Associate Director, Learning and Development

Title: Associate Director, Learning & Development

Overview:
As the Associate Director, Learning & Development at Barber National Institute, you will support our mission of “Making Dreams Come True” by ensuring staff have access to consistent, engaging, and effective learning experiences that support professional growth, regulatory readiness, and the delivery of meaningful, person-centered services to the individuals and families we serve.

In this role, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the implementation, coordination, and continuous improvement of learning programs across Barber National Institute. You will translate enterprise learning priorities into effective program delivery, supervise assigned Learning & Development staff, coordinate schedules and resources, and monitor learning quality and completion.

You will partner with service line leaders, Human Resources, instructional designers, facilitators, and other internal partners to ensure learning programs are accessible, consistent, timely, and responsive to workforce needs. You will also oversee processes for required learning, monitor completion and documentation, and support organizational readiness for applicable regulatory and agency requirements.

You will use learning data, participant feedback, operational trends, and regulatory updates to identify gaps, address barriers, and continuously improve learning programs. This position is a leadership role with responsibility for supervising assigned Learning & Development staff and providing program-level direction, coordination, coaching, and operational oversight. Occasional travel between Barber National Institute locations may be required.

Candidates must reside within commuting distance of one of Barber National Institute’s three primary office locations in Erie, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; or Philadelphia, PA.

What you’ll bring:

• Strong leadership and program management skills with the ability to translate organizational priorities into clear goals, plans, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with service line leaders, Human Resources, facilitators, instructional designers, and other cross-functional partners.
• Strong coaching and communication skills with the ability to establish expectations, provide feedback, and support professional growth.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple learning programs, schedules, resources, deadlines, and competing priorities.
• Strong facilitation, presentation, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to use learning data, completion records, participant feedback, and operational information to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify barriers to learning completion, determine appropriate solutions, and escalate concerns when needed.
• Ability to monitor changes in applicable regulatory and agency requirements and translate relevant updates into learning or operational needs.
• Knowledge of adult learning principles, instructional delivery, and learning program administration.
• Proficiency with Learning Management Systems, learning records, reporting tools, Microsoft Office applications, and other technology used to support learning programs.
• Ability to maintain accurate and confidential learning records and documentation.
• Ability to foster a culture of psychological safety, continuous learning, accountability, and professional growth.
• Commitment to BNI’s Core Commitments, including collaboration, transparent communication, problem-solving, adaptability, confidentiality, and ethical judgement.
• Willingness to travel occasionally between Barber National Institute locations.

What you’ll have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Instructional Design, Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field required. 
• Master’s degree preferred. 
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in Learning & Development, instructional design, learning operations, workforce education, or related disciplines, including at least two years of supervisory or program leadership experience. 
• Experience supporting learning programs in a multi-site or regulated organization preferred. 
• Experience coordinating required training, compliance learning, or other learning programs with established completion and documentation requirements preferred. 
• Candidates without a preferred master’s degree may qualify through additional progressively responsible experience demonstrating strong expertise in learning operations, team supervision, program implementation, and continuous improvement. 
• Experience supervising, coaching, and supporting learning professionals. 
• Experience coordinating multiple learning programs involving participants, schedules, milestones, completion requirements, and reporting. 
• Experience using Learning Management Systems, learning records, reporting tools, and other learning technologies. 
• APTD, CPTD, or related Learning & Development certification preferred. 
• Ability to facilitate and participate in in-person and virtual learning activities. 
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials weighing up to 20 pounds. 
• Ability to successfully complete all required regulatory and agency-mandated clearances, including criminal background checks, child abuse clearances, and fingerprinting, as applicable. 

A typical day-to-day may include:

• Implementing enterprise Learning & Development priorities through operational plans, learning schedules, program timelines, and coordinated delivery across service lines and locations. 
• Overseeing the delivery of orientation, onboarding, compliance, role-specific, and professional learning programs. 
• Supervising, coaching, and developing assigned Learning & Development staff, including facilitators, instructional support staff, and program coordinators. 
• Coordinating instructional materials, learning environments, technology, vendor services, and other resources needed for effective program delivery. 
• Monitoring learning participation, completion, documentation, and program quality through Learning Management Systems, operational reports, participant feedback, and established quality measures. 
• Overseeing required learning processes to ensure staff training is completed, documented, and maintained according to established organizational and agency requirements. 
• Partnering with service line leaders and Human Resources to identify learning needs, address delivery challenges, communicate requirements, and coordinate program adjustments. 
• Monitoring regulatory and operational updates that may affect learning programs and communicating relevant information to leadership and appropriate internal partners. 
• Maintaining standardized processes, documentation, records, and reporting that support consistent program administration and organizational readiness. 
• Using learning data, facilitator observations, participant feedback, and operational trends to identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement. 
• Recommending and implementing process improvements that strengthen learning program efficiency, consistency, accessibility, and effectiveness. 
• Partnering with Governance, Risk, and Compliance; Human Resources; Information Technology; Finance; Strategic Communications; and other internal teams to support organizational requirements and staff development. 
• Supporting a safe, inclusive learning environment by reinforcing appropriate safety practices, confidentiality, professional conduct, and BNI’s Core Commitments. 
• Providing direct support as needed to maintain continuity of learning operations and completing other related duties that support the mission and purpose of Barber National Institute. 

Perks with a Purpose 
Our benefits are created with YOU in mind. 

Healthcare 
• Highmark Medical and Mental Health 
• Delta Dental and Davis Vision Coverage 

• Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Accounts 

• Teladoc Virtual Health 
Financial Well-being 
• 401K Retirement Plan with Employer Match   
• On-Demand Pay 
• Employee Referral Bonus Program 
• Student Loan Forgiveness 
• College Scholarship & Tuition Discounts 
• Employee Discounts 
Life & Family Support 
• Company Paid Life Insurance 

• Short & Long-Term Disability Insurance 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Erie Campus*- discounted on-site weekday childcare 
• Employee discounts for select BNI events and services 

• Generous Paid Time Off  

• Seven Paid Holidays

Who is Barber National Institute?

The Barber National Institute is a non-profit committed to its mission of providing the highest quality services for children and adults with autism, intellectual disabilities or behavioral health challenges and their families. Since our founding in 1952, we have evolved into a multi-faceted organization serving more than 6,200 individuals annually with a wide range of educational, vocational, residential and behavioral health programs.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. If you need an accommodation to apply, please contact HR. EOE

Any consideration of the background check will be an individualized assessment based on the applicant or employee’s specific record and the duties and requirements of the specific job.