What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Specialist, Training and Employee Development position at Career Center at Portland State University?
Position Announcement
Position Details
Proposed Start Date 11/16/2026 Classification Title Human Resources & Organizational Development Rank N - No Rank Working Title Senior Specialist, Training and Employee Development Department 600300 - HRC Human Resource Center Position Number D96759 Representation UU - Unclassified Unrepresented Renewable Renewable End date, if applicable Position FTE 1 Tenure Status F - Fixed Term
Position Summary
Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept
Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands-on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.
More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs. We are proud of our world-class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.
Position Summary
The Senior Specialist in Training and Employee Development will ensure an equity- and justice-centered approach to all training and communication programs while developing and implementing HR training for managers and employees. This position will report to the Training & Employee Development Manager in Human Resources.
This position will also collaborate with the selection, and campus-wide rollout of a new instructional design (ID) authoring tool, leveraging expert facilitation in authoring software, LMS administration, and adult learning principles to design and deliver high-impact employee development programs.
This is a permanent full-time position within an innovative team-oriented environment located in downtown Portland, and includes a comprehensive benefits package with paid time off including paid sick time, paid holidays and paid vacation days, 95% employer-funded premium healthcare, employer-funded retirement plans, and 70% off of tuition for the employee, dependent children, and your spouse or domestic partner.
Minimum Qualifications
Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.
Work Days/Hours Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, Up to one day remote, after training period and with the approval of the supervisor. Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement
The starting annual salary for this position will be $65,100-$80,000 and may be negotiated within this range.
An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools. Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.
Application Instructions
Additional Information Additional Application Instructions (deadlines, etc.)
Please submit your cover letter, resume and names, phone numbers and emails for three professional references.
References will only be contacted if you are a finalist for this position
Does this position require the employee to drive a motor vehicle? No Background Check Required Yes Position End Date (if applicable) If you have questions
Search Details
Posting Close Date Projected Close Date for Posting Open Until Finalists Identified Application screening begins Quick Link https://jobs.hrc.pdx.edu/postings/50746
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Required Documents
Position Details
Proposed Start Date 11/16/2026 Classification Title Human Resources & Organizational Development Rank N - No Rank Working Title Senior Specialist, Training and Employee Development Department 600300 - HRC Human Resource Center Position Number D96759 Representation UU - Unclassified Unrepresented Renewable Renewable End date, if applicable Position FTE 1 Tenure Status F - Fixed Term
Position Summary
Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept
Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands-on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.
More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs. We are proud of our world-class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.
Position Summary
The Senior Specialist in Training and Employee Development will ensure an equity- and justice-centered approach to all training and communication programs while developing and implementing HR training for managers and employees. This position will report to the Training & Employee Development Manager in Human Resources.
This position will also collaborate with the selection, and campus-wide rollout of a new instructional design (ID) authoring tool, leveraging expert facilitation in authoring software, LMS administration, and adult learning principles to design and deliver high-impact employee development programs.
This is a permanent full-time position within an innovative team-oriented environment located in downtown Portland, and includes a comprehensive benefits package with paid time off including paid sick time, paid holidays and paid vacation days, 95% employer-funded premium healthcare, employer-funded retirement plans, and 70% off of tuition for the employee, dependent children, and your spouse or domestic partner.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree plus a minimum of 4 years training development, employee relations, HR generalist, or a combination of other relevant experience, which could include supervisory experience.
- Ability to persuade others and to adjust communication style to suit the audience to effectively communicate with people in all levels of an organization.
- Excellent writing skills, including conveying all necessary points concisely.
- Excellent critical thinking, judgement and decision-making ability, including the ability to weigh short and long-term costs and benefits of a potential action.
- Effective at managing own time and time of others with high volume workloads.
- Ability to work well under pressure and to handle conflict with the highest professionalism.
- Strong project management skills.
- Strong people management skills, preferably gained through managing and developing teams.
- High level of emotional intelligence and excellent interpersonal skills.
- Experience in a large, complex organization.
- Experience in an environment with a unionized workforce.
- Experience in higher education and public sector.
- Experience in successfully building and leading a team.
- Expert-level LMS management and instruction design authoring tool skills
- Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
- Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
- Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
- Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.
Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.
Work Days/Hours Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, Up to one day remote, after training period and with the approval of the supervisor. Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement
The starting annual salary for this position will be $65,100-$80,000 and may be negotiated within this range.
An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools. Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.
Application Instructions
Additional Information Additional Application Instructions (deadlines, etc.)
Please submit your cover letter, resume and names, phone numbers and emails for three professional references.
References will only be contacted if you are a finalist for this position
Does this position require the employee to drive a motor vehicle? No Background Check Required Yes Position End Date (if applicable) If you have questions
Search Details
Posting Close Date Projected Close Date for Posting Open Until Finalists Identified Application screening begins Quick Link https://jobs.hrc.pdx.edu/postings/50746
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * Do you have a Bachelor's Degree?
- Yes
- No
- * Explain your experience with instructional design authoring tools and LMS administration. (Open Ended Question)
- * How did you first find out about this position?
- PSU Website
- Indeed.com
- HERCJobs
- Urban League of Portland
- Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber
- Oregon Employment Department
- Social Media
- Person Referral
- Career Builder
- Glass Door
- Other - Please describe in the next Question
- If you selected Other, please describe. (Open Ended Question)
Required Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Professional References
Salary : $65,100 - $80,000