Senior Director - Learning and Development

Company: AvalonBay Communities
Location: Arlington
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

Senior Director - Learning and Development Position Type: Full time State: Virginia City: Arlington Zip Code: 22203 Overview AvalonBay Communities, Inc., an equity REIT, has a long-term track record of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing distinctive apartment homes in some of the best U.S. markets, and delivering outsized, risk-adjusted returns to shareholders. With equal parts experience and vision, we’ve established a leadership position rooted in our purpose of creating a better way to live and that is always focused on building value for the long term. Creating a better way to live is the purpose that binds AvalonBay associates. We take that purpose seriously and expect you will as well. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, and taking ownership of our choices and actions, we act in ways that focus on creating value for our customers, investors and associates. Your positive, professional, and consistent personal interactions make AvalonBay a great place to work. The Role The Senior Director, Learning & Development is responsible for designing and executing the organization’s strategy to strengthen talent, leadership, and organizational performance. This role oversees management training, functional training, leadership development, onboarding, and organizational development (OD) with the goal of driving strong organizational effectiveness (OE). This role will also support enterprise-wide change management initiatives through learning programs, upskilling, and organizational design. The leader will partner with executives and business leaders to build a culture of continuous learning, guide transformation efforts, and ensure the organization is equipped with the skills, capabilities, and mindset needed to thrive in a dynamic business environment. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership Develop and execute a comprehensive learning and organizational development strategy aligned to business objectives and talent priorities in support of organizational effectiveness Partner with senior leadership to assess capability gaps and organizational needs and create innovative solutions to close them Drive initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness, resilience, and employee engagement Learning, Training & Instructional Design Oversee the design, development, and delivery of management and functional training programs to support professional growth and operational excellence Lead instructional design strategy to ensure learning content is modern, engaging, and aligned with adult learning principles Implement digital learning platforms, blended learning solutions, and experiential programs to create innovative, effective learning experiences Establish frameworks to measure training effectiveness and learning ROI Has the ability to leverage AI for personalized learning paths, content creation, and analytics to effectively serve the organization Leadership Development Oversee leadership development programs across all levels of the organization, ensuring alignment to business strategy and succession planning needs Design and manage leadership assessment strategies, including the use of tools such as 360-degree feedback and competency-based instruments Evaluate assessment data to identify leadership potential, strengths, and development areas, and integrate insights into talent planning Manage coaching engagements as necessary Organizational Development & Effectiveness Lead OD initiatives including optimizing team effectiveness, organizational design, and performance optimization Oversee the administration and execution of organizational development programs, ensuring consistent delivery across the enterprise Develop, implement, and monitor action plans that drive organizational effectiveness and support cultural transformation Manage the design, deployment, and analysis of associate opinion/engagement surveys, translating insights into actionable strategies Build strong partnerships with business leaders to ensure learning and change initiatives are integrated with broader transformation efforts Partner with HRBPs and business leaders to improve organizational structures, processes, and ways of working that drive agility and growth Measure organizational effectiveness and implement strategies to optimize employee experience and productivity Change Management Support enterprise-wide change management initiatives to ensure successful adoption of strategic initiatives and technology through proactive change management Develop and apply change frameworks, communication plans, and stakeholder engagement strategies Build organizational change capability by training, upskilling, and equipping leaders and managers to lead through change Team Leadership & Governance Lead, mentor, and develop learning and organizational development team fostering a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and customer-centricity within the team Oversee administration of learning platforms, systems, and processes for scalability and efficiency Establish governance, metrics, and reporting to measure learning, leadership development, organizational development, and change impact Manage budgets, vendors, and external partners to maximize organizational development and learning investments Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred) 10 years of progressive experience in learning, leadership development, organizational development, or change management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role inclusive of people management experience Proven success designing and delivering enterprise-wide L&D and OD strategies, including oversight of instructional design, leadership programs, assessment tools, and engagement initiatives Strong knowledge of adult learning principles, instructional design models, organizational effectiveness, and change management methodologies (e.g., Prosci) Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills Experience leading teams and building high-impact partnerships with business leaders Knowledge of Workday HCM platform is preferred Key Competencies Strategic thinking with the ability to link learning, leadership development, and organizational strategies to business outcomes Expertise in designing and leveraging leadership assessment tools to inform talent decisions Strong instructional design, facilitation, coaching, and consulting capabilities Ability to lead organizations through transformation and manage complexity with agility Data-driven mindset with experience measuring and demonstrating impact Passion for building inclusive, adaptable, and high-performing organizational cultures How AvalonBay Supports You We know that our teams are the beating heart of our success and we’re committed to showing our appreciation. We offer: Comprehensive benefits — health, dental and vision, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and holidays, tuition reimbursement, an employee stock purchase plan and more. Click on Benefits (https://jobs.avalonbay.com/benefits) for information. Growth based on achievement and promotion from within. Associate recognition (a company-wide recognition program that celebrates associate efforts and successes in contributing to the overall success of the organization – including destination awards, ‘AvalonBay’s Very Best’ recognition program and others!). A 20% discount on our incredible apartment homes. A culture built on purpose and our core values - A Commitment to Integrity, A Spirit of Caring, and A Focus on Continuous Improvement. Additional Info AvalonBay is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We believe that in order to achieve our purpose of creating a better way to live, we must recruit, develop and retain associates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and create an environment that encourages all voices to be heard, understood and appreciated. With this we know we can do great things. AvalonBay makes employment decisions without regard to a person’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including characteristics or testing), citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by the law. For California residents, if you elect to apply to AvalonBay you accept the AvalonBay California Personnel Privacy Notice ( https://www.avaloncommunities.com/california-personnel-privacy-notice/ )

Keywords: AvalonBay Communities, Arlington , Senior Director - Learning and Development, Human Resources , Arlington, Texas