Learning & Development Lead

About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson's and their families.

We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 300 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Position Summary: 
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Learning & Development Lead position. Reporting to the SVP, Head of People Operations, this position leads the design, delivery and execution of impactful learning programs while serving as a trusted HR partner to key business units. This role requires the ability to be both strategic and hands-on, have a strong grasp of adult learning principles, change management and core HR functions.

This position may be hybrid-flex with the opportunity to work out of the Foundation’s office in New York City or based remotely. This role will need to be able to commute to the Foundation’s office on a quarterly basis for in-person team meetings.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities: 
Learning & Development Program Management (60%)

• Design, implement and evaluate scalable learning programs that support employee development, leadership growth and organizational capability
• Conduct needs assessments and collaborate with stakeholders to identify skill gaps and learning priorities
• Evaluate and regularly report on learning initiatives for effectiveness using metrics, feedback and performance outcomes, including ROI of our L&D investments
• Manage end-to-end program logistics, including vendor relationships, content development and learning technologies
• Build career development pathways and promote a culture of continuous learning
• Partner with internal communications to drive learning engagement and participation

HR Business Partnering (40%)

• Act as an advisor to assigned teams or departments, guiding managers on talent management, compensation, employee relations, performance management, employee engagement and team development
• Support change management, workforce planning and team diagnostics
• Coach managers and employees on development planning, goal setting and feedback practices
• Collaborate with the People & Culture team (Compensation, Talent Acquisition, DEI, etc.) to implement HR initiatives that support business needs
• Analyze people data to identify trends and provide insights to inform business and talent decisions
• Provide guidance on employee relations, performance management and policy interpretation

Qualifications and Skills:

• Proven experience in learning & development, HR business partnering and program management
• Proven success in designing and implementing learning programs across a diverse organization
• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives
• Excellent communication, facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills. Able to tailor messages to fit the audience
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to translate insights into action
• Strong knowledge of HR principles, practices and employment laws
• Proficient in learning and HR tools (e.g., LMS, HRIS, survey tools, performance management platforms)
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal and relationship management skills, establishing positive and collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders across all organizational levels
• Exhibit self-motivation, attention to detail and a proactive approach, taking complete ownership of tasks and being adaptable to prioritize and reprioritize, as necessary
• Possess the capacity to uphold confidentiality when managing sensitive information and exercise sound judgment in determining when escalation is required
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with and across teams in a fast-paced environment
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with TriNet and Lattice is a plus
• HR and/or L&D certification is a plus

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $115,000 to $135,000.  In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)
• Competitive dental and vision plans
• 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employer paid life and disability insurance
• 18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2 p.m.) and a summer holiday week over July 4
• Two ways of working: hybrid-flex, or remote work.  We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done. 

Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events. 

How to Apply: 
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.

MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.