Senior Learning & Development Specialist

As a subject matter expert and consultant 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.

Serves as a subject matter expert and consultant resource in a relevant professional discipline; works independently on projects of moderate to significant complexity; exercises independent judgment and discretion within established broad guidelines.

• Leads in developing and managing a wide array of learning and development programs, projects, services and systems that support and advance SMUD's 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.). Uses 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 proposal (RFP's), 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 and provides consultation to SMUD management teams, business unit representatives and other subject matter experts 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.
• Leads in conducting business and employee performance analysis as an internal subject matter expert 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.
• Develops and 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.

• High school diploma or equivalent

• Five or more (5+) 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.

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 an business environment; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; and English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards.

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.

• 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.

• Experience with program administration, support, and coordination.
• Experience with the development and maintenance of knowledge and competency tests
• Establishing, fostering, and maintaining effective working relationships at all organizational levels
• Process or project management training.
• Certification in the following is highly desirable:
  
  
  
  • Career and development related testing and assessment certification.
  • 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).