Justification for Upgrade of Trainer Position free essay sample

Mrs. Williams, As I mentioned in our last staff meeting, I will like to recap the importance of filling the position available here in my group as a matter of urgency. We have completed and posted the third quarter schedule with many essential classes not inclusive. Gloria is very much tied up with field and contract training leaving Mohammed alone to teach all the scheduled classes. I have had to go in to assist in teaching some classes and because most of our classes are 21/2 to 5 days – 8 hours in duration, I am unable to perform any other duties in the week I am stuck in the classroom. I know Mr. McCoy has a lot in his plate right now and my need frequent reminder of our critical situation here in training. Thanks for your support I forgot to mention in the earlier justification letter that we had courses that were approved by TCEQ which Billy Shea was the only instructor approved to teach. Those courses are Surface Water production I II and Customer service inspection. Our inability to hire an instructor with TCEQ qualifications have that can teach those course after Billy left has left us with no choice but to use outside vendors for these course. The average cost to the City is an average of $20,000 a year. We also plan to expand our program to include Water and Wastewater Technology, Advance Utility Calculation, Advance Water and Wastewater Laboratory and more. These courses are presently being offered only by outside vendors and cost the City about another average of $20,000 a year. This upgrade will enable us to hire an   in-house instructor that will be readily available for our employees and the instruction will be customized to suite our needs as opposed to the generic version offered by the vendors. With the vacancy created for a Trainer position at OSB training group, due to the resignation of Victor Burks, it is requested that the position be upgraded to a Senior Trainer for the reasons indicated below: Our training goal for this position is to employ a highly qualified training professional to undertake a variety of water/wastewater and collection systems training responsibilities. This individual will be responsible for curriculum developments, designing new courses, identifying areas requiring remedial training, request courses and program addition from TCEQ, submitting courses to TCEQ for approval in accordance with TCEQ RG-373 and teaching several certification and skill enhancement classes. The individual will also be very highly knowledgeable of TCEQ training requirements and possess the minimum qualifications and skills for instructors as required by TCEQ RG 373 publications. In addition to the requirements above, the individual must meet City of Houston minimum requirements for the position: a bachelor’s degree and 1 year classroom training experience. The pay grade level 17 that this position is currently publicized does not attract prospective candidates who have the qualifications and capable of meeting the goals and objectives stated above. In the past we have managed to hire candidates who partially meet these criteria with hope to boost their experience while on the job but that has not been very effective and tends to put at risk our training goals and objectives. TCEQ publication RG 373 require instructors to â€Å"have sufficient work experience, subject-matter expertise, and vocational instructional experience to enable them to communicate course information in a relevant, informed manner and to answer students questions†.. Also â€Å"Instructors of core courses must hold a valid license in the particular occupation they are teaching. For water and wastewater operator licensing, a Class A or B license is normally required to teach†. Candidates who meet this State qualification show no interest in applying for the position with a level 17 pay grade. Most operators with the stated minimum experience and certifications are presently at pay grade levels of 19 and above as a result they are not likely to apply for the a lower Pay grade level position. Hiring individuals that do not meet TCEQ minimum requirements to instructor also puts the City of Houston at risk for violation of training approval regulations and a possibility of denying or suspending of our operator certification training program as indicated by TCEQ RG 373 â€Å"In the event an instructor is determined unqualified to teach a course, the training provider will lose approval for the course if the instructor is allowed to continue teaching it†. Another important consideration is that organizations providing similar training and instructors of water utility certification programs from similar size cities are hired at pay grade levels greater than the City of Houston trainer position. As a result the position is also not attractive to external candidates. Prior to hiring Victor Burks, the position was posted three times because we were unable to get the candidate that meets the requirements to accomplish our training goals and objectives Many candidates with appropriate qualifications and requirements have expressed interest in the position but the major hindrance has been the pay grade level the position is posted. I am very confident that if the position is upgraded and posted as a senior trainer level 21, we will have no problem hiring candidates that meet both State and City of Houston minimum requirements and candidates who will be effective in meeting our training goals and objectives. Attached below is the publication abstract from TCEQ RG-373 that pertains to â€Å"Qualified Classroom instructor†. What Is a Qualified Classroom Instructor? Classroom instructors must have sufficient work experience, subject-matter expertise, and vocational instructional experience to enable them to communicate course information in a relevant, informed manner and to answer students questions. Instructors must have at least three years of hands-on work experience in the particular discipline or area of specialization of the course. For example, a classroom instructor meets this qualification for the course â€Å"Surface Water Production I† if the instructor worked in a Surface water system for a minimum of three years performing critical operating tasks. Instructors of core courses must hold a valid license in the particular occupation they are teaching. For water and wastewater operator licensing, a Class A or B license is normally required to teach. It is recommended that instructors of courses used only for renewal hours also hold the appropriate license. Exceptions to this recommendation include out-of-state training providers, researchers, or professional engineers who lack a Texas occupational license but who possess exceptional knowledge and skills directly related to the training and critical job tasks. Instructors must also have enough teaching experience to enable them to communicate clearly and effectively at the learning level of the students and consistent with the intended outcomes of the course. Classroom instructors must have at least 60 hours of classroom instructional experience. Hours spent making presentations do not count as classroom instructional experience. The training provider is responsible for ensuring that classroom instructors have adequate, specific work experience and sufficient teaching experience. This responsibility includes maintaining each instructor’s resume or statement of qualifications. The TCEQ may ask for verification of instructor work and classroom teaching experience along with licensing status at any time. This information is required as part of the application for initial approval of a course. This information is collected to enable the agency to help you, the training provider—and in some cases the instructor also—comply with these requirements. In the event an instructor is determined unqualified to teach a course, the training provider will lose approval for the course if the instructor is allowed to continue teaching it. Participants also will not receive credit for training by unqualified or ineffective instructors. Normally, the training provider offers the students enrollment in another class with a different instructor at no additional cost to the student. This is considered a business practice, however, and you may choose to handle this situation differently in accordance with your business policies.