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Ascension is seeking an experienced Learning & Development Specialist to support WSSC Water’s Pipeline Construction Division in strengthening employee capabilities, transferring institutional knowledge, developing workforce competencies, and improving individual and team performance.

The ideal candidate is an experienced learning, training, instructional design, or organizational development professional who can operate as both an internal consultant and hands-on learning practitioner. This person should be comfortable engaging managers, technical subject matter experts, field personnel, and other stakeholders to identify performance and knowledge gaps and then translate those needs into practical learning solutions.

This is not simply a classroom instructor position. The successful candidate will assess organizational and team development needs; design curricula, learning programs, job aids, and training interventions; facilitate instructor-led and technology-enabled learning; support knowledge-transfer initiatives; and evaluate whether development activities produce the intended workforce outcomes.

The WSSC source description expressly characterizes this position as an internal business partner focused on employee development, team performance, and knowledge-transfer initiatives. LEARNING_DEVELOPMENT_SPECIALIST…

Candidates should be comfortable working in an operational organization where priorities can evolve based on construction programs, employee development needs, institutional knowledge risks, onboarding requirements, and organizational initiatives. The successful candidate should be organized, consultative, self-directed, adaptable, capable of managing several development activities simultaneously, and able to turn ambiguous performance problems into structured learning solutions.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Learning & Development Specialist supports WSSC Water’s Pipeline Construction Division by assessing workforce development needs and designing, implementing, facilitating, and evaluating solutions that strengthen workforce performance and preserve critical institutional knowledge.

The Specialist works directly with Pipeline Construction Division personnel and subject matter experts to determine learning and skill requirements, build development programs, facilitate training and orientation activities, support competency development, and deploy appropriate learning methods such as classroom instruction, e-learning, guided learning, and other development solutions. LEARNING_DEVELOPMENT_SPECIALIST…

The role also requires the ability to distinguish between issues that require training and those that may instead require improvements in process, communication, documentation, knowledge management, coaching, or performance support.

The selected individual will help WSSC Water:

• strengthen the capabilities of Pipeline Construction Division employees;
• reduce loss of institutional knowledge;
• improve transfer of technical and operational knowledge between experienced and developing personnel;
• improve employee onboarding and readiness;
• establish repeatable learning and development practices;
• develop competencies aligned to operational requirements;
• create measurable training and development programs; and
• support continuous workforce performance improvement.

Day-to-Day / Anticipated Responsibilities

The Learning & Development Specialist will:

• CONDUCT organizational, business-unit, team, and individual developmental needs assessments to identify knowledge, competency, skill, and performance gaps.
• TRANSLATE assessment findings into practical, solution-based learning and workforce development programs.
• DESIGN instructional programs, curricula, lesson materials, development sessions, exercises, assessments, tests, job aids, and evaluation instruments.
• DEVELOP learning solutions using adult-learning and instructional-design principles.
• DELIVER knowledge- and skill-based training sessions for Pipeline Construction Division personnel.
• FACILITATE classroom, virtual, guided-learning, orientation, workshop, and other employee-development sessions.
• SUPPORT knowledge-transfer and institutional-knowledge-retention initiatives across Pipeline Construction Division teams.
• PARTNER with WSSC Water subject matter experts to identify learning requirements and convert technical or operational expertise into structured learning materials.
• ASSESS operational and performance issues to determine whether training, coaching, process improvement, knowledge management, or other developmental interventions are appropriate.
• RECOMMEND development solutions based on identified workforce and organizational needs.
• IMPLEMENT approved learning and development interventions and monitor their effectiveness.
• EVALUATE training effectiveness using appropriate assessments, feedback mechanisms, performance measures, and evaluation methodologies.
• DEVELOP and maintain curricula and programs supporting Pipeline Construction Division competencies.
• SELECT appropriate delivery methods, including classroom instruction, e-learning, guided learning, blended learning, and performance-support tools.
• FACILITATE Pipeline Construction Division new-employee orientation sessions.
• COACH employees and managers regarding functional development needs and appropriate learning solutions.
• COORDINATE with business-section staff to ensure timely and effective delivery of learning programs.
• SUPPORT knowledge- and skill-based pay program development activities when assigned.
• MANAGE or coordinate learning vendors and assess their performance against contractual requirements.
• PARTICIPATE in annual action-plan teams, departmental action-item teams, working groups, and special workforce-development projects.
• MAINTAIN appropriate training records, course materials, participant information, evaluations, and learning documentation.
• UTILIZE learning management systems and standard office productivity applications in administering and documenting development activities.
• COMMUNICATE recommendations, findings, program status, and workforce-development information clearly to personnel at multiple organizational levels.
• COLLABORATE with supervisors, peers, technical personnel, and other stakeholders in a team-oriented environment.
• DRIVE as necessary to conduct WSSC Water business and support activities at applicable WSSC locations.
• PERFORM other learning, workforce-development, knowledge-transfer, and related duties assigned within the scope of the engagement.