Learning, Development & Talent Specialist

Title: Learning, Development & Talent Specialist Supervisor: HR Manager Work Location: Mendota Heights, MN (Main Office) Work Schedule: Year-Round Position Summary The Learning & Development Specialist is responsible for creating, delivering, and managing programs that enhance employee skills, support career growth, and strengthen organizational capability. This role leads onboarding, facilitates learning initiatives, supports performance management processes, and builds the systems and tools that enable employee development across the company. The Specialist partners with employees, leaders, and cross-functional teams to assess development needs, design learning programs, manage logistics, oversee learning systems, and measure effectiveness. This position plays a key role in fostering a culture of continuous learning, leadership development, and organizational growth. Key Responsibilities Employee Onboarding Lead New Hire Orientation and onboarding processes for new employees and employees transitioning into new roles Facilitate introductions, handoffs, and smooth transitions into teams Conduct 30/90-day check-ins to assess new hire progress and support integration Provide ongoing feedback and check-ins for employees in their first year or newly transitioned roles Performance Management Administer and maintain the performance management system, including tracking, monitoring, and coaching users Provide guidance to employees on setting effective SMART goals Support managers and employees during performance cycles Employee Development Planning Support individual development plans (IDPs) and help employees identify growth paths Participate in succession planning discussions and processes Create and maintain career paths, roadmaps, and related resources Conduct needs assessments and gap analyses to identify training and development priorities Training Programs Design and develop training programs Facilitate training sessions and learning workshops across various topics Manage training operations including vendor sourcing, scheduling, logistics, communication, registration, and tracking Develop and implement advanced leadership development programs System Administration & Evaluation Assist in implementing and administering Learning Management System (LMS) functionality Manage course assignments, tracking, and troubleshooting within the LMS Evaluate learning outcomes using data, analytics, and feedback Produce reports and insights on training effectiveness and competency growth Manage and track all required compliance training Continuous Improvement Collect ongoing feedback from employees and leaders on training needs and process effectiveness Identify gaps, inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve learning programs and tools Update forms, guidelines, and materials as needed Recommend and implement improvements to enhance learning experiences and program outcomes Additional Responsibilities Assist with budgeting for training programs and L&D initiatives Refresh, maintain, and expand the Training SharePoint page and related resources Other projects as needed HR Team Expectations There will be a lot of cross-functional duties shared within the HR department to ensure all is properly covered. Preferred Experience/Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, or related field (or equivalent experience) Experience in training design, facilitation, and employee development programs Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines Proficiency with learning technologies, LMS platforms, and digital collaboration tools Strong analytical, problem-solving, and documentation skills Experience with performance management or talent development systems Familiarity with adult learning principles and instructional design best practices Background in leadership development or career pathing Experience with SharePoint, HRIS, or talent development tools Preferred Competencies & Skills: Strong communicator Engaging facilitator Relationship-oriented Analytical and insight-driven Organized and detail-oriented Creative problem solver Growth-focused mindset Tech-comfortable and systems-savvy Empathetic listener Reliable and accountable Adaptable and open to change Professional and value-driven Discrete and trustworthy Team-oriented Technical Skills (useful tools for success): Learning Management Systems HRIS systems (for performance cycles, data, and integration) eLearning tools Survey platforms (Microsoft Forms, SurveyMonkey) Presentation tools (PowerPoint, Canva) SharePoint (for resources and knowledge hubs) Excel/Sheets (for tracking, reporting, analytics) Other Expectations: Live up to our company Core Values: Safety - Safety in the workplace is a mutual responsibility of the employer, management, and all employees. We have an expectation that all employees will play an active role in workplace safety and promote a positive safety culture at all times. Respect - Respect at work is crucial as it promotes healthy relationships between coworkers and managers, and outside the organization. A respectful employee is a sign of a respectful organization and therefore creates a positive image of our company and our workplace. Integrity - Real integrity is doing the right thing, whether someone realizes it or not. Displaying Integrity helps build trust and drives a certain level of expectation. Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gain. Commitment - Commitment is the bond employees share with their organization and its employees. Committed employees bring exceptional value to the organization through their support, productivity, determination, reliability, and quality. Commitment shows and can be contagious. Quality - is the best business plan. It is an investment in our future. Quality leads to consistency. Consistency leads to happy employees, satisfied customers, and a growing business. #J-18808-Ljbffr