Learning & Development Specialist

Job Title:  Learning and Development Specialist 

Reports To: Learning & Development Training Manager  

Status:  Full-time Non-Exempt  

Location:  Los Angeles  

Hours of Operation:  Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, with occasional weekends   

Hourly Range: $28.84-$34.00 per hour (based on experience and qualifications)

Are you passionate about setting new hires up for success and creating smooth, welcoming transitions into a values-driven workplace? 

Who Are We: 

In 1922, Woodcraft Rangers opened its doors in Los Angeles and began its mission of guiding young people as they explore pathways to purposeful lives. As a progressive organization, Woodcraft has always been responsive to the evolving needs of the communities served, and is notably inclusive, youth-led, and rooted in the Woodcraft Way, a holistic framework that develops body, mind, spirit, and service. Continuously at the forefront of expanded learning opportunities, Woodcraft Rangers has a rich history of making a significant impact in the greater Los Angeles area, believing that all youth are innately good, deserve the opportunity to realize their full potential, and should be an active participant in defining their own path.  

What We Do:  

Woodcraft Rangers provides TK-12 expanded learning programs, including before and after school, specialty enrichment, and summer learning. In the past few years, Woodcraft has expanded its menu of services beyond traditional afterschool programs and summer camps to include early learning, environmental and social justice, college access, and inclusion services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, we offer LifeCraft, a college and career advancement program to support the development of approximately 2,000 staff. Today, Woodcraft Rangers serves more than 30,000 youth ages 4 to 18 each year across 150 plus Title I schools in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties, and continues to expand its reach. 

Ideal Candidate: 

The Learning and Development Specialist plays a vital role in shaping the early employee experience at Woodcraft Rangers. This position leads and facilitates all components of the New Employee Welcome Series, ensuring new hires are engaged, supported, and set up for success from day one through their first day on site. This position is responsible for leading and facilitating all aspects of the New Employee Welcome Series, through internal systems, coordinating onboarding experiences such as in-person training, online learning, cycle planning, and shadow days, and ensuring all compliance requirements are met, and provides ongoing support to new hires . In addition, the Onboarding Specialist continuously evaluates and improves onboarding processes, tools, and resources to enhance efficiency and create seamless, welcoming, and mission-aligned experience for all new employees. While maintaining strong communication across departments. In addition, the Onboarding Specialist evaluates and improves onboarding processes, tools, and resources to enhance efficiency and create a seamless, welcoming, and mission-aligned experience for all new employees.

Why Work for Woodcraft Rangers: 

1. Competitive salary – $28.84-$34.00 per hour (based on experience and qualifications)

1. Paid vacation & sick time – generous time off to recharge

1. Lifecraft program – free college & career advancement for all staff

1. Upward mobility – promote-from-within culture

1. Health, dental & vision – comprehensive benefits coverage

1. 403(b) retirement plan – invest in your future

1. Pet insurance – because your whole family matters

1. Mission-driven work – impact 30,000 + young people annually

Role Overview: 

The Learning and Development Specialist plays a hands-on role in welcoming and supporting new employees as they join the organization. This position is responsible for facilitating the New Employee Welcome Series, coordinating onboarding logistics, and serving as a primary resource for new hires as they navigate their first weeks at Woodcraft Rangers. The Onboarding Specialist ensures that every new team member feels informed, supported, and set up for success from day one, creating welcoming and inclusive experiences that reflect the organization's mission and culture.

Responsibilities: 

New Employee Welcome Session Facilitation 

• Facilitate weekly New Employee Welcome Sessions, creating an engaging and welcoming experience for all new employees 

• Prepare and organize all materials, logistics, and communications for New Employee Welcome Sessions 

• Present key organizational information, policies, and expectations aligned to Woodcraft Rangers' mission and culture 

• Communicate company policies and ensure new hires understand expectations and organizational procedures 

New Employee Welcome Series Coordination & Improvement 

• Coordinate New Employee Welcome Series logistics in collaboration with hiring managers, HR, and internal teams 

• Participate in Learning & Development and New Employee Welcome Series meetings to evaluate onboarding effectiveness and identify improvement opportunities 

• Continuously improve New Employee Welcome Series processes, tools, and resources to enhance efficiency and employee experience 

• Gather feedback from new hires and hiring managers; track trends and share insights with Human Resources, Learning & Development, and Program teams 

Shadow Day & Site Management 

• Identify and maintain model sites; coordinate logistics and scheduling for shadow days 

• Manage and coordinate shadow day assignments to new hires 

• Collect, verify, and process shadow day paperwork and documentation 

Learning Management & Portal Support (Absorb & Resource Portal) 

• Manage and assign online courses through Absorb, ensuring timely completion of assigned courses for new employees 

• Manage Cycle Planning progress through the Resource Portal, ensuring timely completion of Cycle Plans 

• Support new hires in onboarding into the Resource Portal and Absorb LMS, ensuring access and navigation support 

• Serve as a primary point of contact for new hires when utilizing the Resource Portal and Absorb 

New Hire Progress Tracking & Check-ins 

• Conduct when needed check-ins with new hires to confirm completion of cycle plans, shadow day experiences, and required online courses 

• Support 30/60/90-day check-ins, tracking milestones, goals, and integration into teams 

• Partner with Human Resources to finalize individualized onboarding plans and assess new hire progress 

Ongoing New Hire Support 

• Provide ongoing support to new hires as they transition into their roles 

• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Communications, or a related field 

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in Human Resources or Learning & Development or Training Facilitation, onboarding, preferably in a fast-paced, high-volume, or nonprofit setting.  

• Strong understanding of onboarding best practices, HR compliance, and employment lifecycle processes.  

• Experience with LMS platforms (Absorb preferred), document management tools, and collaboration platforms (e.g., Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams).  

• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with hiring managers, IT, and other departments to deliver seamless onboarding experience.  

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.
  
  

Physical Demands: 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the following physical demands may be essential for the effective performance of this position. Reasonable accommodation will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions: 

• Frequent sitting and standing during working hours.  

• Regular use of hands for tasks such as typing and document handling.  

• Ability to occasionally lift/move up to 25 pounds.  

• Must be able to travel across the Great Los Angeles area for site visits or orientation sessions when needed.  

• Reasonable accommodation is available for individuals with disabilities.
  
  

Work Environment: 

We are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and will actively consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals to effectively perform their roles. This position operates in environments typical of the following key aspects: 

1. Regular exposure to computer monitors during work. 
2. The typical noise level of a standard work environment. 
3. Stable internet access is required for effective work-from-home performance. 

Work Schedule: 

We are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and will actively consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals to effectively perform their roles. This position operates in environments typical of the following key aspects: 

•  Regular working hours are from Monday to Friday, with occasional weekends and evenings required for events, training, or conferences. 
•  Optional weekly work-from-home opportunities. 
•  Travel may be necessary to various regions where Woodcraft Rangers programs are implemented, including San Fernando Valley, South Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, Southeast LA, and Downtown areas, to support or deliver in-person training. 
•  Regular exposure to a computer monitor during work. 
•  The typical noise level of a standard work environment. 
•  Stable internet access is required for effective work-from-home performance. 

Woodcraft Rangers provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief, color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breastfeeding), age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, transitioning status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. We also prohibit discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.