Learning and Development Specialist Journey

Purpose

Performs professional delivery of effective learning and development programs and services; plans, designs, develops, coordinates and delivers training to engage, develop, and retain a highly skilled, competent and motivated workforce.

Nature and Scope

This classification is comprised of two levels: Level "E" is the entry-level where incumbents are provided formal training and/or certification for progression to the journey-level of the classification. The incumbent is promoted/progressed to the journey level "J" upon successful completion of all training and/or certification requirements for the classification. Incumbents hired at the entry-level are required to successfully progress to the journey-level within 18 to 60 months, depending on the length of the training and/or certification program. If an employee is unsuccessful with progressing to the journey-level they will return to last class held or separate from SMUD.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops and manages a wide array of learning and development programs, projects, services and systems that support and advance SMUD business strategies, and meet identified learning and development needs; coordinates efforts and resources across SMUD.
• Manages and delivers career development programs and services to include but not limited to individual employee, team, and peer career coaching services and training; career program management e.g., peer career program; also provides professional employee testing and assessment services, and develops and delivers career development tools
• Designs, develops, promotes and delivers internal online learning and development programs; performs technical requirements analysis, to design, and deliver multi-media trainings; coordinates closely with business unit representatives, end-users and the learning and development community to craft eLearning solutions for training, performance support, social collaboration and professional learning needs.
• Incorporates a variety of eLearning methodologies, including synchronous, asynchronous learning, social and other types of informal learning e.g., self-study tools, etc.; utilize a variety of software tools for eLearning training development and delivery.
• Manages external training programs and vendor relationships; evaluates the need for contracted vendor led training programs and vendor services on a cost-benefit basis; develops and evaluates requests for proposals RFP, helps select vendors, coordinates and manages work, develops and tracks budgets, analyzes variances, and resolves any contractor related issues to ensure successful program/service delivery; may also work directly with vendors to jointly develop and/or deliver course content.
• Partners with SMUD management teams, business unit representatives and more experienced colleagues to assist in evaluating and determining short and long-term learning and development needs based on analyses of business requirements, considering both internal organizational factors and external environmental conditions.
• Conducts business and employee performance analysis as an internal performance consultant by working with managers, supervisors and employees to determine performance needs, competencies and KSA knowledge, skill and ability gaps; Proactively identifies skill-related risks to the business and employee performance; Performs root-cause analysis of identified items and designs and delivers learning and development strategies to close gaps.
• Monitors metrics and measures to evaluate the quality, cost and impact of learning and development programs and services; Identifies improvement opportunities and makes timely adjustments to optimize service quality and overall costs.
• Stays current in profession through maintaining professional memberships, relationships, online education and research, peer networking, and by participating in professional educational and association conferences, seminars, courses and other events.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Required Education

Required Experience Qualifications

• Three or more (3+) years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience in training, learning/development, needs assessment, instructional design, learning program development and delivery, and evaluation and measurement.

Knowledge Of

Instructional design methods; best practices in employee development and training techniques; procedures and practices for monitoring and managing projects; concepts and systems related to adult learning and trends in development training programs; applicable laws, codes and regulations governing training and development systems, trends and best-practices related to employee coaching and employee/management development and training techniques; business and employee performance improvement methods; Human Performance Improvement HPI gap analysis concepts and techniques, principles and practices for contract management; concepts for cost control and project scheduling; modern office practices and procedures; safety practices and procedures typical in a business environment; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards.

Skills To

Analyze business strategies and objectives to determine employee learning and development needs, and develop and implement solutions; develop, design and manage learning and development programs; measure, evaluate and quantify the impact of learning and development work efforts; develop and present business cases for such efforts to management; proactively analyze skill-related risks to the business; serve as reference person for other employees; interact with others to influence, motivate and challenge; develop and maintain project budget and schedule; express ideas/facts clearly and concisely, taking into account the audience and nature of information; adapt to changing priorities and requirements; communicate effectively orally and in writing internally/externally; determine and analyze the costs and benefits of utilizing external training programs, write requests for proposals RFP, evaluate and select vendors, and manage contracts; proficiently use common MS Office application e.g., Word, Excel, Power Point and learning technology tools; establish and maintain mutually beneficial working relationships; collaborate and coordinate closely with all levels of employees across the organization.

Desirable Education

• BA/BS degree in Adult Education, Public or Business Administration, Psychology or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience is highly desirable.
• Successful completion of a formal apprenticeship program or equivalent can be substituted for a BA/BS degree in operations business groups.
• A MA/MS/M.Ed. degree in Adult Education, Public or Business Administration, Psychology or a related field.

Desirable Qualifications

• Process or project management training
• Leadership and mentoring
• Programs development and delivery
• 360 degree feedback tool administration
• Learning management systems applications
• E-learning training design and delivery e.g., web based or online tools.

Certification in the following is highly desirable:

• Career and development related testing and assessment certification (Level B&C personality and career tests)
• Instructional design certification
• Other certifications in ATD (e.g., Certified Professional in Learning and Development - "CPLP") and SHRM certifications, as related to learning and development, are also desirable.

Physical Requirements