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Professional Development Jobs in Alaska (NOW HIRING)

We provide professional development, technical assistance, and financial support to early childhood educators and programs to ensure they are preparing children for lifelong success. By collaborating ...

... professional development program to help students develop skills, knowledge and experiences that complement their academic development for current and future job markets. • Develop and lead ...

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Professional Development information

See Alaska salary details

$40.9K

$80.3K

$126K

How much do professional development jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for professional development in Alaska is $80,276.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,500.00 and $109,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Professional Development Specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Professional Development Specialist, you need expertise in adult learning principles, curriculum design, and instructional strategies, often supported by a degree in education or a related field. Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS), e-learning authoring tools, and relevant certifications such as CPLP or ATD are typically required. Strong communication, facilitation, and organizational skills help you effectively engage participants and manage multiple training initiatives. These skills are crucial for designing impactful development programs that enhance employee performance and support organizational growth.

How do professionals in a Professional Development role typically collaborate with other departments within an organization?

Professionals in a Professional Development role often work closely with HR, department managers, and team leaders to identify training needs and design effective learning programs. They regularly consult with subject matter experts to tailor content relevant to specific teams and may facilitate cross-departmental workshops or initiatives. This collaborative approach ensures that development programs are aligned with organizational goals and that employees at all levels receive the support they need to grow and succeed.

What is professional development?

Professional development refers to the ongoing process of acquiring new skills, knowledge, and experience to enhance one's career performance and growth. It typically includes activities such as attending workshops, seminars, conferences, pursuing advanced degrees, or completing certifications. The goal of professional development is to keep professionals up-to-date with industry trends, improve job performance, and help them achieve career advancement. Many employers encourage or require professional development to ensure their workforce remains competitive and effective.

What is the difference between Professional Development vs Training?

AspectProfessional DevelopmentTraining
PurposeEnhances overall skills, knowledge, and career growthProvides specific skills for a particular task or job
DurationOngoing, long-termShort-term, focused
CredentialsMay lead to certifications or qualificationsUsually results in a certificate of completion
Work EnvironmentApplicable across various roles and industriesSpecific to job requirements

While both Professional Development and Training aim to improve skills, Professional Development focuses on long-term growth and career advancement, whereas Training provides targeted skills for immediate job needs.

What are the most commonly searched types of Development jobs in Alaska? The most popular types of Development jobs in Alaska are:
What are popular job titles related to Professional Development jobs in Alaska? For Professional Development jobs in Alaska, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Professional Development jobs in Alaska look for? The top searched job categories for Professional Development jobs in Alaska are:
Infographic showing various Professional Development job openings in Alaska as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,276 per year, or $38.6 per hour.
Professional Development Manager

Professional Development Manager

Thread

Anchorage, AK • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

Salary: $70,000-$80,000 year

Open to Candidates Statewide


Agency Overview:

threadassists families in finding affordable, high-quality child care that meets their needs. We provide professional development, technical assistance, and financial support to early childhood educators and programs to ensure they are preparing children for lifelong success. By collaborating with communities and businesses, we work to achieve positive outcomes for families and young children through increased access to affordable, high-quality child care. We undertake research and advocate for child care policies. This work is guided by our core values of empowerment, access, child care professionalism, childrens rights, and entrepreneurial incubator.

Specific Responsibilities:

The Professional Development Manager is responsible for supportingthreadsstatewidework to increase the quality of early childhood education programs and educators by providing training, education, technical assistance, consultation, coaching and funding through supervision of staff, oversight of teams, andproject management. This includes the following:

  1. Lead a statewide team to ensure consistent implementation of professional development thread services to early childhood programs and educators through team goals, policies and procedures, work plans, work groups, project management, etc.
  2. Manage teamwork flow, roles and responsibilities, documentation, data management, and forms to meet objectives set by agency management.
  3. Oversee and support statewide team communication, strategic planning, data analysis, and performance measures, including serving as a liaison and facilitating communication among all thread directors, managers, and team leads to ensure alignment of agency goals, priorities, and services.
  4. Oversee the development and implementation of policies and procedures for quality assurance.
  5. Oversee all grant activity as assigned. Provide accurate grant/program data and budget oversight as assigned.
  6. Supervise and train staff, as assigned, using a strength based and reflective approach both in person and virtually.
  7. Provide team leadership and direct services to parents, providers, and the community as needed.
  8. Liaison with stakeholdersto support the early childhood field through education, training, technical assistance, consultation, and coaching.
  9. Ensure all assigned staff are trained and knowledgeable on threads culture, database, and agency tools and resources.
  10. Occasional in-state and out of state travel, sometimes in small aircraft, is required.
  11. The specific work a Professional Development Manager could oversee and/or conduct includes, but is not limited to:
    • Oversee and manage thread services to early childhood programs and families, including Alaska IN!, program/classroom/individual child consultation, and the delivery of technical assistance and coaching services.
    • Oversee projects which impact the professional development of early educators.
    • Oversee and coordinatethread training and educational opportunities to advance professional development for early educators statewide.
    • Oversee and manage threads calendar for training including internal and contract trainers.
    • Recruit, train, and support a statewide pool of qualified trainers and training organizations.
    • Oversee and manage quality initiatives to early childhood programs.
    • Develop, implement, and overseethreads professional development fee-based services.
    • Oversee and implement projects aimed to improve quality for specialized groups, populations, and those new to the field.
    • Implement and train staff on best practices related to technology to deliver training.
    • Other duties as assigned.


Qualifications:

  1. BArequired, MA/MS preferred, in education, human services, mental health, psychology, infant learning, social work, or related field.
  2. Priorexperience with project management and program development including program evaluations, creating, and using outcomemeasures and reporting results required.
  3. Prior experience in adult education required.
  4. Prior professional experience in an early childhood setting preferred.
  5. Prior experience in coaching, consultation and training preferred.
  6. Knowledge and prior work with children who experience special needs.
  7. Previous experience supervising staff and/or volunteers required both in-person, virtually/remotely.
  8. Prior experience with technical writing and grants and contracts management preferred.
  9. Effective communication skills.
  10. Current drivers license required; Alaska drivers license preferred.
  11. Must pass background check and provide references and valid identification.

Key Competencies:

  1. Passion and commitment to threads mission and the importance of early childhood.
  2. Flexibility and adaptability as organizational needs change.
  3. Strong interpersonal and leadership skills required.
  4. Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
  5. Knowledge of early care and education best practices, child development, and community resources to support children and theirfamilies.
  6. Ability to work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of staff, clients, and partners in a variety of settings to achieve goals.
  7. Ability to use database systems such as Salesforce and general office programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Adobe, etc.
  8. Ability to work a varied schedule as needed to meet performance measures.
  9. Ability to use multiple communication and program management tools such as: MS Office 365, Google Docs, Quip, Zoom, etc.

Schedule and Compensation:

Position Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, other hours as needed.

Location: Alaska

Position Type: Full Time, 40 hours/week

Classification: Exempt, Permanent

Supervisor: Professional Development Director

Compensation: $70,000 - $80,000 annual salary

Supervises: Professional Development Specialists, and other staff as assigned.

Benefits: 20 days of PTO & sick leave (starting), 14 paid holidays, 403b match, High-Deductible Health Plan with HSA option (employer contributes HSA), Dental, Vision and Life. All premiums covered 100% for employees health, dental, vision and life. Free thread services.