Training Specialist in West Covina, California at Options For Learning

Training Specialist
West Covina, Calif. | Office/other

About our organization

At Options for Learning, we partner with children, families, educators, and communities to create strong foundations for lifelong success. Since 1981, we have provided quality early learning and school-age programs, family support services, and child care resources designed to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve.

Our work is rooted in relationships and guided by our values of integrity, compassion, respect, curiosity, and nurturing. These values shape how we support families, collaborate with one another, and respond to the changing needs of our communities every day.

Every interaction — whether with a family seeking guidance, a child entering a classroom, or a team member working behind the scenes — is an opportunity to create a positive and meaningful experience grounded in trust, empathy, and service.

Serving communities throughout the San Gabriel Valley, Whittier, Pomona Valley, and Northeast Los Angeles, our team is united by a shared commitment to continuous learning, strong partnerships, and helping children and families thrive.

At Options for Learning, employees are more than team members. They are trusted partners in work that makes a meaningful difference for children, families, and the communities we serve.

About this position

This position provides training and professional development support to employees, supervisors, and management, and coordinates training and professional development initiatives that support the organization’s goals and objectives.

The Training and Professional Development Department provides onboarding and ongoing professional development for staff, along with early education and school-age training for affiliates and community members. Training encompasses curricula, customer service, program-specific staff onboarding, licensing and funding source requirements, state-mandated compliance training, all facets of child development, classroom best practices, mentoring and coaching, staff wellness, training for family child care providers, management strategies, and more. Internal and external content specialists are used to provide the most current and innovative practices. A key objective of the Training and Professional Development Department is to ensure that we are providing an excellent and consistent program and client experience.

The successful candidate will have knowledge of training and delivery methodologies, a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, effective communication skills for diverse audiences, and excellent organizational skills. This role will work independently and collaboratively within a team and flourish in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for someone who is a resourceful, creative, adaptable thinker with an upbeat, positive attitude and is eager to support the organization’s mission and achieve its strategic goals.

What you’ll be doing

• Assisting with all operational and administrative tasks to ensure successful implementation of services and support for staff training events;
• Tracking and monitoring training initiatives, such as ECE Registry, Hubbe, and HR synchronization;
• Implementing training schedules and calendars based upon organization priorities and program needs, including staff availability and planned calendars;
• Interacting with employees, supervisors and management as the initial point of contact for training and/or professional development requests;
• Maintaining knowledge of child development, school-age care and enrichment, family child care, and resources offered within the field and community;
• Building relationships and partnerships with community agencies and external training presenters;
• Maintaining confidentiality of all data, records and information;
• Submitting accurate and timely reports and program tracking forms as required;
• Working collaboratively with all Program Innovations staff to examine data to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement;
• Working collaboratively with Options for Learning’s Enrollment, Education, Health, Inclusion and Wellness, and Family Engagement departments to coordinate the delivery of professional development trainings that are culturally responsive and inclusive of the needs and interests of staff;
• Participating in community and outreach events and projects to maintain program visibility;
• Assisting management as needed;
• Attending training as required;
• Performing other duties as assigned.

What you bring to the table

• Associate degree in child development, education, human services, or a related field OR three years of experience in training adults in a professional capacity in the field of early childhood, school-age care, family child care, or a related field;
• Two years of experience conducting training, presentations or group meetings;
• Effective presentation and facilitation skills for small, large and diverse groups of employees, child care providers, and other adults;
• Experience in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams);?
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds;
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills;
• Familiarity with licensed family child care home provider population, center-based care, and families (preferred);
• Bilingual in Spanish or Mandarin (preferred).

What we can offer you

• Medical/dental/vision for part- and full-time employees (organization pays up to 95% of employee's premiums; prorated for part-time);
• Organization-paid and matching retirement plan;
• Professional growth opportunities, including free child development courses and college reimbursement;
• Generous and flexible PTO;
• Dedicated, mission-driven colleagues, and much more!

Job specifications

• Reports to the training and professional development manager;
• Non-exempt, full-time, year-round position;
• Eight-hour workday, four-day workweek;
• Hybrid work schedule with approval by management;
• Organization-wide winter break;
• Limited evening or weekend work may be required;
• Employment, responsibilities, compensation and other factors may be affected by changes in governmental regulations, the organization’s contracts, or at the organization’s discretion.

Salary

• $27.64 - $36.66 per hour (candidates should anticipate receiving an offer within the first quartile of the salary range).