About Ascent
Ascent Developer Solutions is a leading private lending platform, serving real estate developers nationwide in the acquisition, renovation, and construction of residential real estate. Founded by a leadership team with a deep understanding and personal experience in virtually every facet of real estate development, Ascent is uniquely positioned to create custom, innovative lending solutions for a variety of real estate development business strategies.
The L&D Manager will build and lead Ascent University, designing and executing scalable learning programs that enhance leadership capability, employee performance, and organizational growth. This role will partner closely with leadership, HR, and business leaders to align development initiatives with strategic priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Program Design
- Develop and execute enterprise-wide L&D strategy
- Design core programs (onboarding, functional/role specific, manager, executive, HiPo)
- Build competency frameworks and career paths
- Create curriculum, through partnership with SMEs
Program Delivery
- Facilitate workshops and learning sessions
- Manage external vendors and coaches
- Oversee LMS and learning content
Leadership Development
- Build executive & managerial development programs (new managers- executive)
- Implement 360 feedback and coaching
- Support succession planning
Talent Development
- Launch and manage HiPo program
- Build internship and early talent programs
Hiring Excellence
- Design and deliver interviewer training
- Standardize hiring practices across the organization
Measurement & Analytics
- Define KPIs (engagement, retention, promotion rates)
- Track ROI of learning programs
- Continuously improve based on data
Qualifications
- 5–10+ years in Learning & Development, Talent Development
- Experience building progressive L&D programs from scratch
- Strong facilitation and instructional design skills
- Experience with LMS platforms
- Executive presence and stakeholder management
- Strong program management skills
- Strong collaboration and consultation approach
- Experience with LMS reporting and ROI analytics
- Fluent in AI adoption and application
- Passionate about cultivating learning cultures with commercial outcomes
Key Success Metrics
- New hire time-to-productivity
- Internal promotion rates
- Manager effectiveness scores
- Employee engagement (learning-related)
- Retention of high performers
- Reduction of Regrettable leavers
- This role works on-site from Ascent's Encino office, Monday - Thursday (Fridays are work-from-home).
Salary range is $130k-$145k per year, with a discretionary bonus adding up to 20% per year.
Our Benefits
We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and work-life balance. Our benefits include five health plans, two dental plans, health savings and flexible spending accounts, vision coverage, a 401(k) plan, and other optional benefits from which to choose.
Our Pledge
We pledge to be fair and considerate in hiring and promoting individuals, ensuring everyone can contribute their fullest potential regardless of background, identity, or personal circumstances. By promoting equal opportunity, we not only enhance our workplace but also contribute to a more just and equitable society. At Ascent, we stand united in building a community where everyone is empowered to succeed. Thank you for joining us on our journey towards a more inclusive future.
Skills Required
- 5-10+ years in Learning & Development or Talent Development
- Experience building progressive L&D programs from scratch
- Strong facilitation and instructional design skills
- Experience with LMS platforms
- Executive presence and stakeholder management
- Strong program management skills
- Strong collaboration and consultation approach
- Experience with LMS reporting and ROI analytics
- Fluent in AI adoption and application
- Passionate about cultivating learning cultures with commercial outcomes
What We Do
AscentDS is a leading private lending and institutional debt platform offering customized financing solutions to top-tier single- and multi-family developers and investors. AscentDS was founded in 2024 by Robert Wasmund to capitalize on a multi-billion-dollar market opportunity to provide short-term secured loans for the acquisition, renovation and construction of single-family, homebuilder, and multi-family properties, along with post-completion bridge financing. The company leverages the management team’s long-term relationships with highly sophisticated borrowers, a proven track record of success building and scaling private loan origination platforms, a best-in-class construction management team, and proprietary software and data product suites to offer its borrowers an efficient and streamlined advantage.
