Professional Development Trainer Jobs in Tennessee

Title: Director of Professional Development

Institution: Volunteer State Community College

Job Summary:

This position champions growth opportunities for faculty and staff across Volunteer State Community College. This role ensures that every employee has access to meaningful, relevant, and innovative professional learning that enhances teaching, strengthens student success, and supports career growth.
This position provides leadership in planning, coordinating, and tracking all professional development activities-including training sessions, workshops, conferences, and new technology adoptions. By maintaining clear and transparent records, this position supports faculty in their promotion and tenure process, and staff in their evaluation plans, creating a culture of continuous improvement and shared accountability.

Job Duties:

Provide leadership and vision for the Teaching & Learning Center (TLC) as the hub of faculty and staff development. Collaborate with Volunteer State Community College Executive Leadership and the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) to organize, schedule, and support the implementation of the College's leadership development program. Design and coordinate a robust professional development program that supports teaching, learning, leadership, and innovation. Oversee tracking systems for professional development participation, ensuring faculty and staff have accurate records for promotion, tenure, and evaluations. Collaborate with college leadership to ensure professional learning aligns with institutional goals, including new platform adoption (e.g., Watermark, SLATE, AI tools). Supervise and mentor professional development staff to deliver high-quality training opportunities. Identify and share best practices for teaching, learning, and staff development within higher education. Develop an annual professional development plan aligned with the College's Strategic Plan and institutional priorities. Organize annual professional development initiatives such as workshops, TLC events, and themed learning series. Communicate professional development opportunities in an encouraging, accessible, and motivating way to foster engagement across campus. Work with Marketing, Communications, and Media Services to market professional development opportunities. Coordinate the College's High Impact Practice (HIP) processes, including consulting with faculty on HIP incorporation into the curriculum and the coding and reporting of HIPs. Provide budget oversight for the Teaching & Learning Center and professional development initiatives. Responsible for assessing the effectiveness of professional development through participation metrics and institutional outcomes. Other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications:

Master's degree from an accredited institution.
Three years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Doctoral degree from an accredited institution.
Teaching or training experience. Experience in designing, leading, and assessing professional development in higher education or a comparable setting.
Demonstrated success in managing professional development programs and training initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Strong understanding of faculty and staff development needs in higher education.
Ability to design professional learning experiences grounded in adult learning theory.
Knowledge of instructional technology, innovation in pedagogy, and emerging workforce skills.
Strong organizational and recordkeeping skills for tracking training participation.
Ability to balance accountability with encouragement, building a culture of growth.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and leadership skills. Must be a willing advocate of the mission of the college and have a demonstrated commitment to public higher education.
Ability to design and facilitate faculty development opportunities on topics relevant to online teaching and learning.
Ability to use data to make informed analysis of and possible solutions that project consequences of proposed solutions and make recommendations in support of goals.
Ability to work independently and to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating priorities while demonstrating good judgment in all areas of responsibility, including the ability to maintain confidentiality.
Excellent customer service skills and ability to adapt to changing work environment, including the ability to be respectful under pressure.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.

Pay Rate: $64,257 - $80,320 annual salary depending on experience

Volunteer State offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to the following:

• Insurance:  Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability (long and short term), FSA/HSA
• Wellness Incentive Program (if enrolled in Health)
• Educational Assistance:  Fee Waiver, Spouse/Dependent Discounts, Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Longevity Pay
• Retirement Options:  State of TN Pension (TCRS), 401a, 401K with up to $50/month match, 403b, and 457
• 14 Paid Holidays/Year
• Annual Leave (if applicable)
• Sick Leave
• Sick Leave Bank
• State Employee Discount Program with over 900 merchants

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon hire.

Applicants may be subject to a background check.