Learning & Development Specialist - Chicago, IL

Learning & Development Specialist - Chicago, IL

Post Date:
May 20, 2026

Location:

Chicago, IL, US, 60661 Position Type:
Full Time

Work Schedule:

Hybrid (In office 3X per week)

Gateway Foundation, Inc. is a national non‑profit dedicated to helping individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Established in 1968, Gateway provides essential tools and knowledge for recovery, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of lives.

We pride ourselves on being an organization that values you and strives to be an employer of choice, fostering a vibrant culture that promotes teamwork and professional growth.

The Learning & Development Specialist designs, implements, and evaluates organization‑wide learning initiatives with a strong foundation in adult learning theory, instructional strategy, and workforce development systems. This role is responsible for executing the strategic goals of the Center for Learning by directing learning initiatives, coordinating resources, and ensuring projects are delivered effectively, consistently, and in alignment with organizational priorities. The position partners closely with organizational leaders and subject matter experts to ensure training programs are learner‑centered, evidence‑informed, and aligned with regulatory requirements, organizational priorities, and safety standards.

• Design, develop, and deliver learning programs that enhance employee knowledge, skills, and job performance using adult learning principles and instructional design best practices.
• Execute strategic goals and initiatives of the Center for Learning by providing direction, timelines, and accountability to internal stakeholders and facilitators.
• Partner with organizational leaders and subject matter experts to define learning objectives and align training initiatives with clinical, operational, regulatory, and workforce development needs.
• Ensure all training content reflects adult learning principles, cultural responsiveness, accessibility standards, and practical application while remaining compliant with healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, organizational policies, and safety protocols.
• Conduct learning needs assessments through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and data analysis to identify skill gaps and performance challenges.
• Analyze data from audits, compliance findings, incident trends, performance metrics, and stakeholder feedback to establish learning priorities.
• Maintain accurate records of training activities, participation, and engagement; prepare reports and analyses for leadership to assess effectiveness and identify trends.
• Design and maintain learner‑centered training experiences using in‑person, virtual, and e‑learning modalities for internal staff and external customers.
• Develop and implement standardized learning pathways that support role‑based competency development, career progression, and organizational capacity building.
• Monitor and ensure completion, quality, and effectiveness of mandatory training related to ethics, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor, coach, and support internal trainers and subject matter experts to strengthen facilitation skills and build sustainable internal training capacity.
• Support budget planning and resource management in collaboration with the Director, identifying cost‑effective strategies while maintaining instructional quality.
• Continuously evaluate and improve learning programs to ensure relevance, effectiveness, and alignment with evolving organizational needs and best practices.

Postsecondary education required;
Bachelor's degree in education, training, organizational development, or a related field preferred. (An Associate's degree combined with relevant training and professional experience may be considered.) Minimum of three (3) years of experience in training facilitation, education, learning and development, or workforce development. Certification in training, instructional design, facilitation, or related professional credentials preferred. Experience in behavioral healthcare and familiarity with behavior‑based program protocols strongly preferred.

Demonstrated expertise…