Director, Professional Development

Austin Community College District•Highland, CA

20h

About The Position

The Director of Professional Development, designs, delivers, and manages impactful professional development programs that foster growth, engagement, and continuous learning across Austin Community College (ACC). Grounded in the College’s values of Courage, Compassion, Joy, and YES!, this position leads efforts to build internal capacity, elevate employee performance and support collegewide initiatives that enhance service excellence and operational impact. This roles oversees training, delivery, program evaluation, and engagement strategies that align with strategic goals and ensure equitable access to development opportunities for all staff.

Requirements

Learning and development principles, adult learning theory, and inclusive training design.
Project planning and program implementation best practices.
Evaluation methods for training effectiveness and engagement.
HR operations and policies relevant to staff development.
Principles of performance management and coaching.
Event planning and facilitation for group training initiatives.
Effective leadership, supervision, and coaching skills.
Strong presentation and facilitation abilities, across in-person, virtual, and hybrid environments.
Analytical thinking and attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines.
High emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Customer service orientation and a collaborative spirit.
Data-driven decision making.
Proficiency with learning management systems (LMS) such as Workday,e-learning tools, and webinar platforms.
Strong skills with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Strong skills with Google Workspace.
Familiarity with reporting tools and survey platforms for evaluations.
Ability to design basic instructional materials using software such as Canva, Articulate, Snagit, or similar.
Five (5) years of professional experience in employee development, facilitation and training, or organizational learning.
At least one (1) year of supervisory experience.
Bachelor's degree in Organizational Development, Education, Human Resources, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Higher education or public sector experience.
Workday LMS experience.
Three (3) or more years of supervisory experience.
Master’s degree in Organizational Development, Education, Human Resources, Education, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Supervise, coach, and develop staff within the professional development team, ensuring alignment with ACC’s values, HR policies, industry standards, and applicable employment laws.
Recommend hiring and personnel actions for direct reports.
Lead the design, facilitation, and delivery of training programs and workshops for staff, incorporating adult learning theory, inclusive practices, and emerging workforce needs.
Develop and implement structured learning pathways that promote job readiness, leadership development, and continuous improvement aligned with institutional goals.
Manage program logistics and operations, including scheduling, instructor support, registration, attendance, and evaluation tracking using ACC’s learning management systems.
Collaborate with supervisors, departments, and HR partners to identify and respond to training needs across the College.
Conduct or coordinate professional development needs assessments, using data to inform new initiatives or revise existing programs.
Establish evaluation methods to measure the impact and effectiveness of training offerings, and generate reports with recommendations for continuous improvement.
Oversee College-wide learning events and support College-wide initiatives related to onboarding, performance improvement, or employee engagement.
Develop and maintain digital content, including course materials, marketing collateral, and web-based training resources in partnership with Communications and IT teams.
Identify, assess, and coordinate external facilitators, consultants, and vendors as needed to expand development offerings.
Stay current on trends and technologies in workplace learning, including digital learning platforms, coaching, multi-cultural-informed practices, and generative AI tools (as appropriate).
Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in handling sensitive employee data and interactions.
Oversee the performance management evaluation process, ensuring it aligns with institutional goals, values, and standards.
In collaboration with HR Shared Services, ensure the performance management system is accessing up-to-date job descriptions, standards of performance, and performance evaluation instruments.
Oversee the PD staff in providing training and coaching to supervisors regarding the use of the performance management-related system and process.
Refer supervisors to HR Business Partners or HR Leadership to receive coaching for specific employee performance management issues.
Collaborate with HR Leadership to integrate talent development initiatives into the performance management process.
Responsible for achieving departmental goals.
Perform other duties as assigned.