Director of Learning Design, Allied Health Careers

Location: National (remote)

Reporting to: VP, Product Development

About Us

Propel America addresses a broken workforce system that fails both young adults and healthcare employers, sidelining talented individuals from entering healthcare careers and contributing to critical workforce shortages that threaten community health. Propel’s work centers on bridging this gap by creating alternative, debt-free career pathways into healthcare for young adults ages 18–26, particularly those from underrepresented and low-income backgrounds, while helping employers access the trained, diverse talent they urgently need. Today, over 13 million young adults in the U.S. are either not in school, not working, or stuck in low-wage jobs with little room for growth. Traditional college remains financially and logistically out of reach for many, especially young people from low-income communities, forcing them into a false choice: sacrifice income to pursue an expensive degree or remain in low-wage work without upward mobility. At the same time, systemic barriers, such as limited exposure to healthcare roles, low visibility of alternative pathways, and a lack of representative mentors, prevent many high school graduates from entering the healthcare field.

Meanwhile, healthcare employers face compounding workforce shortages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 13% growth in healthcare jobs from 2021 to 2031, translating to nearly 2 million openings annually. Many of these are middle-skill roles, which represent over half the U.S. labor market but remain unfilled due to a lack of training infrastructure. Employers often contend with high turnover in entry-level positions yet underinvest in structured career advancement pathways or innovative strategies to retain talent.

Propel America aims to solve both sides of the equation, by equipping young adults with the skills and support to launch healthcare careers and by helping employers build stronger, more diverse, and more stable workforces. In our portfolio, we offer a suite of Propel Paths and Propel Products to place young adults in critical talent gaps in healthcare

To learn more about Propel America, please visit https://www.propelamerica.org.

The Opportunity

The Director of Learning Design Lead will be responsible for designing and implementing innovative career readiness programs tailored to increase the pipeline of opportunity youth into allied health careers. This role focuses on three aspects of Propel’s program: (1) our Accelerator program, which helps us to identify applicants who meet a baseline set of employability skills in order to move forward in our products/pathways, (2) upskilling Fellows who are immediately hired by Propel employer partners, improving growth and retention among these partners, and (3) supporting young people to achieve certification while simultaneously enhancing their employability, so that they are immediately hired upon completion of the certification program(s) by our employer partners. The role leverages AI-driven content creation to quickly design and test content connected to both programs.

The Director of Learning Design will also refine Propel's coaching model so that it integrates effectively with all product and pathway offerings. The role will report to the Vice President, Product Development, and manages ~2 Employability Skills Instructors (ESIs) who are responsible for the delivery of Programming to Fellows and Managers.

Key Responsibilities

1. (60%) Program Design, Continuous Improvement & Innovation
   • Develop comprehensive curriculum and training modules that support attainment of certification in roles like: Medical Assistants, Sterile Processing Technicians, Pharmacy Technicians, and other allied health careers.
     1. By leveraging AI, develop Scope and Sequences for content/curriculum that marries effective 1-1 coaching/mentorship for opportunity youth with the tactical requirements of earning certification in an allied health role
     2. Monitor industry trends and emerging technologies impacting allied health careers.
     3. Engage with the broader allied health sector to stay informed about best practices, workforce needs, and regulatory updates.
   • Create “new” programs that start at the point of hire, ensuring seamless integration into roles such as Home Health Aides who progress toward becoming Registered Nurses.
     1. In partnership with employer partners, design pathways that facilitate career advancement within the allied health sector, ensuring long-term retention and engagement of trainees.
   • Design and package programs that are scalable to align with Propel’s goal of impacting 1,500 Fellows over the next 3 years
   • Design structured learning pathways that integrate AI-driven content to personalize learning experiences.
     1. Utilize AI tools to generate tailored educational content, including interactive modules, assessments, and adaptive learning paths.
     2. Incorporate AI- and Human-driven mentorship and coaching components within the training programs to support skill development and professional growth.
   • Evaluate program effectiveness through data analytics and implement continuous improvement strategies based on feedback and performance metrics.
2. (25%) Team Management, Cross Team Collaboration & Effective Communication
   • Manage ~2 Employability Skills Instructors, ensuring the effectively delivery programming to achieve ambitious goals
     1. Ensure you are investing in their professional development and growth, providing regular feedback that builds upon their strengths
   • Actively communicate program details to stakeholders across departments
   • Train program implementation team on products and pathways to ensure effective program delivery and implementation
   • In partnership with Program Implementation team, ensure Fellows have clear understanding of program Scope and Sequence, key dates, and overall aspects of the program model
3. (15%) Ad-Hoc Projects and Needs
   • Propel is in a period of rapid growth and innovation; we expect team members to dedicate about 15% of their time to ad-hoc projects that may arise based on learnings, organizational needs, and our overall innovation work.

Key Qualifications

• Allied HealthCareers Experience and Knowledge: Experience in Allied Health Care: Familiarity with career pathways, retention strategies, or upskilling programs in healthcare settings.
• Experience Designing for Young Adults: Proven track record of designing products and programs that deliver successful outcomes for young adults.
• Project Management Experience: Experience managing multiple projects across different domains
• Cross-Collaboration & Communication: Ability to work effectively with diverse departments and external partners; Ability to effectively communicate with multiple internal and external stakeholders
• Customer-Centric Thinking: Deep understanding of healthcare industry and workforce development pain points, and behaviors. Experience using research and data to inform product decisions..
• Technology Design: Ability to leverage technology in the design of programs and learning experiences for youth. Experience using AI to design content and curriculum.

Desired Qualifications

• Adaptability: Quick adaptation to market changes and ability to pivot product offerings based on feedback.
• Strategic Thinking: Insightful understanding of the future of allied health careers and how products can shape this evolution.

Compensation

The salary for this position is between $89,100- $111,300 annually. We consider candidate experience and location when determining where a candidate may fall within that range. Propel America offers a competitive total rewards package including coverage of 90% of health insurance premiums, unlimited PTO, and a flexible work environment.

Interested in applying?

Please submit your application here. The application deadline to apply for this position is October 24, 2025. After this date we do not guarantee review of submissions.

Propel America is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

We encourage candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply.