Learning and Development Specialist

In your role as the Learning and Development Specialist at Alaska Commercial Company (ACC), you support all training and development in ACC, with a key focus on enhancing the learning experience through role-based training and development of managers and managers in training. This role is accountable to onboard new management hires, identifying gaps in operations and role-based training programs, designing and developing training, and supporting employee development in support offices and warehouses.

Joining ACC gives you the opportunity for growth and development throughout the company, a competitive salary, a benefits package, and to be part of a dynamic and diverse culture.

ACC is a growing company with a long history of serving rural Alaskans. For more than 150 years, we have provided groceries and general merchandise to the people of Alaska. As was true more than 150 years ago, our stores continue to be a vital center of local community life. In 1992, the company was purchased by The North West Company (NWC) from then-owner The Commercial Enterprise Development Corporation of Alaska. This acquisition by NWC made the combined companies the largest North American rural retailers and one of the largest employers in the State of Alaska. Learn more about ACC at www.alaskacommercial.com.

Key Accountabilities:

• Deliver Training
• Onboard new Department Managers-in-Training (DMITs) and Managers-in-Training (MITs)
• Monitor MIT and DMIT progress through their training program, acting as program point of contact for trainees and training store managers during their first 90 days
• Conduct field-based training in stores with management trainees and frontline employees
• Support ongoing training and development of Training Managers in training stores
• Lead formal classroom, small group, and on-the-job training sessions
• Build and assign training plans and coordinate training schedules
• Provide necessary resources to assist trainees in their success
• Provide additional training materials and assist trainees as requested by store teams
• Ensure the integrity of program delivery with onsite visits
• Report key learnings from the delivery of training programs to the People Development team and key AC business units
• Deliver and facilitate using a wide range of learning modalities (classroom, virtual, blended)
• Enhance the learning experience for all employees at ACC
• Administer and coordinate training events
• Design and Develop Training and Support Programs
• Collaborate with the full People Development team to evaluate, create, and/or modify Manager, and Department Manager-in-Training programs
• Identify requirements for training needs specifically for ACC, and then collaborate with People Development to design and develop modules as required
• Collect and review feedback from trainees and operations teams to identify opportunities to improve training materials
• Collaborate with subject matter experts across the business to identify new or changes to standard operating processes (SOPs) and adjust/update training programming as required
• Assess the effectiveness of training design, in terms of both costs and learning outcomes
• Create training outlines and determine delivery methods, specific to the effectiveness of training methods such as individual training, group instructions, demonstrations, virtual meetings, e-learning, micro-learning, and workshops
• Select or create training resources, job aids, and user guides/manuals
• Identify and plan key workshops for the annual store manager conference
• Ensure consistency between operating standards, new programs, and training plans
• Monitor and report on the delivery of training plans, training completions (including compliance), and assessment trackers to support the business leaders’ accountabilities
• Support the Development of Office and Warehouse Employees
• Support company-wide People Development initiatives focused on Employee Engagement, Succession, and Talent Development
• Partner with ACC business units to identify talent development gaps and assess potential solutions
• Be the point of contact for ACC and liaise with the People Development team to share insights and feedback on all programming
• Tools and Technology
• Use the Learning Management System (LMS) to assign training plans and manage training records
• Track and report on training plans and assignment of post-training action plans and toolkits
• Collaborate with the People Development team to ensure optimal use of learning technologies
• Source content from external providers, following NWC integration requirements
• Build external training dashboards as required
• Apply tech-based learning modalities including game-based learning, and gamification to enhance the learning experience
  

Desired skills & experience:

• Minimum 5 years of retail management experience in various stores and/or department roles
• Strong understanding of store processes and systems
• Demonstrated commitment to people development
• Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills
• Ability to work well both independently and with others, in a remote team setting
• Ability to adapt training delivery methods/styles based on learner needs
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Experience with integrating online learning into training plans
• Comfort with systems thinking and use, to support trainees, training managers, and other key business leaders
• Ability to develop and implement new training tools or supports
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a team, at a distance
• Relationship-building skills to establish partnerships with internal customers, experts, and stakeholders
• Strong organizational, planning, and time management skills
• Ability to travel
  
  

Working conditions

• Work in an open-area office and warehouse environment
• Fast-paced office environment
• Ability to sit or stand in one place for long periods
• Multiple phone calls and meetings on a daily/weekly basis
• Required to travel up to 50 days per year
  
  

Location: Anchorage, AK

Reports to: Director, People Development – NWC

We create a collaborative and constructive culture by:

• Acting with integrity
• Fostering excellence
• Respecting others
• Working collaboratively
• Being accountable
  
  

The North West Company is committed to inclusion and diversity and encourages applications from all candidates, including but not limited to all religions and ethnicities, LGBTQ2s+, BIPOC, and persons with disabilities.

You may include your resume and cover letter together as a single document. A competitive salary is being offered along with opportunities to learn, develop and advance throughout the organization. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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