Learning and Development Program Specialist

Taco Family of Companies•Cranston, RI

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a family-owned and operated company, we feel a special obligation to the employees who comprise our Taco family. We are committed to offering employees access to the tools necessary to live long and productive lives. We strive to instill in all of our employees: A positive mental attitude that helps us to be a leader in the industry, A commitment to building strong relationships, both inside and outside the organization, A desire to learn, grow, and contribute to moving our strategy forward, A need to create and to innovate. Position Summary: The Learning and Development Program Specialist serves as the key partner for Taco's Employee Success Programs, coordinating the delivery, administration, and evaluation of leadership and talent development initiatives. Working closely with the Talent Management team, this role manages project coordination, participant communications, program logistics, documentation, learning resources, data tracking, vendor management, and employee engagement activities to ensure exceptional participant experiences and operational excellence. Through strong organization, communication, and customer service, the Specialist supports the successful delivery and continuous improvement of Employee Success Programs across the organization. Measures of success: Delivery/administration/response: Success = ≥95% of program milestones delivered on time, ≤2% documentation error rate, and 100% of inquiries acknowledged within 1 business day. Satisfaction: Success = ≥85% participant/stakeholder satisfaction score with ≤5% issue escalation rate and 90% of issues resolved within 5 business days. Consistently meet deliverable deadlines across concurrent talent development initiatives while implementing process improvements that reduce administrative processing time and errors over time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Organizational Development, Business, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Communications, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
5+ years of experience in talent development, human resources, organizational development, employee engagement, program management, and internal communications; Equivalent combinations of education, experience, and demonstrated transferable skills will be considered.
Experience supporting project management methodologies or coordinating complex cross-functional initiatives; Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or familiarity with project management methodologies is a plus.
Experience in a manufacturing environment is helpful but not required.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn HCM, learning management, and project management systems quickly.
Strong project coordination and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including developing employee communications, coordinating stakeholder communications, and facilitating small group learning experiences.
Demonstrated ability to present to diverse groups and facilitate training sessions is preferred.
Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage documentation, records, and administrative processes accurately.
Able to demonstrate initiative, sound judgment, and a proactive approach to solving problems and improving processes.

Nice To Haves

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or familiarity with project management methodologies is a plus.
Experience in a manufacturing environment is helpful but not required.
Demonstrated ability to present to diverse groups and facilitate training sessions is preferred.

Responsibilities

Drives talent development program delivery, including 30-60-90-day onboarding, Performance Development, Plant Supervisor Development, Taco Leadership Model deployment, and future talent development initiatives.
Initiates and leads participant and stakeholder communications.
Leads the delivery of leadership development programs and coordinates learning sessions in partnership with the Talent Development team and subject matter experts, progressively assuming greater facilitation role.
Executes participant evaluations, feedback collection, and Kirkpatrick assessment activities; compiles results and delivers reporting on learning effectiveness and participant outcomes.
Leads and coordinates design, logistics, reinforcement activities, and follow-up communications to support plant supervisor development and skill application.
Partners with business leaders, subject matter experts, HR team members, and external vendors to coordinate Employee Success Program activities and ensure a seamless participant experience.
Designs and implements employee engagement and experience initiatives that reinforce Taco's culture through storytelling, company events, onboarding experiences, recognition activities, and related initiatives.
Leads employee feedback (VOICE) activities, including surveys, focus groups, interviews, and other listening initiatives; compiles findings and identifies themes to support management decision-making.
Coordinates employee storytelling initiatives by collecting stories, drafting content, collaborating with Marketing, and supporting internal communications that recognize employee contributions and reinforce organizational culture.
Leads and designs employee experience activities for company events in partnership with internal stakeholders and external vendors to deliver engaging, high-quality experiences.
Develops and distributes employee communications that promote engagement, professional development opportunities, organizational culture, employee storytelling, new employee introductions, and other Talent Management initiatives.
Coordinates event project plans, implementation timelines, milestones, meetings, communications, and action items across multiple Employee Success Programs to ensure timely, high-quality execution.
Manages vendor logistics, purchase requests, invoices, receipts, contracts, scheduling, and related administrative activities supporting Employee Success Programs.
Facilitates completion of learning materials, participant resources, room setup, technology, supplies, registrations, tracking, and other logistical requirements to ensure successful program delivery.
Creates and prepares reports, dashboards, metrics, and summaries supporting Employee Success Programs and Talent Management initiatives for decision making
Identifies opportunities to improve operational processes, documentation, workflows, and administrative practices to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Talent Development operations.