Human Resources Senior Specialist, L&D

About the Position: The Human Resources Senior Specialist for Learning & Development leads the coordination and execution of staff professional development initiatives and NACo's member-facing leadership programs. This role partners with internal teams and external vendors to plan training schedules, manage program logistics, and maintain accurate training records.

For NACo members, this position designs, implements, and continuously improves the association's leadership development curriculum, including workshops at major conferences and oversight of the County Leadership Institute (CLI).

In addition, this role provides operational support to the Human Resources function, including recruitment coordination, document management, and support for department-wide initiatives.


Key Responsibilities:

Internal Learning & Development

• Administer and analyze staff skills assessments to identify training priorities
• Collaborate with department leaders to define key competencies and career pathways
• Assess organizational training needs and recommend development strategies
• Design and deliver training programs that support employee growth and organizational goals
• Coordinate internal training sessions, including NACo University and Lunch & Learn programs
• Partner with internal subject matter experts and external vendors to deliver high-quality learning experiences
• Maintain training records and track participation and outcomes

Member Leadership Development & Conferences

• Develop and implement NACo's leadership development curriculum for members
• Design engaging leadership tracks for NACo's major conferences (2-3 annually, with 4-5 workshops each)
• Identify and engage subject matter experts and contributors for leadership programming
• Support NACo's partnership with the High Performance Leadership Academy in collaboration with NACo EDGE

County Leadership Institute (CLI) Program Lead

• Lead planning, coordination, and execution of the annual CLI program in Washington, D.C.
• Manage recruitment, application, and participant selection processes in partnership with state associations
• Coordinate program logistics, including travel, venues, and session delivery
• Serve as primary liaison to facilitators, participants, and partners
• Oversee program budget and ensure high-quality execution within financial parameters
• Track program outcomes, participation, and feedback to inform continuous improvement

HR Operations Support

• Support HR reporting, project coordination, and departmental initiatives
• Maintain accurate and compliant employee personnel records and documentation
• Assist with recruitment processes, including job postings and interview coordination
• Track and report on training participation and HR metrics
• Provide administrative and project support to the HR Director and Chief Operating Officer
• Other duties as assigned

Liaison to Affiliates, Affinity Groups, Committees, and Networks:

• County Workforce Network (in conjunction with Carlos Green, NACo EDGE)

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, Public Administration or a related field
• 3-5 years of professional experience in human resources, learning and development, training coordination or program administration
• Experience coordinating professional development programs training sessions or organizational learning initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, schedules and stakeholders while maintaining attention to detail

• Effective relationship builder, managing internal relationships across staff as well as relationships with external partners and county members
• Ability to interface effectively and professionally with elected officials, corporate executives and NACo staff at all levels

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with internal teams, leadership and external vendors
• Ability to analyze training needs and support the development of learning opportunities that align with organizational goals
• Strong organizational, budget management and project coordination skills

• Excellent Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook skills required

Preferred Attributes:

• Experience managing learning and development programs within a nonprofit association
• Familiarity with adult learning principles and workforce development practice
• Experience coordinating external training vendors or facilitators
• Ability to assess training needs and recommend improvements to professional development initiatives
• Experience supporting conference or event-based training sessions
• High level of professionalism, discretion and ability to work with sensitive information

• Past experience with CRM tools, such as D365, is a plus

Location and Travel:
This position is located in Washington, D.C. but eligible for a hybrid work schedule and requires travel for NACo conferences, meetings and partner engagements.

Salary Range: $80,000 - $95,000 commensurate with experience and available resources