Director of Staff Training and Development

Job DetailsJob Location: Omaha Zoo - Omaha, NE 68107Position Type: Full TimeJob Category: Human ResourcesJob Title: Director of Staff Training and Development FLSA Status: Exempt Hours: Full-Time Pay Rate: Range starts at $77,941/year Summary: The Director of Staff Training and Development is responsible for designing, delivering, and continuously improving a cohesive learning ecosystem that supports employee performance, leadership effectiveness, organizational culture, and long-term career growth. This role ensures that all staff receive consistent, engaging, and high-quality training aligned with organizational values and strategic priorities. Serving as both a strategic partner and a hands-on leader, this position develops original training content, oversees onboarding and orientation training, strengthens leadership capability across the organization, and advises managers and leaders on workforce development best practices. Duties and Responsibilities/Essential Functions (include but not limited to): Organizational Learning and Training Strategy Design, implement, and evaluate organization-wide learning and development programs for staff. Regularly assess workforce needs and emerging priorities to inform curriculum design. Ensure training offerings align with organizational values, culture, and strategic goals. Leadership and Professional Development Create and facilitate leadership development programs focused on: Expectation setting and accountability Effective performance evaluation writing Coaching, feedback, and goal setting Serve as a trusted adviser and coach to leaders, managers, and supervisors. Orientation, Onboarding, and Culture Integration Lead and continuously improve the new employee orientation experience, partnering with colleagues in People and Culture for facilitation. Partner with departments that manage specialized onboarding (e.g., Events, Education) to ensure consistency, quality, and adherence to organizational standards. Develop and facilitate core values workshops that embed values into daily work practices. Lead the design, development and deployment of engaging learning bytes and comprehensive training modules within the Zoo’s Learning Management module in Paycom, aligned with assigned topics and strategic organizational priorities. Workforce Culture and Engagement Partner with cross-functional leaders to actively cultivate a positive, inclusive, and aligned workplace culture. Strengthen communication, connection, and shared expectations across departments. Career Pathing and Internal Mobility Partner with the Chief People Officer to develop and refine career pathing frameworks and position leveling. Support transparency, internal mobility, and long-term retention through clear development pathways. Professional Development Programs Manage the staff professional development budget, ensuring equitable and strategic use of funds. Oversee the tuition reimbursement program with fairness, transparency, and policy adherence. Identify and vet external training opportunities and vendors when internal offerings are not sufficient. Training Delivery and Evaluation Facilitate in-person and stand-up training sessions, including evenings and weekends as needed. Develop feedback and evaluation systems to measure training effectiveness and impact. Remain current on learning and development trends, adult learning theory, and workforce innovation. Leadership Forums and Collaboration Lead and determine appropriate structure for weekly Leadership Meetings to improve focus, accountability, and outcomes. Collaborate regularly with department leaders to assess training needs and adapt offerings. Qualifications: Education and Credentials: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Education, Organizational Development, Psychology, Communications, or a related field required. Master’s degree or professional certification (e.g., ATD, SHRM, CPLP, CPTD, or similar) preferred. Experience: Minimum of 5–8 years of progressive experience in learning and development, workforce development, organizational development, or a related field. Demonstrated experience designing and delivering original training programs, including leadership development, onboarding, and professional development. Experience facilitating in-person, stand-up training sessions for diverse audiences, including managers and frontline staff. Proven ability to partner with senior leaders and serve as a trusted adviser, coach, and thought partner. Knowledge and Skills: Strong understanding of adult learning principles, curriculum design, and instructional best practices. Ability to assess organizational needs and translate them into practical, engaging learning solutions. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage, influence, and build trust across all levels of the organization. Technical and Operational Skills: Experience managing training records, certifications, and learning data within an HRIS (Paycom experience preferred). Comfort managing budgets related to professional development and tuition reimbursement. Ability to identify and evaluate external training providers and learning resources. Other Requirements: Commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and values-driven workplace culture. Work Environment/Physical Demands: Ability to stand for extended periods and facilitate training sessions across multiple locations. Ability to walk the Zoo grounds, transport training materials, and operate carts or similar equipment as needed. Flexibility to work evenings and weekends to support training schedules. All leaders are expected to: Foster connection, trust and transparency by leading with honesty, consistency, and inclusion. Leaders who embody these principles build a sense of community – creating an environment where team members feel seen, valued and united in purpose. This foundation enables teams to thrive and share in the joy of working together toward common goals. Maintain two-way communication by regularly connecting with team members and encouraging dialogue. Open communication fuels innovation by ensuring all voices are heard and ideas are shared, driving our collective impact. Create space for feedback—both giving and receiving—and follow up meaningfully. By valuing feedback, we promote an environment of care, where growth and improvement are supported, leading to impactful outcomes for both individuals and teams. Model accountability and responsiveness by owning outcomes and addressing issues timely. This demonstrates care for the team’s well-being and ensures that our actions have a meaningful, positive impact on the organization. Promote psychological safety by supporting open expression without fear of retaliation or judgment. A psychologically safe environment is fundamental to fostering joy in the workplace and enables everyone to contribute to our collective success with confidence. Candidates might be (depending on position) required to pass a pre-employment background check, drug test, negative skin tuberculosis test, and possess a valid driver’s license with a good history. DISCLAIMER The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor is it to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the EEOC. Qualifications