Director of Learning,
AI Academy

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Role: Director of Learning, AI Academy
Location: SmarterX HQ (Cleveland)
Reports To: General Manager (GM)

About SmarterX

SmarterX is an AI transformation company. We educate and empower leaders to reimagine business models, reinvent industries, and rethink what's possible. 

  • We believe AI will rapidly transform businesses, industries, jobs, the economy, educational systems, and society. 
  • We believe you can build a smarter version of any business through a responsible, human-centered approach to AI.
  • We believe the future of all business is AI native, AI emergent, or obsolete.  
  • We believe AI education and training is the foundation for success in every organization.

Our goal is to Accelerate AI Literacy for AllTM through courses, content and events. Consulting and speaking are also secondary solutions under the SmarterX brand.

SmarterX has three primary public-facing business units and brands:

  • Marketing AI Institute: Media, event and education business founded in 2016 that is designed to make AI approachable and actionable for marketers. The Institute has more than 90,000 contacts, and its flagship in-person conference, MAICON, draws 1,000+ marketers to Cleveland each year. 
  • AI Academy by SmarterX: Originally launched in 2020 under the Marketing AI Institute brand, AI Academy is being spun off as a dedicated site and brand. AI Academy is a high-growth business unit designed to prepare individuals and organizations for the future of work by making AI education accessible and personalized.
  • The Artificial Intelligence Show: The podcast is SmarterX’s fastest growing media channel with 65,000+ downloads per month. The podcast serves as a promotional tool and lead generator for SmarterX and its business units. 

SmarterX also has an internal AI Content Studio that supports audience growth, demand generation, and customer success across all brands / business units. The AI Content Studio produces blog posts, books, blueprints, courses, newsletters, podcasts, presentations, research, videos and webinars.

Role Overview

The Director of Learning will be responsible for shaping and managing the AI Academy learning ecosystem, ensuring high-quality education programs that drive engagement, retention, and measurable outcomes. 

This role oversees curriculum development, learning management system (LMS) operations, instructional design, data-driven improvements, and strategic partnerships. The Director of Learning will collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, sales, and customer success to scale education offerings and expand SmarterX’s impact.

Key Responsibilities

Learning Strategy & Curriculum Development

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive learning strategy aligned with SmarterX’s mission and goals.
  • Design innovative, AI-driven learning experiences that enhance user engagement and outcomes.
  • Oversee content strategy, ensuring programs address industry needs and emerging trends.

LMS Management

  • Oversee the administration and optimization of the Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Ensure seamless learner experience, integration with other platforms, and technical stability.
  • Implement best practices in LMS utilization, analytics, and reporting.

Course Management & Production

  • Manage the development, launch, and continuous improvement of online courses.
  • Ensure courses are engaging, accessible, and structured for maximum knowledge retention.
  • Work with subject matter experts (SMEs) to develop and refine learning content.

Instructional Design & Quality Assurance

  • Apply instructional design best practices to create effective and interactive learning experiences and training materials (videos, interactive modules, exams, etc.).
  • Establish and maintain quality standards for course content, delivery, and assessments.
  • Utilize feedback loops and learning science principles to enhance curriculum effectiveness.

Data-Driven Improvement

  • Implement learning analytics to measure effectiveness and improve course offerings.
  • Use data insights to drive learner engagement, retention, and certification completion rates.
  • Optimize learning experiences based on behavioral data and feedback.

Team Leadership & Vendor Management

  • Lead and manage internal learning teams, contractors, and external partners.
  • Oversee vendor relationships for content development, LMS services, and instructional tools.
  • Ensure alignment between learning initiatives and business goals.

Cross-Functional Collaboration (Marketing, Sales, Success)

  • Work closely with marketing to drive learner acquisition and engagement.
  • Partner with sales and customer success teams to align education programs with customer needs.
  • Ensure education offerings support business growth and client retention.

Education Partnerships

  • Develop strategic partnerships with universities, industry associations, and certification bodies.
  • Expand SmarterX’s education reach through collaborations and co-branded learning programs.
  • Lead initiatives to establish SmarterX as a recognized leader in AI-driven education.

Professional Certificate Program

  • Oversee the design and implementation of professional certification programs.
  • Ensure certification offerings align with industry demand and learner career growth.
  • Maintain high standards for accreditation and employer recognition.

Business Account Customization & Communication

  • Coordinate custom courses, learning pathways and content for Business account customers. 
  • Support planning, setup and management of personalized learning journeys by department, team and career paths.

Compliance & Standards

  • Ensure all learning programs adhere to industry regulations and best practices.
  • Maintain compliance with accreditation bodies and certification standards.
  • Implement accessibility and inclusivity standards in learning content.

AI Agency Management

  • Oversee and optimize AI-powered learning assistants to enhance course delivery, student engagement, and support.
  • Ensure AI agents are trained with up-to-date curriculum content and can provide accurate responses to learner inquiries.
  • Leverage AI-driven automation for course recommendations, learner assessments, and personalized education pathways.
  • Continuously evaluate and refine AI-enabled learning processes to improve efficiency, engagement, and outcomes.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Proven experience in learning & development, instructional design, or education leadership.
  • Strong background in managing LMS platforms, online course development, and digital learning.
  • Experience leading curriculum development and instructional teams.
  • Ability to leverage AI and data analytics to enhance learning experiences.
  • Expertise in working with cross-functional teams and external education partners.
  • Strong communication, leadership, and strategic planning skills.
  • Experience with Docebo LMS is a plus. 
  • Advanced prompting abilities with standard LLMs and reasoning models. 
  • Extensive experience with OpenAI ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini and / or Microsoft Copilot.

Compensation & Benefits

  • Competitive base salary with performance-based incentives.
  • Profit-sharing and long-term incentive opportunities.
  • Eligible for the company’s Phantom Stock Program, allowing participation in future company growth.
  • Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, Simple IRA, etc.).
  • Flexible work environment with a strong team culture.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter outlining their experience and vision for AI-driven learning at SmarterX. Apply here!