Learning Specialist- Islandia Corporate Office

Whitsons is seeking a dynamic individual to join our Learning and Development team. If you are passionate about training, development and improving our workforce, this position is for you!

SUMMARY: The Learning & Development (L&D) function is dedicated to improving employee skills, knowledge, and performance through targeted training, development programs, and ongoing learning initiatives that support business objectives. As a Learning Specialist on the L&D team, this role will primarily focus on assisting with training initiatives for the hourly Operations workforce. Additionally, this position will contribute to broader talent development efforts, working closely with the Director of L&D to support key organizational goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• LMS Administration: Administer and manage Whitsons' Learning Management Systems (LMS), including:
• • Annually, review the training catalogue with Operations Leadership to ensure training meets USDA and/or FSQA training requirements
  • Creating and updating learning plans for team members
  • Ensure compliance with required training.
  • Oversees the audit and weekly reimbursement process for hourly team members' required trainings completed outside of their regular working hours
  • Report generation, troubleshooting, password re-sets.

• Training Coordination: Schedule, organize, and facilitate training sessions, ensuring all materials and resources are available for both virtual and in-person events.

• Content Creation: Develop training materials, presentations, user guides, and video vignettes to support team member learning and development.
• Training Facilitation: Lead training sessions, workshops, and group discussions, both in-person and virtually
• New Hire Onboarding: As part of this role, the individual will be responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive new hire onboarding

• Ensure L&D programs are consistent with the company's vision and mission, are following legal requirements and promote positive employee relations and engagement.
• Produce L&D materials in a variety of formats including print, graphics, audio, video, and multimedia.
• As assigned, provide direction, leadership, and project management for new and existing L&D initiatives.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of L&D initiatives and recommend modifications.
• Maintains and ensure that the L&D sections of the Virtual Manual are up-to-date and accurate
• Perform other incidental and/or related duties as required and/or assigned.

Payrate starting at $65K

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

• A bachelor's degree is required in Education, Human Resources, or equivalent experience in a related field.

• PHR or SPHR certification in SHRM or the Association of Talent Development (ATD) (or equivalent) preferred.

• Must have thorough and deep knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite products

• Minimum one to three (1-3) years of experience administering and managing a Learning Management System (LMS)
• Minimum three - five (3-5) years of experience working in talent development or training.
• Experience with photo and graphics editing tools, such as Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred.
• Knowledge of the food service industry a plus.
• Experience with instructional design methodology and adult learning principles.
• Experience with eLearning course authoring tools, such as Articulate Storyline, Alchemy, and Captivate.
• Ability to effectively facilitate content to multiple audience levels.
• Successful applicants will demonstrate the following competencies:
  • Communication: Excellent interpersonal abilities, good listening skills, writing and verbal skills, ability to be discreet and maintain confidentiality of sensitive private data.
  • Decision-Making: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, takes initiative, drives for results, ability to prioritize work, communicate problems and propose solutions, as appropriate; sound, mature judgment, and integrity.
  • Execution: Sense of urgency and responsibility, meets deadlines; action-oriented and entrepreneurial, flexible work style; ability to multi-task and work under pressure, detail oriented
  • Partnership and Relationship Building: Internal and/or external ambassador, intercultural appreciation, interpersonal abilities, adaptable and flexible; self-motivated, ability to motivate others, can work independently as well as in teams
  • Strategic Ability: Anticipates future opportunities and consequences, demonstrates innovative approach to work, ability to organize chaos into coherent plan

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk and hear; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Position requires travel to multiple work sites, some out-of-town. Must be able to drive his/her own vehicle to other work sites.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work is performed primarily in an office setting. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work and duties that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position, and the Company reserves the right to add additional duties or modify existing duties.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the Company and employee and is subject to change by the Company as the needs of the Company and requirements of the job change.

Employee's signature below constitutes employee's understanding of the requirements, essential functions and duties of the position.