Learning and Development Associate in Plano, Texas at A First Name Basis

Salary Range: $58,000 - $65,000 annually

Location: Plano, TX

The Learning & Development Associate is responsible for evaluating how new hires are performing during their first 90 days and for helping them succeed. In this role, you will conduct virtual mock training sessions and evaluations at key points in the onboarding window, give clear and constructive feedback, and build targeted coaching plans for employees who are struggling. You will work closely with managers, trainers, and the L&D team to make sure new hires are set up for long-term success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct virtual evaluations of new hires at scheduled points across their first 90 days, including observations, skills assessments, and check-in conversations
• Document findings accurately and consistently using established rubrics and evaluation tools
• Track each new hire’s progress against onboarding milestones and competency expectations
• Flag risks early, such as skill gaps, engagement concerns, or compliance issues, and escalate them to the right stakeholders
• Deliver timely, specific, and constructive feedback to new hires after each evaluation
• Coach new hires on applying what they learned in training to their day-to-day work
• Partner with managers to align on expectations and reinforce coaching between evaluations
• Identify new hires who are not meeting performance expectations and diagnose the root causes (knowledge gaps, skill gaps, process confusion, motivation, etc)
• Develop individualized coaching and improvement plans with clear goals and timelines
• Hold follow-up sessions to measure progress and adjust plans as needed
• Work with managers and HR on documentation and next steps when performance does not improve
• Analyze evaluation trends and share insights with the L&D team to improve onboarding and training content
• Maintain evaluation records and produce regular reports on new hire performance, completion, and coaching outcomes
• Recommend improvements to evaluation tools, rubrics, and coaching resources

Travel Requirements:

• Travel on-site during the first 30 days of employment to build relationships, observe operations, and learn the environment
• Travel approximately once per quarter, only when needed, for in-person coaching, team meetings, or special projects

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Education, Organizational Development, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 2+ years of experience in training, learning and development, coaching, or a related field
• Demonstrated ability to give direct, constructive feedback in a way that builds trust
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Comfort conducting evaluations and coaching conversations over video
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, video conferencing tools, and learning management systems
• Ability to travel as described above

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience coaching or managing underperforming employees
• Experience in [industry, e.g. healthcare, home care, customer service]
• Experience with competency-based evaluations or observation rubrics
• Certification such as ATD CPTD, SHRM-CP, or a coaching credential

Core Competencies:

• Coaching and feedback delivery
• Objectivity and attention to detail
• Empathy paired with accountability
• Time management across multiple evaluation schedules
• Data tracking and reporting
• Collaboration with managers and cross-functional teams