Leadership Development Program Manager

Job Summary:

The Leadership Development Program Manager is responsible for designing, building, and managing ACCO’s leadership development programs, with primary ownership of core leadership programs (IC → Manager → Senior Manager) and shared leadership of Executive Leadership Development initiatives.

This role requires hands-on ownership of both leadership program strategy and the development of core learning content, including the ability to build key elements internally and to effectively direct, review, and coach external vendors when deeper production support is required.

While external partners may be used for large-scale or executive-level initiatives, this role owns the learning strategy, core design decisions, and quality of all leadership development content. The Program Manager works closely with the Director of Training & Development for alignment and final approval.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Leadership Program Design & Delivery

• Design, launch, and manage leadership development programs aligned with ACCO’s leadership philosophy, Core Values, and ACCO Advantage.
• Translate business priorities and leadership expectations into clear program architectures and learning journeys.
• Ensure programs are practical, behavior-focused, and connected to business outcomes.

Program Ownership & Management

• Serve as the primary owner for manager-level leadership programs, including roadmap, content, delivery model, and evaluation.
• Manage program operations including scheduling, enrollment, cohort management, and facilitation coordination.
• Establish and maintain program calendars aligned with business needs.

Executive Leadership Development (Strategic Partnership)

• Partner with the Director of Training & Development to architect and launch executive leadership development programs.
• Support discovery, design decisions, and program architecture for executive initiatives.
• Lead engagement with external vendors and consultants, ensuring quality and alignment.
• Review, critique, and refine vendor-developed content.

Instructional Design & Content Development

• Design and build core instructional assets as needed, including slide decks, facilitator guides, participant materials, and leadership toolkits.
• Apply adult learning principles to create engaging, relevant, and scalable learning experiences.
• Collaborate with Instructional Designers on advanced or media-rich development while maintaining design ownership.

Stakeholder Engagement & Measurement

• Partner with senior leaders, HR, and business stakeholders to align programs with talent strategies.
• Communicate program intent, progress, and outcomes clearly.
• Define success metrics, track participation and outcomes, and use data to improve programs.

Position Requirements (Work Experience, Skills, Licenses, etc.): 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Education, Organizational Development, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in leadership development, learning & development, or talent development.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering leadership development programs.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

Desired: 

• Master’s degree in Organizational Development, Education, or related field.

• Experience working with external vendors or consultants.
• Experience designing and building leadership learning content independently.
• Working knowledge of instructional design tools; exposure to Vyond or Articulate Storyline is a plus.
• Experience in construction, engineering, or operationally complex organizations.

ACCO Competencies:

• Proactivity/Initiative: Recognizes what needs to be done and accomplishes it in a manner appropriate for one’s level/position and with minimal supervision.

• Perseverance: Shows wherewithal to fight for difficult goals despite challenges and to bounce back from adversity.

• Motivation/Dedication: Commits to excellence in pursuing unselfish goals. Initiates action with collective goals, takes responsibility, and shows personal humility.

• Technical Curiosity/Willingness to Learn: Interest in seeking out new experiences, knowledge, and candid feedback; demonstrating an openness to learning and change.

• Insight: The ability to gather and make sense of information that suggests new possibilities.

• Engagement: Shows a knack for using emotion and logic to communicate a persuasive vision and connect with people.

• People Skills: Is approachable and gains the mutual trust and respect of others. Understands people’s strengths & weaknesses and actively seeks to understand other perspectives.

• Communication: Fosters open, honest, candid and respectful communication. Effectively assesses, defines and communicates issues in a timely manner, both written and verbal.

• Teamwork: The ability to effectively work toward common goals with others by supporting, encouraging, and sharing information in an authentic and approachable manner.

• Big Picture: Understands and contributes to the organizations’ short- and long-term business strategy. On a personal level has independently developed a vision for short- and long-term career success.

• Problem-Solver: Ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems in support of personnel, group, department, or organizational objectives.

• Execution: Effectively takes a vision and translates into action by including the right people. Identify and remove barriers, when possible, to achieve results. Demonstrates appropriate compromise, effective time management, prioritization practices and holds team members (including themselves) accountable for their performance/conduct.

• Professionalism: Respectfully observes and challenges the status quo with intent for improvement. Can take direction, accept feedback, and take full responsibility for their actions. Lead by example through positive influence and ethical leadership with consideration of the entire organization.

Job Responsibility Level:

No direct reports

Travel Requirements:

Travel required 5-10% of the time to other office locations.

Hours:

This is an exempt position. Workdays are scheduled from Monday through Friday. Typically, work hours begin and end between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm as scheduled with the position's supervisor. Work outside of regular hours may occasionally be necessary to meet business needs.

Physical Demands:

(The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

• Prolonged sitting.

• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms.

• Occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch.

Competitive Wages: 

$106,000 to $143,000 annual salary. Applicants please note that actual compensation is determined by several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, certifications, relevant education or training, and specific work location, among others. The offered wage or salary is only one aspect of an employee's total compensation.

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