification, the ideal student learning experience (i.e. modality, frequency of classes), and the course sequence and credit load that will align with that vision.
• Design the courses for each new certificate pathway in partnership with Subject Matter Experts you’ve sourced and hired, NLU’s learning Design Team (LXD), and continued input from employer partners. This includes development of course objectives, key learning assessment and assignments, integration of external learning tools and resources, and the flow of the course in D2L, NLU’s Learning Management System.
• Design the materials needed to launch the program with students, including orientation resources, the student handbook, and FAQ.
• Evaluate new programs through partnership with the Senior Director of Learning and Product, closely monitor the first implementation of a new track and gather qualitative and quantitative data on the strengths and gaps in the program model, in order to identify opportunities for improvement in the future. Lead on making design changes ahead of the next full run of the program.
• Identify opportunities to innovate and improve on the AU student learning experience by staying up to date on the current teaching and learning trends, opportunities, and technology (i.e. AI, simulations).
• Contribute to team culture: At AU, all team members work together and help shape culture on the team. The specific ways in which we work together to achieve this goal are listed in the Additional Comments section below.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Education, Instructional/Learning Design, Product Development.
• Five (5)+ years experience designing instructional products (i.e. learning tools, curriculum) or projects from start to finish
• Three (3)+ years managing complex projects across cross-functional teams
• Three (3)+ years experience teaching, ideally in ca college, high school, or workforce development setting.  Strong preferences for experience teaching both in person and online.
• Expertise in the following areas: instructional/learning design, program design, program evaluation, innovation frameworks (i.e. human centered design)
• Technology proficient, including experience with digital tools for teaching, and teaching in either online or blended/hybrid formats.  Experience using a learning management system.

Work Environment/Physical Demands/Travel Requirements:

This is a hybrid position and requires travel to the Chicago Campus or to in-person meetings with employer partners 1-2 days per week. This role may require working evening hours 1-2 days per month to facilitate orientation, observe classes, etc.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued.  We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

Compensation and Benefits

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Opportunities. Additional information regarding full-time staff benefits can be found here.

The salary range of the grade for this position is $65,187 to $94,520 annually.  Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.  Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity. 

Application Instructions

Please Include the following along with your application:

• Resume (Required)
• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Current NLU employees please also submit an Internal Posting Form