How to apply for Director, Learning Strategy

About National Association of Community Health Centers

NACHC is the leading national voice for America's Community Health Centers, advocating for high-quality, affordable, community-based care for underserved populations since 1971. Working here means directly supporting the health center workforce that serves millions of patients, and the organization offers a remote-friendly, mission-driven environment with national influence in health policy and education.

About the role

As Director of Learning Strategy, you will own the enterprise-wide learning and education approach for the Community Health Center field, with a focus on the Health Center Operations and Governance (HCOG) functional area. You will translate sector learning needs into a unified learning agenda, collaborating closely with the Chief Education Officer to drive strategic implementation and measurable results. This role is impactful because it shapes how thousands of health center professionals are trained and supported nationwide.

A typical day

You might start your day with a virtual check-in with the Chief Education Officer to align on strategic priorities, then analyze learner feedback and performance data to refine a governance training module. Later, you'd collaborate with HCOG subject matter experts to design a new blended learning journey, and end with a planning session for an upcoming national webinar series for health center leaders.

Who National Association of Community Health Centers is looking for

• Proven experience designing and executing enterprise-level learning strategies in a healthcare, nonprofit, or association setting, including needs assessment, curriculum development, and delivery across multiple modalities.
• Strong data-driven mindset with the ability to measure learning outcomes, use analytics to inform decisions, and continuously improve programs based on evidence.
• Deep understanding of the Community Health Center (CHC) landscape, including operations, governance, and the unique training needs of safety-net providers.
• Exceptional collaboration and communication skills, with experience working closely with senior executives (e.g., Chief Education Officer) and cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, remote environment.

Tips for this application

• Highlight your experience developing learning strategies specifically for healthcare or safety-net organizations—NACHC wants to see that you understand the CHC context and can translate field needs into actionable learning agendas.
• Use the phrase 'learning agenda' and 'enterprise-wide approach' in your materials to mirror the job description and show alignment with their terminology.
• Quantify your impact: include metrics like number of learners reached, improvement in knowledge retention, cost savings from training efficiencies, or data-driven decisions you made.
• Demonstrate familiarity with NACHC's mission and the HCOG functional area by referencing specific challenges health centers face (e.g., workforce shortages, value-based care, governance training).
• Emphasize your ability to work remotely and collaboratively with senior leadership—NACHC is headquartered in Bethesda but this role is remote, so show you can thrive in a distributed team.

What to cover in your cover letter

1. Your strategic vision for enterprise-wide learning in a national association, specifically for community health centers. 2. Concrete examples of how you've used data to drive learning strategy and measure outcomes. 3. Your experience collaborating with C-suite executives (like a Chief Education Officer) to align learning with organizational priorities. 4. Your passion for NACHC's mission and understanding of the unique learning needs of health center operations and governance staff.

Research before applying

• Explore NACHC's website, especially their education and training offerings, to understand current programs and identify gaps you could address.
• Research the Health Center Operations and Governance (HCOG) area: what are the key operational and governance challenges facing community health centers today?
• Learn about the Community Health Center movement, including funding sources (e.g., Section 330 grants), policy issues, and the role of NACHC in advocacy and training.
• Review recent NACHC publications, reports, or conference agendas to understand strategic priorities and the language they use around learning and education.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you assess the current learning needs of the CHC field and prioritize them into a unified learning agenda?
• Describe a time you used data to redesign a learning program—what metrics did you track and what was the outcome?
• How would you ensure alignment between the HCOG functional area's learning initiatives and NACHC's broader strategic goals?
• What experience do you have with learning technologies and platforms, and how would you select the right tools for a national association?
• How would you approach collaboration with the Chief Education Officer and other senior leaders to drive enterprise-wide learning strategy?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic learning and development resume that doesn't mention healthcare, community health centers, or association/nonprofit contexts.
• Focusing only on tactical training delivery rather than strategic, enterprise-wide learning strategy—this role requires big-picture thinking and alignment with organizational goals.
• Neglecting to show data-driven decision-making; NACHC explicitly seeks a data-driven leader, so avoid vague claims about 'improving learning' without evidence.
• Ignoring the remote aspect: failing to demonstrate ability to work effectively in a remote, collaborative environment with senior leadership.