DIRECTOR OF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Job posting for individuals interested in applying for employment VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM’S DIRECTOR OF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Victim Assistance Program, the leading expert in crisis intervention for victims of crime and trauma in Northeast Ohio, is seeking an experienced full time, exempt, Director of Training & Development to work 40 hours per week (M-F 8a-4p) at our main office location in downtown Akron.

Committed to diversity and to equal employment, Victim Assistance Program does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, military obligations, HIV status, marital/familial status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Victim Assistance Program will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities.

The preferred candidate for this role should possess a genuine passion for aiding victims of crime and trauma, a thirst for continuous learning, proficiency utilizing both hardware and software technology, and strong organizational abilities to effectively manage the agency's sole earned income revenue stream, Summit Victim Assistance Academy (SVAA).

As one of the first victim services agencies established in the United States, we are driven to expand the blueprint our founder established in 1972. We are always advancing and always striving to think of new ways to help victims of crime and trauma.

If you are passionate about using your expertise to help create a world where all victims are healed, please read on!

CHECK OUT THE SPECIFICS TO SEE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU

At VAP, our commitment to evolution is reflected in our culture of learning and professional development. The Director of Training & Development is responsible for cultivating a professional and educational environment for staff, volunteers, interns, and community members engaged in supporting victims of crime and trauma by crafting, executing, participating, evaluating, and overseeing the agency's annual education plan, with the primary objective of ensuring victims receive best-practice, culturally competent, and trauma-informed support.

Enhancing Victim Services

Without first-hand knowledge and passion for serving victims, how else would you develop dynamic and engaging course curriculum that is aligned with emerging trends and organizational needs? Therefore, we require this position to engage in direct service activities, one day per quarter, to achieve the following responsibilities:

• Develop, execute, manage, and evaluate SVAA’s professional development training plan in accordance with best practices, policies, strategic plans, trends, and NACP’s (National Advocate Credentialing Program) continuing education requirements.
• Engage in ongoing needs assessment to identify internal and external opportunities to address required competencies, compliance, emerging trends, and community needs.

Teaching

SVAA is a leading expert in providing research-informed, culturally competent, and effective training for those who provide services to victims or all crimes & trauma. To maintain our expert status, the Director of Training & Development will need to have a keen eye for detail, be or become a subject matter expert in victim advocacy, and produce professional, culturally competent, polished products to provide internally for free and externally for a fee.

• Assess and evaluate the effectiveness of training curriculum through various methods and identify and implement modifications to ensure continuous enhancement.
• Prepare, create, and present dynamic, engaging, and culturally competent curriculums while incorporating branding guidelines, best practice techniques, current statistics, sourced citations, and measurement tools for virtual, recorded, and in person formats.
• Prepare and present presentations to increase awareness of Victim Assistance Program’s services and needs.
• Promote the use of the National Organization of Victim Advocacy model of crisis intervention while ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion is emphasized in all content.

Administration

The Director of Training & Development will need to possess excellent technological and organizational skills to ensure that the agency’s education plan is aligned with policies, strategic plans, accreditation requirements, and continuing education requirements.

• Manage the agency’s online Learning Management System (LMS), including but not limited to create and publish courses, extract, and analyze reports, register and pass participants, respond to messages, update users’ status, provide technical assistance, etc.
• Maintain the agency’s approved provider status to ensure participants can obtain state and national licenses and credentials.
• Manage, track, approve, and expend department funds to accomplish strategic, department, and grant goals and objectives.
• Assist in marketing SVAA products.

REQUIREMENTS

We are looking for an intrinsically motivated learner who knows their way around trauma-informed care for victims and can inspire others. While we will fill you in on our internal processes and requirements, we need someone who already has the basics down: Researching, creating engaging content, presenting, and the technical skills to administer various software programs as well as:

• A Bachelors degree in an educational or social service-related field is required.
• 2 or more years of advocacy experience required.
• 2 or more years experience developing curriculum and strong public speaking skills are preferred.
• The ability to motivate others to engage in learning opportunities.
• Communicate clearly, effectively, and timely.
• A strong work ethic with demonstrated organizational and time management skills required.
• Proven critical thinking, systems thinking, and strategic planning experience.
• Must have excellent internet and software computer skills (Office 365 Suite)
• Experience using online learning management systems is preferred.
• Work both independently and collaboratively to accomplish agency and department goals.
• Project management experience preferred.
• Experience of using principles, theories, practices, research methods, and/ or techniques to develop motivational curriculums preferred.
• Exceptional technical and creative writing skills, attention to detail, and ability to follow instructions required.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE APPLYING

All employees of Victim Assistance Program must appreciate the potential physical and psychological impact VAP employment may have on their personal lives. Employees may witness, observe, smell, and hear disturbing sights and sounds including but not limited to crime scenes, pictures of abuse, and recordings of violent incidents. Secondly, employees may be exposed to situations which could potentially result in physical harm from victims and/or aggressors. Both are concerns primarily of direct service victim advocates, but any employee can be exposed to these situations from time to time. In addition, all employees of Victim Assistance Program are required to respond 24/7/365 to the needs of victims of extreme and catastrophic incidents impacting Summit County. This rare response from the administrative staff would be for administrative support and logistics.

TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN

We aspire to ensure the needs of our employees are always identified. We provide employees with a supportive and accessible supervisor, a beautiful trauma informed office setting, new furniture, up to date technology, security, expansive training programs and an employee assistance program including 6 free confidential counseling sessions.

Our newly renovated main office in downtown Akron is within walking distance to the courts, police station, restaurants, shops, and the towpath trails. The space includes an education training facility, trauma free room, and a staff kitchen. A generous benefit package is also provided to full-time employees. This includes 3 weeks of annual PTO plus 13 paid holidays, a birthday PTO day, 2 PTO volunteer days, medical coverage, dental & vision coverage, pet insurance, mileage reimbursement, significant bereavement leave, and a 401k retirement plan with a matching contribution.

It is our belief that if employees are taken care of, and employees have the resources to take care of themselves, then victims will receive superior services… and that is our goal.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• For consideration, please upload cover letter telling us why we should hire you.

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• advocacy: 2 years (Required)
• developing curriculum: 2 years (Preferred)
• Public speaking: 2 years (Preferred)
• technical and creative writing: 2 years (Required)
• Project management: 1 year (Preferred)
• LMS: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Akron, OH 44308