Professional Development and Support Specialist

Black Hills Works; Rapid City (SD); On-site; USD 27,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Black Hills Works is seeking a Professional Development and Support Specialist in Rapid City, SD. You will design onboarding, develop core training, and support staff growth, ensuring quality service delivery aligned with agency values.

You will lead professional development initiatives, track outcomes, and coordinate referrals for assistive technology, behavioral support, and computer training across departments. Valid driver’s license required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services or related field preferred.
• Minimum two years' experience with people with developmental disabilities.
• Experience in adult education, professional development, or training delivery preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design onboarding experiences reflecting agency values and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and facilitate core training programs for staff.
• Cross-train to provide back-up support for trainers/positions.
• Create measurement tools to assess training effectiveness and learning.
• Provide individualized support for successful staff integration.
• Maintain training records and track professional development metrics.
• Coordinate referrals for assistive tech, behavioral support, and computer training.

Skills

Training delivery

Analytical skills

Person-centered practice

Clear communication

Cultural competency

Driver's license

Background check

Continuous learning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Services

Experience with developmental disabilities

Adult education / training delivery

Job description

• Location 3650 RANGE RD,Rapid City, SD, 57702-0627,United States
• Base Pay $24.00 / Hour

Description

Professional Development and Support Specialist

Position Summary:

The Professional Development and Support Specialist plays a vital role in fostering excellence and growth at Black Hills Works through intentional, value-driven support of both staff and participants. This position champions our agency's driving principles by facilitating meaningful professional development, ensuring quality service delivery, and promoting collaborative approaches that enhance the lives of the people we serve.

Education and Experience:

• § Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or related field preferred
• § Minimum two years' experience working with people with developmental disabilities
• § Experience in adult education, professional development, or training delivery preferred
• § Demonstrated ability to create engaging learning experiences and adapt teaching methods to diverse learning styles
• § Strong track record of collaborative work and relationship building across departments

Required Skills/Abilities:

Excellence in interpersonal communication and relationship building

• § Proven ability to develop and deliver effective training programs
• § Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• § Commitment to person-centered practices and principles
• § Ability to translate complex information into accessible learning formats
• § Demonstrated cultural competency and inclusion practices
• § Valid driver's license with clean driving record
• § Ability to pass background check and drug screening
• § Commitment to continuous learning and professional growth

Physical Requirements:

• § Physical ability to perform work involving standing, sitting, walking, reaching, and occasional lifting

Duties/Responsibilities:

1. New Employee Support and Onboarding

• § Design and implement comprehensive onboarding experiences that reflect our agency's values and meet regulatory requirements
• § Develop and facilitate core training programs
• § Cross-train to provide back-up support for other trainers/positions
• § Create measurement tools to assess training effectiveness and participant learning
• § Provide individualized support to ensure successful integration of new staff
• § Continually assess to recognize new or emerging training needs

2. Professional Development and Growth

• § Assess organizational learning needs and design responsive training solutions
• § Create leadership development opportunities aligned with agency values
• § Maintain comprehensive training records and track professional development metrics
• § Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement
• § Design and support mentorship programs
• § Build strong working relationships across all departments
• § Identify opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration
• § Facilitate effective team meetings and problem-solving sessions
• § Support implementation of agency-wide initiatives
• § Participate in key committees to ensure alignment with agency goals
• § Assist in developing and maintaining quality assurance processes
• § Coordinate and process referrals for:
• o Assistive technology solutions
• o Behavioral support services
• o Computer training and technology education

4. Participant Support and Advocacy

• § Champion person-centered practices throughout the organization
• § Develop and deliver rights-based education for participants
• § Support implementation of Personal Outcome Measures
• § Facilitate Healthy Relationship Building course for participants
• § Provide advocacy training and support for participants and families
• § Create opportunities for meaningful community engagement

5. Quality and Impact Measurement

• § Develop and implement quality assurance processes
• § Conduct regular program reviews and assessments
• § Track and analyze outcome data to drive continuous improvement
• § Ensure alignment between daily practices and agency values
• § Document and share success stories and best practices§ Conduct Safety and Gem assessments in various worksites

6. Professional Growth Commitment

• § Actively pursue professional development opportunities§ Contribute to the growth of colleagues§ Demonstrate accountability for personal learning§ Show initiative in identifying and addressing organizational needs§ Model agency values in all interactions