Learning and Development Specialist

Reporting to the VP Sales, this is a role for someone who wants to own and drive the design, delivery and continuous improvement of the orientation, sales and systems training programs. Someone who can build out the role and take on the end-to-end process from internal requirements gathering to ROI analysis. A key focus for this role is the engagement of new hires and setting them up for success in the company.

Toronto, ON

Kensington Tours

<p><strong>Who we are</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Kensington Tours, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the world in their own unique way. That&rsquo;s what makes us the experts in delivering tailor-made tours to over 90 countries worldwide. With $70 million in sales and a host of awards won, including National Geographic &rsquo;50 Tours of a Lifetime&rsquo;, our team of &lsquo;destination experts&rsquo; don&rsquo;t just deliver amazing travel experiences; we enrich people&rsquo;s lives.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a world of mobile tech, insta-everything and virtual tours, Kensington Tours brings people around the globe to touch, feel, taste, smell and truly experience all of the beauty, nature, architecture, food, music and art different countries have to offer.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://www.kensingtontours.com

keywords: who we are,what we do,who you are,what's in it for you?,design, develop and deliver,implement,develop,facilitate,monitor and measure,gather requirements,raise standards,ensure engagement,coach,be proactive,create,a high performer,a certified trainer,a fan of technology,a creative and energetic facilitator,an influential strategist,an outstanding communicator,an attuned listener,a curious nomad, a globetrotter,the best

Mid Level

Overview: <p>At Kensington Tours, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the world in their unique way. That&rsquo;s what makes us the experts in delivering tailor-made tours to over 90 countries worldwide. With $70 million in sales and a host of awards won, including National Geographic &rsquo;50 Tours of a Lifetime&rsquo;, our team of &lsquo;destination experts&rsquo; don&rsquo;t just deliver amazing travel experiences; we enrich people&rsquo;s lives.</p> <p>In a world of mobile tech, insta-everything and virtual tours, Kensington Tours brings people around the globe to touch, feel, taste, smell and truly experience all of the beauty, nature, architecture, food, fashion, music and art different countries have to offer.</p> <p>Very rarely does an opportunity come up that allows you to seamlessly combine your passions into a fulfilling and profitable career at an established company.</p> <p><strong>What we&rsquo;re looking for</strong></p> <p>With headcount projected to grow at an exponential rate over the next year, Kensington Tours is looking to add a Learning and Development Specialist to the team. Reporting to the VP Sales, this is a role for someone who wants to own and drive the design, delivery and continuous improvement of the orientation, sales and systems training programs. Someone who can build out the role and take on the end-to-end process from internal requirements gathering to ROI analysis. A key focus for this role is the engagement of new hires and setting them up for success in the company.</p> <p><strong>Who you are and how your career will grow here</strong></p> <p>You are an L&amp;D Specialist with 3 to 5 years of experience ideally in a sales training environment. You have a passion for creating a culture of continuous learning and development, and you are seeking an opportunity to join a vibrant company where you can define the learning environment. You have training in adult learning and facilitation as well as course design and development. You have hands-on experience with online classroom technologies that extend well beyond powerpoint and webex. This is a role for someone who wants to be part of our adventurous culture. Someone who wants to explore new paths to employee learning while growing their career building out Learning and Development as a department and a team.</p>
Responsibilities: <p><strong>What you&rsquo;ll do:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Design, develop and deliver. You will maintain expert knowledge of the company&rsquo;s proprietary booking platform and product line to: <ul> <li>Manage the design, delivery and continuous improvement of training programs</li> <li>Create ongoing learning opportunities that support the organization&rsquo;s needs from sales and customer service to product management and leadership skills</li> </ul> </li> <li>Implement. You will create, build upon and maintain an effective knowledge management system/library for training and process purposes.</li> <li>Develop. You will develop training materials that support in-house and remote employees. Materials that include: training handbooks, job aids, models, multimedia visual aids, computer and web-based tutorials.</li> <li>Facilitate. You will deliver full cycle training for both new hires and existing staff. You will: <ul> <li>Co-facilitate classroom, online and one-on-one training sessions</li> <li>Assess the skill level, performance and competence of new hires</li> </ul> </li> <li>Monitor and measure. You will regularly monitor and measure the effectiveness of all training programs against established KPI&rsquo;s with a goal of continuous improvement and efficiency. You will: <ul> <li>Conduct systematic post-training evaluations through validation activities, exams/quizzes and observation</li> <li>Provide feedback to management and facilitate additional training where required</li> </ul> </li> <li>Gather requirements. You will conduct specific training needs assessments and analysis to support the design, development and delivery of corporate training programs and strategies. You will:</li> <li>Collect and review on-floor observations, service and customer experience results, surveys, interviews with employees, focus groups, or in consultation with Management and HR staff.</li> <li>Monitor interactions of sales consultants with customers to ensure adequate quality control</li> <li>Raise standards. You will demonstrate and educate employees on best practice sales techniques, customer service and performance expectations.</li> <li>Ensure engagement. You will utilize a variety of the training methodologies, techniques, concepts, learning tools, and practices to ensure maximum effectiveness and engagement of training programs.</li> <li>Coach. You will provide Managers with the techniques and skills necessary for promoting and imparting adult learning and development to their direct reports.</li> <li>Be proactive. You will work with the Management team and individual departments to identify and resolve issues through training initiatives.</li> <li>Create. You will create and maintain a positive and professional environment of continuous learning and development. You will: <ul> <li>Actively participate in progressive performance management for employees not able to meet or maintain standards of excellence</li> <li>Manage and develop the training budget, evaluating and reporting on return on investments</li> <li>Promote and advocate the concepts of peak performance and self-improvement and generate positive attitudes and high morale in employees by nurturing a culture of cooperation, support and enthusiasm</li> </ul> </li> </ul>
Requirements: <p><strong>Who you are:</strong></p> <ul> <li>A high performer. You have 3+ years experience successfully designing and facilitating in-class and online training programs utilizing skills in instructional design, program development and adult learning principles and accelerated learning methodologies resulting in a measurable improvement in performance.</li> <li>A certified trainer. Ideally, you have CPLP or equivalent professional Training Certification.</li> <li>A fan of technology. You have experience using the full MS Office suite, visual aid technologies, presentation technologies, multiple web-based/e-learning design and delivery tools. You have hands-on experience using, and ideally implementing, an LMS.</li> <li>A creative and energetic facilitator. You have a high-energy, enthusiastic, motivational facilitation style and a creative approach to designing and delivering training. You have the ability to adapt your style to your audience and medium.</li> <li>An influential strategist. You have expertise focusing on both the immediate deliverables as well as the big picture. You have proven success executing the vision of senior management.</li> <li>An outstanding communicator. You have an engaging and warm in-person, online and classroom presence. You believe in walking the sales floor to learn more about your peers and their training needs. You are one of the first people to greet a new hire.</li> <li>An attuned listener. You have unbeatable listening and analytical skills You will need to hone in on what areas new, and seasoned, employees need skills training. You will need to be able to dig deeper, reflect back, and come up with an award-winning option every time!</li> <li>A curious nomad, a globetrotter. You can confidently compile a list of your favourite places to eat, sleep or play in half-a-dozen countries.</li> <li>The best. We only want the best people working for us. We want someone motivated, who dreams big. We want someone who is truly passionate about learning and development.</li> </ul>