Learning and Development Specialist

Youth and Family Advocates; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Youth and Family Advocates in New York is seeking a Learning and Development Specialist to design, deliver, and evaluate training programs that support the agency's mission and grant requirements.

You will collaborate with leadership, develop onboarding, and lead adult learning initiatives, while ensuring compliance and reporting. The role emphasizes trauma‑informed care to foster a safe and respectful environment for clients and staff.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of adult learning theories and instructional design principles.
• Strong project management, organization, facilitation and presentation skills.
• Experience developing and delivering both instructor‑led and online training.
• High operating proficiency of LMS and e‑learning platforms.
• Ability to analyze data and evaluate training effectiveness.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all employees.
• Strong problem‑solving and critical‑thinking abilities.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and nonprofit mission‑driven work.

Responsibilities

• Conduct organization‑wide training needs assessments to identify skill gaps and development opportunities.
• Design, develop, and implement training curriculum, learning materials, job aids, and instructional resources.
• Create onboarding and orientation programs for new employees.
• Develop leadership, supervisory, and professional development programs.
• Ensure training content aligns with organizational policies, grant requirements, accreditation standards, and industry best practices.
• Facilitate in‑person, virtual, and hybrid training programs.
• Coordinate internal and external training events, workshops, conferences, and webinars.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on adult learning principles and instructional design.
• Utilize engaging learning methods including classroom instruction, e‑learning, coaching, mentoring, and experiential learning.
• Manage and maintain the organization’s LMS.
• Maintain accounts on external funder LMS.
• Assign, track, and monitor training.
• Generate reports on training completion, compliance, and employee development activities.
• Troubleshoot LMS issues and provide user support.
• Collaborate with leadership to support succession planning and talent development initiatives.
• Assist in developing career pathways and employee growth opportunities.
• Support performance management processes through development planning.
• Promote employee engagement through learning initiatives.
• Evaluate, recommend, implement and facilitate assessments and skill tests.
• Coordinate employee surveys, analyze feedback and recommend action plans.
• Ensure compliance with mandatory training requirements, including federal, state, local, and grant‑funded program requirements.
• Maintain accurate training records and documentation.
• Evaluate training effectiveness using participant feedback, assessments, and performance outcomes.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for leadership regarding workforce development activities and outcomes.
• Partner with department leaders to identify training priorities and workforce development needs.
• Coordinate with external training vendors, consultants, and educational institutions.
• Participate in strategic planning and organizational improvement initiatives.
• Represent the organization at professional development and workforce development meetings, conferences, and community events.

Skills

Adult learning theory

Instructional design

Project management

LMS administration

Training delivery

Data analysis

Communication

Collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, or related field

Tools

LMS platforms

E‑learning tools

Job description

Job Summary

The Learning and Development Specialist is responsible for designing, coordinating, delivering, and evaluating employee training and professional development programs that support the organization’s mission, strategic goals, and workforce development initiatives. This position works collaboratively with leadership and program staff to identify training needs, develop learning solutions, promote employee growth, and foster a culture of continuous learning and professional excellence.

The Training and Development Specialist ensures employees have the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to effectively serve clients, comply with organizational and funding requirements, and achieve individual and organizational success.

In addition to the duties and requirements listed below, YFA expects employees to be committed to incorporating principles of trauma-informed care in all areas of service delivery. Commitment to these principles is demonstrated through active participation in agency-required training, use of trauma-informed practices, and understanding that trauma-informed environments require cultural sensitivity and an emphasis on a safe and respectful environment for all.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Training Program Development

• Conduct organization-wide training needs assessments to identify skill gaps and development opportunities.
• Design, develop, and implement training curriculum, learning materials, job aids, and instructional resources.
• Create onboarding and orientation programs for new employees.
• Develop leadership, supervisory, and professional development programs.
• Ensure training content aligns with organizational policies, grant requirements, accreditation standards, and industry best practices.

Training Delivery

• Facilitate in-person, virtual, and hybrid training programs.
• Coordinate internal and external training events, workshops, conferences, and webinars.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on adult learning principles and instructional design.
• Utilize engaging learning methods including classroom instruction, e-learning, coaching, mentoring, and experiential learning.

Learning Management System (LMS) Administration

• Manage and maintain the organization’s LMS.
• Maintain YFA accounts on external Funder LMS.
• Assign, track, and monitor required and elective training.
• Generate reports on training completion, compliance, and employee development activities.
• Troubleshoot LMS issues and provide user support.

Organizational Development

• Collaborate with leadership to support succession planning and talent development initiatives.
• Assist in developing career pathways and employee growth opportunities.
• Support performance management processes through employee development planning.
• Promote employee engagement through learning and development initiatives.
• Evaluate, recommend, implement and facilitate behavioral assessments and skill tests.
• Coordinate employee surveys, analyze feedback and recommend action plan.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure compliance with mandatory training requirements, including federal, state, local, and grant-funded program requirements.
• Maintain accurate training records and documentation.
• Evaluate training effectiveness using participant feedback, assessments, and performance outcomes.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for leadership regarding workforce development activities and outcomes.

Collaboration and Partnership

• Partner with department leaders to identify training priorities and workforce development needs.
• Coordinate with external training vendors, consultants, and educational institutions.
• Participate in strategic planning and organizational improvement initiatives.
• Represent the organization at professional development and workforce development meetings, conferences, and community events.

The above duties and responsibilities describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to the job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that an incumbent may be expected or asked to perform.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA’s)

• Knowledge of adult learning theories and instructional design principles.
• Strong project management, organization, facilitation and presentation skills.
• Experience developing and delivering both instructor-led and online training.
• High operating proficiency of LMS and e-learning platforms.
• Ability to analyze data and evaluate training effectiveness.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all employees.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and nonprofit mission-driven work.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Organizational Development, Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, Psychology, or a related field.
• Minimum three (3) years’ experience in training, learning and development, organizational development, human resources, or a related field.
• Experience designing and facilitating training programs.
• Experience working with LMS and training technology platforms.

Physical Requirements

Ability to sit for long periods of time using computers and Audio/Video Equipment; ability to bend, lift, and carry 30 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a nonprofit or human services environment.
• Professional certifications such as:
  • ATD Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD)
  • Certified Learning and Development Professional (CLDP)
  • SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)