Professional Development and Support Specialist

Black Hills Works • Rapid City, SD

421d • $50,000 - $55,000

About The Position

The Professional Development and Support Specialist at Black Hills Works plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of services provided to individuals with developmental disabilities. This position focuses on fostering professional growth among staff through effective training and support, ensuring that the agency's values are upheld in all interactions. The specialist will design and implement training programs, support new employee onboarding, and advocate for person-centered practices, ultimately contributing to the overall mission of improving the lives of the people served by the agency.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or related field preferred.
• Minimum two years' experience working with people with developmental disabilities.
• Experience in adult education, professional development, or training delivery preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to create engaging learning experiences and adapt teaching methods to diverse learning styles.
• Strong track record of collaborative work and relationship building across departments.
• Excellence in interpersonal communication and relationship building.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver effective training programs.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to person-centered practices and principles.
• Ability to translate complex information into accessible learning formats.
• Demonstrated cultural competency and inclusion practices.
• Valid driver's license with clean driving record.
• Ability to pass background check and drug screening.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement comprehensive onboarding experiences that reflect agency values and meet regulatory requirements.
• Develop and facilitate core training programs.
• Cross-train to provide back-up support for other trainers/positions.
• Create measurement tools to assess training effectiveness and participant learning.
• Provide individualized support to ensure successful integration of new staff.
• Assess organizational learning needs and design responsive training solutions.
• Create leadership development opportunities aligned with agency values.
• Maintain comprehensive training records and track professional development metrics.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Design and support mentorship programs.
• Build strong working relationships across all departments.
• Identify opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration.
• Facilitate effective team meetings and problem-solving sessions.
• Support implementation of agency-wide initiatives.
• Participate in key committees to ensure alignment with agency goals.
• Assist in developing and maintaining quality assurance processes.
• Coordinate and process referrals for assistive technology solutions, behavioral support services, and computer training.
• Champion person-centered practices throughout the organization.
• Develop and deliver rights-based education for participants.
• Support implementation of Personal Outcome Measures.
• Facilitate Healthy Relationship Building course for participants.
• Provide advocacy training and support for participants and families.
• Create opportunities for meaningful community engagement.
• Develop and implement quality assurance processes.
• Conduct regular program reviews and assessments.
• Track and analyze outcome data to drive continuous improvement.
• Support CQL certification processes.
• Ensure alignment between daily practices and agency values.
• Document and share success stories and best practices.
• Facilitate state SMART reviews and conduct Safety and Gem assessments.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Social Assistance
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree