Job Type

Full-time

Description

Who are we?

Western National Insurance Group is a private mutual insurance company with over 120 years of experience serving customers’ property-and-casualty insurance needs in the Midwestern, Northwestern, and Southwestern United States. Known as “The Relationship Company®,” we define success as a measure of the relationships we’ve built over time. In everything that we do, we know that delivering a friendly and helpful interaction makes for a better experience for everyone involved. That’s the power of “nice”. At Western National, nice is something we work to bring to every person and organization with whom we partner and serve.

Does this opportunity interest you?

Western National is seeking a Senior Learning and Development Specialist to join our team! We are seeking a strategic and dynamic individual to drive impactful learning initiatives that elevate employee capabilities, foster leadership growth, and strengthen organizational effectiveness. This position partners closely with business leaders and Human Resources stakeholders to align learning strategies with company objectives and promote a culture of continuous development and high performance.

What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?

• Designs, develops, and delivers high impact learning programs, including leadership development, technical skills training, and compliance education.
• Leads all aspects of leadership development programs, from program creation and facilitation to feedback collection and continuous improvement.
• Partners with Human Resources business partners to support Individual Development Plan (IDP) creation and execution for high-potential leaders.
• Provides tools, resources, and coaching to support leadership growth across all levels.
• Conducts training needs assessments to identify skill gaps and development opportunities organization-wide.
• Stays current on best practices in learning technologies, methodologies, and engagement strategies to ensure cutting-edge learning experiences.
• Utilizes data and analytics to evaluate training effectiveness and inform program enhancements.
• Leads change management efforts related to learning initiatives, ensuring strong stakeholder engagement and adoption.
• Mentors junior members of the Learning and Development Team to build internal capabilities.

Requirements

What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?

• Five-plus years of experience designing and facilitating high-impact courses for individual contributors, emerging leaders, new leaders, and experienced leaders in a corporate setting.
• Proven ability to coach and consult with leaders and executives on leadership development topics.
• Demonstrated experience conducting comprehensive training needs analyses and aligning learning solutions with business strategies.
• Strong technical skills with experience developing and implementing eLearning solutions, managing Learning Management Systems (LMS), leveraging analytics to measure effectiveness, and utilizing tools like Microsoft Teams for collaboration.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, and consulting capabilities across leadership levels.
• Deep knowledge of adult learning principles and instructional design models (e.g., ADDIE, SAM).
• Proven success in leading enterprise-level learning initiatives in partnership with senior leaders.
• Strong analytical mindset and problem-solving skills with a focus on measuring training outcomes and business impact.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, organizational design, business, communications, or a related field; experience in lieu of degree acceptable. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with intermediate to advanced Excel skills.
• Experience using project management tools (e.g., Monday.com).
• Advanced proficiency in eLearning development tools, such as Articulate 360 and Camtasia.
• Experience as an LMS administrator; familiarity with 360Learning or Workday is a plus.

What will our ideal candidate have?

• Experience in the insurance industry.
• Familiarity with talent management practices, such as coaching, succession planning, and development planning.
• Demonstrated success in designing and implementing scalable learning programs using Agile methodologies and innovative learning strategies.

Compensation overview

The full hiring range for this role is $81,400 – $111,980, annually. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on the job-related knowledge, skills, credentials, and experience of each candidate as well as other factors such as the scope and location of the role. Candidates looking for compensation outside of the posted range are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on their individual qualifications and / or may be considered for other positions.

Culture and Total Rewards

Western National has long been known as “The Relationship Company®” and caring for our employees is part of that relationship commitment. We value connectiveness, empowerment, and accountability, and we believe that our employees are our biggest asset. 

Currently ranked as the 41st largest private company by revenue in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal), Western National has earned accolades year-over-year as an employer of choice and garnered multiple awards for wellness in the workplace. Western National has also been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune for the past four consecutive years. In addition, the Group is consistently recognized as a Ward’s 50 property-and-casualty insurance company for its outstanding financial results.

Western National offers full-time employees a significant Total Rewards Package, including:

• Medical insurance plan options and other standard employee benefits, including dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and more!
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) Plan (participants are eligible for 100% matching on the first 6% of their contributions)
• Wellbeing Program, including onsite fitness studio
• Paid Time Off – including holiday, vacation, and volunteer
• 100% company-paid tuition reimbursement for approved job-relevant coursework and access to The Institutes (Risk and insurance education)
• Paid parental leave
• Bonus opportunities

Western National believes in supporting balance between work and life by providing a flexible work environment, which includes a variety of hybrid and remote work arrangements designed to balance individual, job, department, and company needs. 

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa currently.

Western National provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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