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Posted June 12, 2026

Senior Specialist, Training and Employee Development

Portland State University
Portland, Oregon, United States 97201 Full Time
Reference: 285215116

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled


Portland State University


Position Details
Position Details

Proposed Start Date 08/17/2026
Classification Title Human Resources & Organizational Development
Rank N - No Rank
Working Title Senior Specialist, Training and Employee Development
Department 600300 - HRC Human Resource Center
Position Number D96759
Representation UU - Unclassified Unrepresented
Renewable Renewable
End date, if applicable
Position FTE 1
Tenure Status N - not applicable


Position Summary

Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept
is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands-on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.
More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs. We are proud of our world-class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.
Position Summary
The Senior Specialist in Training and Employee Development will ensure an equity- and justice-centered approach to all training and communication programs while developing and implementing HR training for managers and employees. This position will report to the Training & Employee Development Manager in Human Resources.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree plus a minimum of 4 years training development, employee relations, HR generalist, or a combination of other relevant experience, which could include supervisory experience.
  • Ability to persuade others and to adjust communication style to suit the audience to effectively communicate with people in all levels of an organization.
  • Excellent writing skills, including conveying all necessary points concisely.
  • Excellent critical thinking, judgement and decision-making ability, including the ability to weigh short and long-term costs and benefits of a potential action.
  • Effective at managing own time and time of others with high volume workloads.
  • Ability to work well under pressure and to handle conflict with the highest professionalism.
  • Strong project management skills.
  • Strong people management skills, preferably gained through managing and developing teams.
  • High level of emotional intelligence and excellent interpersonal skills.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in a large, complex organization.
  • Experience in an environment with a unionized workforce.
  • Experience in higher education and public sector.
  • Experience in successfully building and leading a team.
Key Cultural Competencies
  • Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
  • Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
  • Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
  • Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.
Environmental Stewardship
Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.
Work Days/Hours Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, Up to one day remote, after training period and with the approval of the supervisor.
Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement
Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity.

The starting annual salary for this position will be $65,100-$70,000 but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.

An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools. Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.


Search Details

Posting Close Date
Projected Close Date for Posting Open Until Finalists Identified
Application screening begins
Quick Link


Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  1. * Do you have a Bachelor's Degree?
    • Yes
    • No
  2. * How did you first find out about this position?
    • PSU Website
    • Indeed.com
    • HERCJobs
    • Urban League of Portland
    • Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber
    • Oregon Employment Department
    • Social Media
    • Person Referral
    • Career Builder
    • Glass Door
    • Other - Please describe in the next Question
  3. If you selected Other, please describe.

    (Open Ended Question)



Applicant Documents
Required Documents
  1. Resume
  2. Cover Letter
  3. Professional References
Optional Documents




    Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

    PI285215116

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