Title: Senior Learning & Development Specialist
Sacramento, CA, US, 95817-1899
Minimum Pay Rate: $114,712.00
Maximum Pay Rate: $151,985.60
Civil Service Status: Civil Service
Apply by Date: 07/24/2025
Posting Type: Open
This posting intends to fill one regular full-time position, and create an eligibility list which may be used to fill regular full-time and limited term vacancies over the next two years.
Introduction
This position supports apprenticeships and training development for business groups in SMUD's Energy Delivery & Operations and Zero Carbon divisions. The role has two primary areas of focus: apprenticeship administration which includes the oversight, maintenance, and potential development of apprenticeship programs; and the strategic planning, coordination and development of job specific training with Subject Matter Experts.
Oversight, maintaining and administering apprenticeships provides a vital service and acts as the primary training contact between the Sacramento Power Academy and business unit. This is accomplished by:
- Reviewing apprentice training material and updating as needed
- Coordinating and supporting training events and outcomes for apprentices
- Designing and supporting knowledge and competency tests
- Completing the appropriate documentation for regulatory bodies
- Management of apprentice on-the-job training hours and requirements
- Maintaining apprentice files
- Establishing individual development plans as needed
- Developing and maintaining relationships with apprentices and their leadership through regular meetings
- Working closely and collaboratively with various Subject Matter Experts
The strategic planning and development of job specific training includes:
- Meeting frequently with various department leads to discuss their training needs and identify training solutions
- Creating and maintaining safety procedures for a variety of departments and topics
- Ensuring all training meets best practice requirements and provides all necessary support. This includes the occasional need to develop and facilitate in-person or virtual training events.
Most job specific training is facilitated by subject matter experts on the job or in the classroom and supported by this role.
Purpose
As a subject matter expert and consultant performs professional delivery of effective learning and development programs and services; plans, designs, develops, coordinates and delivers training to engage, develop, and retain a highly skilled, competent and motivated workforce.
Nature and Scope
Serves as a subject matter expert and consultant resource in a relevant professional discipline; works independently on projects of moderate to significant complexity; exercises independent judgment and discretion within established broad guidelines.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Leads in developing and managing a wide array of learning and development programs, projects, services and systems that support and advance SMUD’s business strategies, and meet identified learning and development needs; coordinates efforts and resources across SMUD.
- Manages and delivers career development programs and services to include but not limited to individual employee, team, and peer career coaching services and training; career program management (e.g., peer career program); also provides professional employee testing and assessment services, and develops and delivers career development tools.
- Designs, develops, promotes and delivers internal online learning and development programs. Performs technical requirements analysis, to design, and deliver multi-media trainings. Coordinates closely with business unit representatives, end-users and the learning and development community to craft eLearning solutions for training, performance support, social collaboration and professional learning needs. Incorporates a variety of eLearning methodologies, including synchronous, asynchronous learning, social and other types of informal learning (e.g., self-study tools, etc.). Uses a variety of software tools for eLearning training development and delivery.
- Manages external training programs and vendor relationships; Evaluates the need for contracted vendor led training programs and vendor services on a cost-benefit basis; Develops and evaluates requests for proposal (RFP’s), helps select vendors, coordinates and manages work, develops and tracks budgets, analyzes variances, and resolves any contractor related issues to ensure successful program/service delivery; May also work directly with vendors to jointly develop and/or deliver course content.
- Partners and provides consultation to SMUD management teams, business unit representatives and other subject matter experts to assist in evaluating and determining short and long-term learning and development needs based on analyses of business requirements, considering both internal organizational factors and external environmental conditions.
- Leads in conducting business and employee performance analysis as an internal subject matter expert by working with managers, supervisors and employees to determine performance needs, competencies and KSA (knowledge, skill and ability) gaps; Proactively identifies skill-related risks to the business and employee performance; Performs root-cause analysis of identified items and designs and delivers learning and development strategies to close gaps.
- Develops and monitors metrics and measures to evaluate the quality, cost and impact of learning and development programs and services; Identifies improvement opportunities and makes timely adjustments to optimize service quality and overall costs.
- Stays current in profession through maintaining professional memberships, relationships, online education and research, peer networking, and by participating in professional educational and association conferences, seminars, courses and other events.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
Required Education
- High school diploma or equivalent
Required Experience Qualifications
- Five or more (5+) years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience in training, learning/development, needs assessment, instructional design, learning program development and delivery, and evaluation and measurement.
Knowledge Of
Instructional design methods; best practices in employee development and training techniques; procedures and practices for monitoring and managing projects; concepts and systems related to adult learning and trends in development training programs; applicable laws, codes and regulations governing training and development systems, trends and best-practices related to employee coaching and employee/management development and training techniques; business and employee performance improvement methods; Human Performance Improvement (HPI) gap analysis concepts and techniques , principles and practices for contract management; concepts for cost control and project scheduling; modern office practices and procedures; safety practices and procedures typical in an business environment; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; and English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards.
Skills To
Analyze business strategies and objectives to determine employee learning and development needs, and develop and implement solutions; develop, design and manage learning and development programs; measure, evaluate and quantify the impact of learning and development work efforts; develop and present business cases for such efforts to management; proactively analyze skill-related risks to the business; serve as reference person for other employees; interact with others to influence, motivate and challenge; develop and maintain project budget and schedule; express ideas/facts clearly and concisely, taking into account the audience and nature of information; adapt to changing priorities and requirements; communicate effectively orally and in writing internally/externally; determine and analyze the costs and benefits of utilizing external training programs, write requests for proposals (RFP), evaluate and select vendors, and manage contracts; proficiently use common MS Office application (e.g., Word, Excel, Power Point) and learning technology tools; establish and maintain mutually beneficial working relationships; collaborate and coordinate closely with all levels of employees across the organization.
Desirable Education
- BA/BS degree in Adult Education, Public or Business Administration, Psychology or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience is highly desirable.
- Successful completion of a formal apprenticeship program or equivalent can be substituted for a BA/BS degree in operations business groups.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience with program administration, support, and coordination.
- Experience with the development and maintenance of knowledge and competency tests
- Establishing, fostering, and maintaining effective working relationships at all organizational levels
- Process or project management training.
- Certification in the following is highly desirable:
- Career and development related testing and assessment certification.
- Instructional design certification.
- Other certifications in ATD (e.g., Certified Professional in Learning and Development -CPLP and SHRM certifications, as related to learning and development, are also desirable).
Physical Requirements
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are
As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.
An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.
SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.
Why Sacramento, California?
The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.
On-site Work
This role will be an on-site role that will require being in person at one of SMUD's campuses daily to complete work tasks.