Professional Development Program Manager
Salt River Project
Professional Development Program Manager
Tempe, AZ, US
Requisition ID: 19930
Join us in building a better future for Arizona!
SRP is one of the largest public power and water utilities in the U.S. providing electricity to approximately one million customers in the greater metropolitan Phoenix area. Since its founding in 1903, SRP has fostered a culture of stewardship and customer service consistently ranking as an industry leader in customer service according to J.D. Power and named one of Arizona's best employers by Forbes. SRP continues to adapt to its changing business environment by seeking innovative ways to reimagine utility service and the provision of critical resources essential to the life and economy of Arizona.
Why Work at SRP
At SRP, we foster an inclusive work environment and believe everyone should have a fair chance to work, regardless of who they are. That’s why we value teams with diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to help SRP deliver on its mission of providing reliable, affordable and sustainable water and power.
SRP's success is rooted in our employees' happiness, health, and safety. That's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees and enhance their well-being. In addition to competitive pay and performance incentives, eligible employees can take advantage of the following benefits:
- Pension Plan (at no cost to the employee)
- 401(k) plan with employer matching
- Available your first day: Medical, vision, dental, and life insurance
- Over 200+ hours of PTO (includes vacation days, holidays, floating holidays, and sick leave)
- Parental leave (up to 4 weeks) and adoption assistance
- Wellness programs (including access to a recreation and fitness facility)
- Short and long-term disability plans
- Tuition assistance for both undergraduate and graduate programs
- 10 Employee Resource Groups for career development, community service, and networking
Summary
The Professional Development Program Manager is responsible for designing, managing, and continuously improving programs that advance employee growth across the organization. This role serves as a key architect of our professional development ecosystem - partnering closely with business unit leaders, HR Business Partners, and subject matter experts throughout the company to identify development needs and translate them into high-impact programs for employees at all levels. The ideal candidate brings a strong program management discipline, passion for people development, and familiarity with the unique workforce dynamics of the utility sector.
What You'll Do
Program Design & Management
- Design, implement, and oversee a comprehensive suite of professional development programs, including skills and competency development, mentoring and coaching initiatives, and career pathing tools.
- Conduct needs analyses in partnership with HR Business Partners and operational leaders to identify skill gaps and development priorities aligned with company strategy.
- Build and maintain an annual professional development calendar, coordinating resources, facilitators, and delivery platforms across the organization.
- Manage end-to-end program logistics including curriculum development, scheduling, vendor coordination, participant communications, and evaluation.
- Benchmark programs against industry best practices from peer utilities, energy associations, and leading L&D organizations to ensure competitive program quality.
Curriculum and Content Development
- Develop or curate blended learning content - including e-learning, instructor-led workshops, virtual sessions, job aids, and on-the-job learning experiences - appropriate for diverse employee populations including corporate and operations staff, and technical professionals.
- Partner with internal subject matter experts and external vendors to develop learning content covering topics such as agility/speed, empowerment/decision-making, open and honest communication, accountability, innovation, critical thinking, and energy transition skills.
- Leverage learning management system (LMS) platforms to deploy, track, and report on program participation, completion, and effectiveness.
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership
- Build trusted relationships with department managers, supervisors, and executives to champion a culture of continuous learning and development.
- Serve as a visible internal consultant on employee development, offering guidance on career development planning, individual development plans (IDPs), and succession readiness.
- Collaborate with the Talent Acquisition team to ensure onboarding and early career programs effectively transition new hires into productive, engaged employees.
- Represent the company’s L&D function in industry forums and utility associations to stay current on emerging trends and share best practices.
Measurement, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement
- Develop and implement program evaluation frameworks to measure learning effectiveness, behavior change, and business impact.
- Produce regular status updates and reporting for HR leadership and senior management on program participation, outcomes, and return on investment.
- Use data and participant feedback to continuously refine and improve program design, delivery methods, and content quality.
Budget & Vendor Management
- Manage the annual professional development budget; track expenditures and ensure programs are delivered on time and within budget.
- Identify, evaluate, and manage external vendors, training providers, and consultants; negotiate contracts and ensure vendor performance meets organizational expectations.
Education
Experience
Minimum 5 years of relevant experience required. In lieu of a degree, 9 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience totaling 9 years may be considered.
Additional Requirements and Qualifications
- Minimum of 5 –7 years of progressive experience in learning & development, talent management, or organizational effectiveness, with at least 3 years in a program management capacity, is preferred.
- Professional certification in human resources or learning and development is preferred: Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM), SHRM-CP/SCP, or similar.
- Demonstrated ability to design, manage, and evaluate professional development programs for diverse, multi-level employee populations.
- Strong project management skills with a proven ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience with competency frameworks, succession planning processes, or organizational capability assessments.
- Familiarity with workforce analytics and experience using data to drive program decisions and communicate impact.
Hybrid Workplace
SRP currently offers a hybrid workplace, which allows employees whose jobs can be performed remotely, and who have sufficient technical capability, to telework up to three days per week. Although teleworking is available, all employees must live and work in Arizona.
Drug/Alcohol Policy Statement
To promote the safety and well-being of our employees, customers, and the communities we serve, SRP is committed to maintaining a drug/alcohol free work environment. Although marijuana may now be legal in Arizona, except as otherwise specified under Arizona law, SRP considers it to be an illegal drug for the purpose of our drug/alcohol policy because marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. Any candidate found to be impaired during the hiring process or who has the presence of an illegal drug or unauthorized substance in their system during the pre-employment drug/alcohol test may be disqualified from further consideration in the hiring process.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
Salt River Project (SRP) is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state or local law.
Work Authorization
All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Currently, SRP does not sponsor H1B visas, OPT, or other employment-related visa's.
Nearest Major Market: Phoenix
