Directors of Organizational Development: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of directors of organizational development about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for directors of organizational development to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of directors of organizational development expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for directors of organizational development.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Directors of Organizational Development?
Do directors of organizational development need a degree? What kind of experience do directors of organizational development typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for directors of organizational development to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Organizational Development
Jobs Postings for Directors of Organizational Development By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 2,452 (46%)
- Master's degree: 1,448 (27%)
- No Education Listed: 846 (16%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 343 (6%)
- High School or GED: 215 (4%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of directors of organizational development. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 46% of positions. In 27% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 16% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Organizational Development
Jobs Postings for Directors of Organizational Development By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 244 (9%)
- 2-3 Years: 640 (23%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,016 (37%)
- 7-9 Years: 452 (16%)
- 10+ Years: 401 (15%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for directors of organizational development. In 37% of job postings for Directors of Organizational Development, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 23% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 16% of job postings for directors of organizational development.
What Kind of Degree Do Directors of Organizational Development Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for directors of organizational development, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective directors of organizational development, and in 2021 a total of 147,244 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective directors of organizational development.
Top Degree Programs for Directors of Organizational Development
Top 5 Degree Programs for Directors of Organizational Development (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,169 |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | 2,283 |
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Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Directors of Organizational Development
Leverage advances in positive psychology and executive coaching to impact the development of individuals, teams, and communities.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Understand what’s behind the structure, behavior and environment of your organization.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Strengthen your grasp of brain science and personality styles, individual and organizational intelligence and innovation and change management and become a transformational leader, with Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Business Psychology.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Create a high-performance culture by broadening your knowledge of leadership theory, change management and managerial psychology through Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Organizational Leadership.
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Directors of Organizational Development Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by directors of organizational development to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for directors of organizational development, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Directors of Organizational Development
Based on 3,918 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Directors of Organizational Development
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Development | 2,446 | 62% |
| Project Management | 1,250 | 32% |
| Change Management | 1,216 | 31% |
| Talent Management | 826 | 21% |
| Performance Management | 822 | 21% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Directors of Organizational Development
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | 2,282 | 58% |
| Communications | 2,168 | 55% |
| Management | 1,846 | 47% |
| Planning | 1,077 | 27% |
| Coaching | 1,056 | 27% |
Based on 3,918 job postings related to directors of organizational development, organizational development was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 62% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, change management, talent management, performance management and organizational effectiveness were also highly sought.
As for common skills, leadership was the most desired skill found in job postings for directors of organizational development, followed by communications, management, planning, coaching and presentations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Development | 2,446 | 62% |
| Project Management | 1,250 | 32% |
| Change Management | 1,216 | 31% |
| Talent Management | 826 | 21% |
| Performance Management | 822 | 21% |
| Organizational Effectiveness | 770 | 20% |
| Psychology | 697 | 18% |
| Succession Planning | 567 | 14% |
| Learning Management Systems | 561 | 14% |
| Organizational Change Management | 514 | 13% |
| Organizational Architecture | 511 | 13% |
| Employee Engagement | 493 | 13% |
| Instructional Design | 469 | 12% |
| Industrial And Organizational Psychology | 463 | 12% |
| Business Strategies | 453 | 12% |
| Adult Education | 449 | 11% |
| Data Analysis | 430 | 11% |
| Process Improvement | 425 | 11% |
| Organizational Leadership | 423 | 11% |
| Surveys | 356 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | 2,282 | 58% |
| Communications | 2,168 | 55% |
| Management | 1,846 | 47% |
| Planning | 1,077 | 27% |
| Coaching | 1,056 | 27% |
| Presentations | 1,022 | 26% |
| Leadership Development | 980 | 25% |
| Consulting | 978 | 25% |
| Writing | 960 | 25% |
| Training And Development | 920 | 23% |
| Influencing Skills | 854 | 22% |
| Research | 825 | 21% |
| Innovation | 785 | 20% |
| Problem Solving | 779 | 20% |
| Customer Service | 731 | 19% |
| Microsoft Excel | 691 | 18% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 690 | 18% |
| Operations | 690 | 18% |
| Microsoft Office | 688 | 18% |
| Coordinating | 617 | 16% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about directors of organizational development? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for directors of organizational development.
What do directors of organizational development do?
How much do directors of organizational development make?
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