Learning and Professional Development Specialist

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Job Description And Position Requirements:

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the success of a world-class research institution. We embrace individual uniqueness, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission. Toward that end, the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity invites applications for the position of Learning and Professional Development Specialist.

Position Summary

This position requires in-person full-time work on campus. Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost for Educational Equity, the Learning and Professional Development Specialist’s duties span two primary areas of responsibility: 1) serving as a resource for those responding to bias incident reports at all campuses, and 2) developing and delivering educational programs related to bias and other equity-related matters.

Primary Responsibilities

Bias incident consultation and case management:

• Provide consultation to faculty, staff, and administrators seeking advice about referred reports:
  • Communicate best practices and operating procedures for handling bias incident reports, including supporting impacted individuals and alleged wrongdoers, ensuring confidentiality, applying effective investigation methods, providing trauma-informed responses, handling difficult conversations, being mindful of relevant law and policy, and navigating campus policies and procedures.
  • Connect report referees with appropriate resources and consultations.
  • Monitor responsiveness, timeliness, and consistency of campus, college, and unit case management.
  • Follow up with referees as appropriate.
  • Document best practices and lessons learned.
  • Track and analyze data on outcomes and actions taken.
  • Serve on the Bias Response Network.
  • Serve as back-up for the Bias Response Coordinator.

Professional development and education

• Develop, facilitate, and coordinate professional development and education programs on bias and other equity-related topics, including Educational Equity’s professional development offerings.
• Create and maintain content to engage all types of learners; continually review and update materials to integrate best practices in DEIB education.
• Establish program objectives and delivery methods.
• Design evaluation tools; identify and assess learning outcomes and make data-informed recommendations.
• Develop training materials across multiple platforms, including web content and in-person, virtual, and hybrid presentations.
• Develop and implement marketing plans for educational programs and services.
• Generate reports; gather and analyze data.
• Recommend talent development opportunities based on needs.

Application instructions: For full consideration, applicants must submit a cover letter and a resume.

Qualifications

• Minimally requires a Bachelor’s degree in higher education administration, counseling, or related discipline, plus three years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills and active listening skills
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles and practices
• Proven competence and experience in program development, oversight, and assessment
• Experience developing and delivering training programs
• Ability to foster and sustain relationships with University partners
• Effective problem-solving, prioritization, organizational, and multitasking skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Accuracy and attention to detail

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society and nature, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:

$56,200.00 – $81,500.00

Salary Structure – additional information on Penn State’s job and salary structure.

Campus Security Crime Statistics:

University Park, PA

About Organization

There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our nearly 88,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world.

From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree.

We Are Penn State.