Organizational Development Specialist

Overview

This position is open until filled with an initial application review to take place on July 27, 2026

The starting salary range for this position is $7,400.00 - $7,900.00 per month depending upon qualifications and is non-negotiable.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

The Academy for Professional Excellence (Academy) is a project of SDSU Research Foundation and San Diego State University’s School of Social Work. Established in 1996 with the goal of revolutionizing the way people work to ensure the world is a healthier place, the Academy designs and delivers workforce development programs that grow the people who lead and deliver care. The Academy creates learning experiences that are culturally responsive, recovery-oriented, and immersive, empowering professionals to build skills they can apply immediately to their work. By growing the people who serve others, the Academy strengthens health, human service, and social impact organizations and transforms individuals, families and communities. 

Our work spans multiple levels of workforce development, from onboarding and core training to advanced leadership programs and organizational strategy. We collaborate with public agencies, universities, Tribal Nations, community-based organizations, and public benefit corporations to create learning experiences that reflect real-world demands and contexts. We specialize in curriculum development, instructor-led training, coaching, simulation-based training, eLearnings and other asynchronous products, leadership capacity building, practice implementation support, technical assistance, evaluation, and strategic consultation. Every solution we develop with our partners is designed to make a meaningful difference in organizations and the communities they serve. Each year, over 50,000 people turn to us for learning and development that transforms individuals, families, and communities.

As a member of the Academy team you will be engaging in communal development of heart, mind, and practice. You are expected to foster culturally responsive practice behaviors to promote well-being and a culture that focuses on healing, healthy relationships and changed behaviors.

The Academy’s Strategy, Development & Organizational Advancement (SDOA) Division leads the strategic development of learning, products, and practices that strengthen our organizational culture and brand identity, nurture organizational health, and support innovation. The division builds responsive and proactive solutions in evaluation, strategy, and systems grounded in data, best practices, and collaborative partnerships.

The Academy’s Organizational Development Team within the SDOA Division designs, implements, coordinates, and facilitates initiatives that advance the Academy’s Strategic Plan with a focus on supporting and developing staff and the Academy’s growth. We form partnerships across the Academy’s three divisions and seven programs to advance the health of the organization, recruit, develop, and retain staff, ensure equitable policies and procedures, and solicit funding to transform the way we and the people we serve work.

Responsibilities

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The focus of this position is internal to the Academy, supporting Academy staff and systems with attention to Academy staff development and organizational growth priorities. Under the general direction of the Organizational Development Manager, the Organizational Development Specialist designs, coordinates, implements, and facilitates initiatives that advance the Academy’s Strategic Plan. The position supports staff development, including developing and delivering training and tools that support the Academy’s System of Practice; setting the standards for staff Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and performance evaluations; updating and maintaining the Academy’s Protocols and Procedures Manual; and supporting organizational culture, staff engagement and Academy growth, including participating in the development of grant applications and maintaining continuing education accreditation. 

SPECIFIC DUTIES

This is a 40 hour a week hybrid with remote flexibility position, typically working M-F from 8:00 to 4:30 p.m. and is based on contract funding subject to annual renewal. The position may be subject to intermittent overnight travel and work shifts outside of normal business hours, including weekends and evenings if needed. 

This position requires that you reside within California throughout the duration of your employment and live within a commutable distance from the worksite your work supports. Positions are typically assigned to either our Riverside or San Diego office for any on-site work. 

Note: some duties may include working with and/or exposure to sensitive/traumatic topics or material dealing with child abuse, abuse against older adults and adults with disabilities, and/or issues and scenarios related to mental health, substance use, or racism.

The Academy is a project of the San Diego State University Research Foundation, which is grant-funded and serves as an auxiliary to the University. The Academy is based near, but not on campus, and does not have direct responsibilities for working with or teaching college students.

The Academy is currently going through a reclassification process. If this position’s classification changes during this process, it would not change the role, responsibilities, or compensation of the position.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT (40%)

• Serve as a member of the People Development Strategy Team and produce training curricula, training materials, and tools that support implementation of the Academy’s System of Practice.
• Work with the Leadership Development/Hiring Supervisor to design and implement training for people leaders on the Academy’s People Leader Competencies to include opportunities to develop, practice, and enhance skills.
• Design, write, revise and facilitate accessible learning experiences, tools, and resources applying adult learning theory and universal design principles.
• Produce, record and edit videos to create asynchronous staff learning experiences. 
• Provide coaching for individuals and teams that support staff growth, effective collaboration, and the Academy’s System of Practice.
• Partner with the Workforce Management and Development Team to ensure curriculum development reflects evolving best practices and identify and contract with subject matter experts as needed.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND ENGAGEMENT (20%)

• Support development, review and analysis of the annual Organizational Health Assessment and other periodic surveys of staff on training or measures of organizational culture.
• Oversee the management and production of Academy All-Staff meetings, including facilitation, facilitator coordination, materials preparation and staff feedback survey administration, analysis and reporting.
• Support the implementation of the Academy’s Strategic Plan, focusing on Academy strategic initiatives that support Academy culture, and integrating the Academy System of Practice.
• Develop and conduct research in support of change management and organizational development best practices. 

PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES (15%)

• Maintain the Academy Protocols and Procedures Manual (PPM); contribute to writing and editing Academy protocols and procedures, and adapt Foundation policy to meet the needs of the Academy. 
• Oversee the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)/ Quality Assurance (QA) process for the Protocols and Procedures Manual.

GRANT PROPOSALS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION ACCREDITATION (15%)

• Support the development and submission of grant and contract proposals, including researching sources of funding, gathering information, and supporting the writing, production, and submission of grant and contract proposals.
• Support applications and produce reports as required to maintain and expand the Academy’s continuing education accreditation.  

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT (5%)

• Facilitate the Performance Management process, updating the performance evaluation as needed, creating resources for staff, and ensuring the process is effective and easy to use.
• Lead the organizational Individual Development Process (IDP), updating IDP as needed, creating resources for staff, and ensuring the process is effective and easy to use.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED (5%) 

• Perform other duties as assigned, which are in the best interests of the Academy for Professional Excellence.
• Travel to off-site locations for Academy and Program meetings (primarily in Riverside and San Diego).

QUALIFICATIONS & SPECIAL SKILLS

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Experience with organizational functions, structures, and group dynamics, with the ability to bring political acumen to support collaborations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to synthesize and convey information in a concrete and easy-to-follow manner.
• Systems thinker able to problem-solve and address issues holistically.
• Able to translate complex concepts and produce visual and interactive elements for staff learning experiences that achieve instructional goals.
• Knowledge of adult learning theory, universal design, and current workforce development trends and best practice.
• Experience designing, developing, and delivering training and eLearnings. 
• Working knowledge of common software application packages that can be used to create accessible, self-directed learning modules, including video editing and captioning.  
• Presentation and facilitation skills that are responsive to diverse engagement styles.
• Coaching experience with individuals and teams supporting effective collaboration and culturally responsive practices.
• Able to independently interpret a wide variety of complex procedures and protocols. 
• Able to handle multiple, simultaneous projects of varying nature, content, and complexity and meet deadlines.
• Adaptable with the flexibility to shift projects mid-stream and/or adjust goals as needed to accommodate new information. 
• Able to take ownership of projects and translate ideas into practice. 
• Self-starter and comfortable working both independently and collaboratively on teams.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to also be strategic and see the context and big picture beyond the details.
• Skilled at tracking and following up to ensure processes are implemented, gathering and acting on feedback to improve processes.
• Experience in having honest discussions and implementing behavioral changes needed to advance equity, inclusion, and healing, healthy relationships.
• Able to listen and willingness to learn and try on new things.
• The patience to meet people where they are at and support their growth.
• Able to perform basic mathematical calculations and utilize standard computer programs for word processing, spreadsheets, report preparation, and other work products as needed.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Equivalent to a bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training and administrative work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs.
• 6-years of progressively responsible experience performing varied or specialized administrative and analytical duties and/or service as a program administrator.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Skilled with video editing and online design products, e.g. Canva, Camtasia, Adobe, Articulate RISE

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.  
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.