Staff development coordinators typically have an undergraduate degree in human resources management or another area of business and some experience coordinating trainings, programs, or events. In some situations where the employees are specialists, a coordinator is required to hold an advanced credential in that field. This is usually the case when the coordinator is expected to conduct much of the training of staff himself.
To become a staff development coordinator, you must typically have at least an undergraduate degree. There are some circumstances where you can get hired as a coordinator with a high school diploma and some training, but if you want to pursue a career track upwards through a corporate human resources department, you will usually need a bachelor's degree to be considered. Examples of coordinator positions that would be available to a high school graduate are with certain government agencies or local nonprofits. These sorts of positions are analogous to event coordinators of training sessions.
A coordinator is an entry to mid-level position in a corporate human resources department. Part of the job is understanding the way human assets contribute to the success of a company as well as how to care for and develop those assets over time. Most major universities have various human resources curricula tracks in the business school. If you want to become a staff development coordinator, a major in this area would be ideal. You can use another another business major, such as administration, to break into this field if your experience shows a penchant for this type of work.
Coordinators help design and manage an employee's professional development plan. They ensure that all employees have the resources needed to work towards their goals through outside training and educational opportunities, and also arrange for group instruction in-house for topics of concern to the entire workforce. Functionally, to become a staff development coordinator, you must have strong organizational skills and the ability to interact well with people. Some companies have coordinators deliver trainings themselves, which requires topical expertise and the ability to speak and teach in front of groups. Many companies use coordinators to organize employee enrichment activities, such as professional mentoring, volunteer work, and extracurricular events for staff outside of work, so having some experience designing and running programs can help your candidacy.
There are certain types of staff development coordinator positions that require a specialized degree rather than a business degree. One example is a coordinator position for a school district. The person in this job will often be required to conduct topical trainings himself, and it might require the coordinator to be a certified teacher with an advanced degree in curriculum design and training. To become a staff development coordinator in a specialty field like this, you should first research the position you want and then ensure your credentials align.
