Training Specialist - Heartland Human Care Services

Title:Training Specialist

Location:Logan Square, Chicago IL

Schedule:On-Site, Monday to Friday (8:00am- 4:30pm)

Summary

Under the general guidance of the Associate Director, the Training Specialist collaborates with the Quality Assurance Specialists and Division Coordinators to support the SAFEty Training by conducting and developing trainings in accordance with ORR and the company policy. The Training Specialist is responsible for developing and updating curricula, conducting and tracking new-hire orientation and assisting with other tasks as needed. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below.

The Training Specialist leverages industry knowledge and best practices to promote the mission and vision of Heartland Human Care Services. Supports culture development and management efforts.

Duties & Responsibilities

Instructional Design:

• Researches and serves as a subject matter expert on relevant topics including organizational rules and processes, new laws (e.g. PREA), industry knowledge, and current training materials, techniques, and strategies. 
• Conducts and analyzes training needs assessments with the programs and develops/updates annual training calendar, lesson plans, and curriculum based on results. 
• Collaborates with the IT Department to design online trainings as needed. 

Staff Training and Development:

• Helps staff improve upon or enhance existing skills and understand new policy changes. 
• Prepares and conducts training for staff.
• Facilitates New Employee Orientation (NEO) for new staff.
• Ensures all SAFEty staff is current on trainings and certifications. Responds to the ongoing training needs of the program as identified, including any new policy changes. 

Quality Assurance:

• Prepares appropriate internal and external reports in a regular and timely manner. 
• Performs periodic audits and reviews to ensure that polices/documents which are presented in trainings have been consistently implemented and are being utilized appropriately. 
• Researches and identifies new opportunities and resources for external trainings, workshops, or seminars appropriate for professional development of HHCS staff. 
• Develops, implements and evaluates training programs and policy, systems and environmental change interventions designed to support behavior change knowledge transfer. 

Community Engagement:

• Collaborates with community providers on a local and national level to coordinate trainings for the Youth and Residential Programs.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with Directors, Managers and staff within all SAFEty programs.
• Attends program and agency wide meetings, as requested. 
• Performs other job duties as assigned. 

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in education or a social services field is required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of previous training experience within a juvenile justice, residential care, or detention facility.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience conducting training/presentations for groups of various sizes.
• Bilingual strongly preferred.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):

• Excellent presentation skills.
• A resilient personality to handle multiple pressures from a variety of audiences and balance.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. 
• Must have knowledge in adult learning theories and curriculum development. 
• Ability to use multiple instructional strategies to teach to various learning styles (i.e., interactive, multimedia presentations, monitored simulations, problem solving scenarios) to deliver a variety of topics for organization, licensing, funder and CARF requirements and professional development. 
• Possess outstanding organizational skills and ability to meet established timelines. 
• Demonstrates a high degree of adaptability, comfortable in establishing new directions, managing rapid change, and trying different approaches to deal with uncharted territories. 
• Supervisory, teaching, writing, and public speaking skills are essential. 
• Ability to generate enthusiasm and prioritize and manage several projects simultaneously. 
• Highly organized, thorough, and prompt with a strong work ethic and the ability to complete tasks independently and in a timely manner. 
• Must be flexible in scheduling and have the ability to work in an ever-changing environment. 
• Ability to travel independently to SAFEty sites. Must have regular access to a reliable vehicle. 
• Ability to work during non-traditional hours such as evenings and weekends. 
• Excellent communication skills. Strong networker, convener, relationship builder and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations in a professional and diplomatic manner.
• A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and analytical ability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Learning Management Systems, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Human Care Services.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to work independently and remain self-motivated with minimal direct supervision.
• Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills.

Work Arrangement:

This role is an onsite, in-person position and ineligible for remote work.

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 noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

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. 

• Ability to sit at a desk for a large portion of the day. 
• Extensive reaching, bending, and moving of objects up to 25 pounds to organize and place in files. Ability to carry a laptop computer and training materials. 
• May require periods of walking throughout the facility. 
• May require periods of standing. 
• Ability to effectively operate and utilize a computer. 
• Must be able to work longer hours based on departmental needs. 

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Heartland Human Care Services makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.