Learning and Development Specialist at Hayes Company LLC – Mesquite, Texas

Position Summary:

The Learning and Development Specialist plays a pivotal role in fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth across Hayes/Knight-Swift. This position is responsible for assessing training needs, designing and delivering engaging learning experiences, and evaluating program effectiveness using data-driven approaches. The specialist collaborates closely with department leaders, Human Resources, and subject matter experts (SMEs) to ensure learning initiatives align with business goals, regulatory requirements, and best practices in adult education.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conducts needs assessments in partnership with business leaders and subject matter experts (SMEs) to identify training gaps and across the organization.
• Designs and develops engaging, blended learning programs (e.g., e-learning, instructor-led, on-the-job training) tailored to adult learners across the organization and at all levels and focused on onboarding, upskilling, and cross-training.
• Adapts training delivery methods to meet the needs of different learning styles and operational shifts, including virtual and in-person environments.
• Creates and maintains training materials, job aids, and documentation that support core processes, safety, quality, and productivity standards.
• Applies adult learning theory and instructional design best practices to ensure training effectiveness and knowledge retention.
• Supports the development, launch, and management of the company’s first ever comprehensive onboarding program.
• Creates tools, materials, and checklists to guide new hires through their first 30/60/90 days and ensure consistent onboarding experiences across all locations.
• Manage digital learning content in Paylocity using Go1, and curate role-specific learning paths and playlists to support professional growth and career progression.
• Monitors onboarding progress and collects feedback from new hires and hiring managers, to make program improvements to increase engagement, retention, and early-stage performance.
• Manages all learning and development requests, progress, and stakeholder/SME communications using HubSpot.
• Gathers feedback from participants and stakeholders to assess training effectiveness and identify improvement opportunities.
• Tracks and documents employee training records in the LMS (Paylocity) ensuring timely completion.
• Analyzes data to evaluate program impact and recommend enhancements to training content, delivery, and onboarding processes based on data and evolving business needs.
• Support supervisors and managers in developing and implementing Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for their team members, aligning growth opportunities with business needs and performance feedback
• Stays current with industry trends and best practices in learning and development, applying insights to continuously elevate training programs.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, or a related field preferred; equivalent work experience considered.
• 2+ years of experience in learning and development, instructional design, or training, preferably in warehousing, distribution, or manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience building training or onboarding programs and content from the ground up is strongly preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a must.
• Experience with adult learning principles and hands-on training facilitation.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite; experience with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and digital learning tools a plus.

Physical Demands:

• Regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to operate equipment.
• Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Extended periods of sitting and computer work are also common.

Work Environment:

• Primarily an office environment but may involve time on the production floor or in other operational areas as needed.
• Exposure to warehouse or production floor conditions, including varying temperatures and noise levels.

Travel Requirements:

• Occasional travel may be required, up to 15%, for training sessions or to support multi-location training needs.

Equipment Used:

• Computer, projector, phone, printer, and other standard office equipment.
• May also use training-specific tools, such as learning management systems (LMS) or multimedia presentation tools.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• No direct supervisory responsibilities: however, the position requires guiding and mentoring employees through training programs and may involve overseeing group learning sessions or workshops.

Benefits Offered:

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance- First of the month after 30 days of employment
• 401K with company match
• PTO and Holiday eligibility on the date of hire
• Weekly Pay
• Full Grant Tuition & Tuition Reimbursement

Hayes Company/Knight Swift Warehousing and Fulfillment is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, gender identity, gender expression, age, color, religion, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.