Head of Duolingo Academy (Leadership Development)

About the role...

Duolingo is launching “Duolingo Academy” — a signature, company-wide learning program focused first on leadership development. We’re seeking a Head of Duolingo Academy to design the strategy, build and deliver high‑impact learning experiences for our leaders (with an initial emphasis on managers of managers), and scale a cohesive capability-building system that strengthens leader impact across the company. This high-visibility role partners closely with People leadership and senior executives to translate company priorities and values into practical, measurable learning that grows with Duolingo. This role is based in Pittsburgh, PA or New York, NY.

🧠  You will...

• Define the vision, strategy, and operating model for Duolingo Academy, starting with leadership development (managers of managers) and expanding into adjacent capability areas over time.
• Design, deliver, and iterate on a portfolio of leadership programs, frameworks (e.g., toolkits, guides, rubrics), and learning journeys (e.g., live, virtual, asynchronous) aligned to business priorities and Duolingo’s values, and ensuring consistency and a high-quality learning experience at scale.
• Design and oversee coaching, expert-led, and cohort-based learning programs (e.g., executive coaching, internal/external experts, communities of practice) to deepen leader capability and support individualized development.
• Establish clear success metrics and measurement practices (e.g., participant NPS, outcome metrics), review data and feedback regularly, and continuously improve programs based on impact.
• Partner with and serve as a trusted advisor to People leadership, function heads, and cross-functional stakeholders to align Duolingo Academy with talent strategies (e.g., performance, career ladders) and company priorities.
• Leverage Duolingo’s existing leadership offerings and integrate complementary learning pathways to create a cohesive, end-to-end leader development experience.
• Pilot, scale, and communicate Duolingo Academy programs and outcomes to executives, and refine the roadmap and resourcing plan as Duolingo Academy proves impact and evolves with the organization.

✅  You have...

• Extensive experience designing and delivering leadership development or capability-building programs, with a strong grasp of adult learning, program design principles and the science of teaching.
• A background as a successful leader and operator (ideally in Engineering, Product or Design) in addition to leadership coaching and development (not traditional L&D). 
• Demonstrated ability to assess leadership needs, translate them into practical and sticky learning experiences, and facilitate engaging sessions for senior audiences.
• A track record of building scalable learning systems and content (frameworks, toolkits, assets) and measuring impact using data and feedback.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and partner with senior leaders across functions in dynamic, high-growth environments.
• Comfort operating with ambiguity, simplifying the complex, and shipping high-quality work on tight timelines with a hands-on builder’s mindset.
• The ability to work from or relocate to Pittsburgh, PA or New York, NY.

⭐  Exceptional candidates will have...

• Experience establishing a flagship, company-wide learning program and scaling it from V1 to a durable, high-impact function.
• Expertise connecting leadership development to broader capability building (e.g., manager effectiveness, decision-making, communication, AI fluency).
• Familiarity integrating leadership programs with performance systems and career ladder enablement to manage organizational change at scale.