Specialist, Training & Development

Training & Development Specialist I

Founded in 1997, Think Together partners with schools to change the odds for kids by providing award-winning programs during and outside the school day. We’re one of California’s largest nonprofits working in school districts from San Diego to San Francisco. Whether you’re interested in early learning, elementary, middle or high school, you can invest in your community by working at a local school or working within our home office providing support!

The Training and Development Specialist reports to the Specialist, Training & Development II (Elementary and Early Learning or Older Youth) and is responsible for developing and delivering high‑quality, impactful in‑person training sessions to program staff. This position applies comprehensive knowledge of the organization’s student outcomes and objectives with a strong understanding of adult learning strategies to deliver highly effective training. The role requires a commitment to Think Together’s values and a focus on fostering a dynamic and continuous learning environment.

It exemplifies a growth mindset by identifying opportunities for improvement, promoting a culture of collaboration, and integrating innovative ideas and practices for adult learners. The position is flexible and adaptive, traveling across multiple geographic areas to deliver training and development to program staff throughout the organization. Additionally, the Training and Development Specialist collaborates and partners with the Program Content Specialist to ensure trainings are aligned to student outcomes and goals, so staff receive trainings and workshops that support achieving organizational goals and student impact.

• Collaborate and partner closely with the Program Content Specialist to assess and develop program training content that meets staff needs and results in a positive student experience.
• Gather feedback and verify training through site‑visits from regional program staff, regional leaders, and operational staff (30, 60, 90 days) to fill gaps, drive program tuning, and continuous improvement.
• Create training impact assessment criteria.
• Identify and develop role‑specific and grade‑specific program coaching criteria and dosage (who gets what when).
• Identify and prescribe best practices to guide and achieve the success of the facilitation in the field.
• Develop scaled and scaffolded guides to program implementation.
• Remain informed with adult learning practices and strategies for training offerings.
• Create an environment of psychological safety by working collaboratively and effectively with diverse staff, colleagues, and partners.

• Conduct in‑person training sessions for program staff, ensuring that the training is engaging, effective, and aligned with adult learning principles to support the organizational goals and values.
• Assess, create, deliver, and optimize content training within specific program and student grade levels.
• Create and deliver program‑specific training.
• Create and deliver program‑specific facilitation training.
• Deliver and lead program training initiatives and collaborate to identify training pathways for staff based on grade level span and program element.
• Identify and create role‑specific and grade‑specific coaching criteria, including determining the appropriate dosage and timing of coaching interventions for various staff roles.
• Identify and recommend best practices to guide effective facilitation and program implementation in the field, enhancing overall program success.

• Own creation of program training content, create project plans, pacing guides, implementation plans, and tools.
• Apply a continuous improvement lens to training processes and strategies, using feedback and observations to refine and enhance training programs.
• Create, deliver, and continuously optimize training content tailored to the specific needs of the program, to specific grade levels, while ensuring relevance and effectiveness.
• Develop and implement criteria for assessing the impact and effectiveness of training programs, ensuring that evaluations are comprehensive and actionable.
• Create and develop…