Professional Development & Learning Specialist
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes), one of Canada’s largest and most successful law firms, has an immediate opening for a Professional Development & Learning Specialist to join the Human Resources department in the Toronto office.
Reporting to the Director, Professional Development & Learning, this position is involved in all facets of Professional Development & Learning from needs analysis and instructional design to facilitation and training. This role supports all personnel with technical, soft skill training and behavioural change management.
Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Contributing to broader strategic Professional Development & Learning needs analysis and prioritizing training needs for individuals across all Firm roles
- Designing and developing training curricula, workshops, and e-learning modules covering technical skills, leadership development, compliance and other relevant topics
- Assisting with all aspects of program management for legal professionals and business service team members including program coordination and execution
- Facilitating various types of in-class and web-based training sessions, including new hire orientation, software rollouts, monthly refresher training and soft skills training
- Collaborating with subject matter experts and external training providers to develop and deliver specialized training programs
- Assisting with the continuous professional development accreditation of internal and client programs, issuing certificates of attendance for lawyers and maintaining accurate records for annual Law Society reporting purposes
- Maintaining accurate records of training activities, participant data, and program evaluations in the Learning Management System (LMS)
- Analysis and continuous improvement of user adoption of Firm applications and learning concepts by developing supporting learning material, including reference guides, handouts and FAQs
- Assisting with deskside coaching and floor support for major firmwide rollouts or training initiatives as required
- Assisting with testing support for software rollouts to ensure proper functionality in Blakes environment as required
Qualifications
Education/Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree or college diploma in a related field is required
- Minimum of five years of experience in the development, facilitation and delivery of training in a blended learning environment or equivalent experience
- Legal/professional services experience is an asset
- Knowledge and understanding of Instructional Design principles is an asset
Skills/Abilities:
- Creative mindset with the confidence to voice opinions and make suggestions that will positively impact the learning landscape at Blakes
- Comfortable adjusting presentation styles and managing a learning environment for a diverse audience with varying and competing needs
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required to effectively convey learning content in a polished, tactful and diplomatic manner
- Organized, adaptable, patient and identifies as a change champion
- Experience coordinating events, including vendor management
- Working knowledge of Adobe Captivate or other e-learning authoring tools
- Tech savvy with knowledge of Learning Management Systems, Intapp, SharePoint, Nuance, Workshare and NetDocuments considered an asset
- Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively
- Sound judgment and decision-making skills when identifying training needs and selecting methodology for training programs and the creation of supporting learning material
- Consult with department leads and key stakeholders to determine gaps or suggest suitable training options
- Ability to analyze data to identify gaps and trends and ROI of leaning programs and make recommendations for improvements
How to Apply:
To apply for this position, please submit your application with your cover letter and résumé directly to our application portal.
Blakes wishes to thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Who We Are
At Blakes, we care about our people. We are committed to providing exceptional experiences for not only our clients, but also our employees by fostering an open and inclusive workplace culture. As a winner of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Greater Toronto’s Top Employers awards, we understand the importance of fostering an environment that brings out the best in each person. Our success as a firm starts with the hiring, development and retention of top talent.
Blakes welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. The Firm is committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment composed of people with diverse perspectives, backgrounds, identities and cultures.
The Firm provides accommodation for applicants with disabilities and in respect of other protected grounds during the recruitment process in accordance with applicable laws. Please contact us to request accommodation.