Senior Director, Learning Architecture Professional Learning

Department/Team: Innovation and Research, Evaluation, and Quality Improvement (IREQI)

Salary: $110,000 - $120,000

FLSA Status: Exempt

Expected Start Date: October 1, 2026

Location: Remote with 15% Travel

About Sandy Hook Promise
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the lifesaving, evidence-informed Know the Signs prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships.

SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.

Commitment to Belonging, Community, Engagement, and Respect
SHP strives to ensure its culture and work environment reflect the values of belonging, community, engagement and respect. We actively seek to understand and respond to the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of individuals across socioeconomic backgrounds, rural and urban communities, and diversity of thought, in addition to traditional protected categories. We are committed to ensuring that every SHP employee feels heard, valued, and a true sense of belonging. SHP encourages individuals who share our commitment to these core values and to our mission to apply.

Location
We are a U.S. based organization and most of our staff work remotely. This role will require 15% travel (on an as-needed basis). Candidates should reside within a reasonable distance (30-miles) of a major airport to ensure efficient, cost-effective travel. Team members are expected to make thoughtful travel decisions that balance cost, convenience, and sustainability.

About the Role
The Senior Director, Learning Architecture, Professional Learning serves as the organizational lead for designing and operationalizing high-impact, evidence-based learning strategies for educators, educational staff, administrators, and out-of-school time (OST) professionals at Sandy Hook Promise (SHP). This role is responsible for defining and carrying out a long-term vision for scalable, accessible, and effective professional learning across asynchronous, virtual, and in-person modalities that supports program fidelity, implementation quality, capacity development, and school and community impact.

Drawing on deep expertise in curriculum and professional learning design, development, and facilitation, this leader translates research into practical, user-centered learning solutions that support effective implementation of violence prevention programs. They provide leadership in train-the-trainer models, educational strategy, and cross-functional alignment to advance the strategic priorities, innovation, and program effectiveness of the organization.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Vision & Ownership

• Develop and lead the strategic vision for SHP's professional learning architecture, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, partner needs, best practices, and field trends.
• Translate strategy into actionable plans, roadmaps, metrics, and accountability measures to drive implementation and results.

Professional Learning Materials

• Oversee the design, development, writing, and continuous improvement of educator-facing materials, implementation resources, and tools that support high-quality program delivery and fidelity.
• Manage external subject matter experts, consultants, contractors, and vendors to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational standards.
• Ensure materials incorporate evidence-based approaches, implementation science, violence prevention, and related frameworks, while remaining practical and adaptable across school, district, OST, and regional settings.
• Align all professional learning materials with the needs of program Implementation teams.

Train-the-Trainer & Professional Development Strategy

• Lead the design, development, and writing of scalable train-the-trainer systems and professional learning offerings.
• Direct the development of program-agnostic learning opportunities through SHP Learning Studio to meet evolving educator and staff needs.
• Ensure learning experiences are aligned with adult learning principles, program theories of change, and implementation goals.
• Partner across teams to integrate professional learning into training and technical assistance models.

Annual Planning, Monitoring & Reporting

• Lead annual planning for the Professional Learning team, aligning priorities, resources, and improvement efforts with organizational goals.
• Monitor progress through established metrics and provide regular updates to executive leadership on outcomes, risks, trends, and recommended adjustments.
• Use internal and external data to identify opportunities for improvement and inform strategic decision-making.

Data-Informed Continuous Improvement

• Partner with Evaluation and Quality Improvement teams to pilot, assess, and refine professional learning offerings using feedback and impact data.
• Establish and monitor KPIs related to engagement, learning outcomes, implementation quality, and program effectiveness.
• Apply continuous improvement and implementation science principles to strengthen learning strategies and outcomes.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Represent professional learning on cross-functional committees, initiatives, and leadership forums.
• Proactively identify, communicate, and address risks, opportunities, and operational challenges affecting goals, implementation, or sustainability.
• Keep leadership informed of progress, challenges, and recommended actions to support timely decision-making and strategic adjustments.
• Collaborate across departments to advance organizational priorities and support successful program implementation.
• Perform other duties as assigned based on organizational needs.
• A commitment to SHP’s mission and values.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Master's degree or higher in Adult Education, K-12 Education, Curriculum & Instruction, or a related field required.
• 7+ years of experience designing, developing, and writing professional learning for educators, youth-serving professionals, or related audiences.
• 10+ years of experience working with K-12 school systems, out-of-school time (OST) programs, community-based education settings, or similar learning environments.
• 5+ years of experience managing contractors, vendors, subject matter experts, or other external partners supporting educational products and programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in adult learning principles, instructional design, and professional learning delivery across in-person, virtual, and asynchronous formats.
• Proven ability to translate research, theory, and evidence-based practices into practical, educator-facing learning tools and resources.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with diverse stakeholder groups to develop and implement educational programs and products.
• Experience developing culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and inclusive learning materials for diverse educational settings and communities.
• A professional learning sample designed and written by the applicant will be required for candidates advancing in the selection process.

Benefits and Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $110,000-$120,000.
SHP uses a structured internal rubric to guide salary placement and ensure equitable pay. Typically, new hires are placed at the start of the salary range to ensure equity with current employees, and as a practice, we do not negotiate salaries.

• SHP offers a competitive benefits package, including:
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Flexible schedules
  • Paid holidays and 10 days sick leave
  • Paid parental leave
  • Health, dental, and vision
  • Employer paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability
  • 401k match
  • Professional development stipend
  • Wellness & mental health support
  • Employer Paid Employee Assistance Program.

Our organization operates within a distributed workforce, allowing for location flexibility across the country for most positions. We provide remote office support for all staff, which includes a laptop, home office reimbursement, monthly Wi-Fi reimbursement up to $40, and monthly cell phone reimbursement up to $50.

Professional Learning Work Sample

As part of the interview process, candidates will be asked to submit a professional learning artifact that they personally designed, developed, and implemented. During the interview, candidates should be prepared to walk the selection team through the artifact, highlighting:

• The need or challenge the work was designed to address
• Their role in the design and development process
• The implementation strategy and scale of deployment
• Key outcomes, impact, and lessons learned

Candidates are encouraged to submit an existing work sample and should not create new materials specifically for this exercise. Please ensure that any confidential, proprietary, or personally identifiable information is removed prior to submission.

Additional Instructions

• Applications will close on Friday, November 20, 2026. All are welcome to apply.
• Please note: applicants must be based in the U.S. Thank you!

Equal Opportunity Employment
SHP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to be an employer of choice: where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and do their best work. SHP does not make employment related decisions based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are focused on promoting multiculturalism and inclusion so that all SHP employees feel valued and respected. We believe deeply that a diverse workforce comprised of people of all beliefs, backgrounds, and life experiences who seek to prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life will make SHP a stronger, more effective organization.

Equal Opportunity Employment

SHP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to be an employer of choice: where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and do their best work. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are focused on promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion and believe deeply in having a workforce comprised of people of all beliefs and backgrounds who seek to prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life. Members of all under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.