Sarah Jean Knox

Talent Development & Training Professional

SUMMARY
Talent Development & Training Professional with a background in recruiting, learning & leadership development, and strategic fundraising. Proven expertise in designing and implementing high-impact programs aligned with organizational goals. Strong communicator with a track record of driving engagement and performance through innovative training solutions.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Leadership Development: Designed, developed & implemented a leadership program for 50 High Potential Field Sales Associates which resulted in a 100% completion rate, with a 20% promotion rate and a Net Promoter Score of 96. Participants promoted into manager positions received higher average scores from their teams on Humu than their peers in the business in the Business. (Engagement: +10 points, Retention: +8 points, Inclusion: +3 points)

Program Management: Serve as the Institutional Training Program Manager for four Core Training Programs: Ignite Sales Onboarding Program (6 cohorts/year), Career Track High Potential Leadership Program (1 cohort of 200/year). Emerging Leaders High Potential Leadership Program (2 Cohorts/year), Elevate District Manager Training (3 Cohorts/year). Developed & Established Program Management Systems.

Executive Influence: Orchestrated learning content for multiple national sales meetings, securing executive sponsorship and achieving organizational goal alignment, which garnered high engagement from over 250 management and executive level attendees and SMT commendations, subsequently driving the successful rollout of key strategic initiatives around Talent Development tools and programs.

SKILLS

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

EXPERIENCE

Sr. Training Specialist I & II – Learning Experience Design & Program Management | Ecolab December 2022 – Present

• Developed engaging training & development programs aligned with organizational goals utilizing ADDIE instructional design model.

• Promoted to Sr. Specialist II to lead Program Management for Institutional Sales & Leadership/Management Programs

• Spearheaded adoption of the LinkedIn Learning Initiative during 2023 Development Season, partnering with Executive Leadership & Marketing to launch a campaign that increased adoption of the tools by 300%.

• Led the design, development, and implementation of two leadership programs for high potential associates aligning with development goals.

• Served as Retain, Grow Gain Talent content lead for Institutional annual meetings (ISM, Area VP Meetings, etc).

• Utilized Smartsheet to develop Program Management systems to manage timelines, tasks and roles for each Program.

• Manage $2M Budget for Sales & Leadership Training Programs

TALENT ACQUISITION SPECIALIST & TEAM LEAD | Ecolab November 2021 – December 2022

• Led Full-Cycle Recruiting for the North & South Regions for Institutional North America

• Promoted to manage a team of 2 Recruiting Coordinators, owning their career development and PP+D cycle.

• Served as Communications Lead for E3 International Women’s Day which is a development experience for Ecolab associates across the globe.

• Partnered with Executives and Managers to develop diverse recruiting pipelines and determine recruitment strategies, leading to the lowest rate of vacancies in their regions ever.

• Co-led a redesign of the recruiting post-offer process to define alignment and compliance in the post offer process across all businesses.

• Served as facilitator for Development Week 2022 leading several seminars on networking for career development for a global audience.

STRATEGIC EVENT FUNDRAISING CONSULTANT | Sarah Jean Knox June 2013 – November 2021

• Executed 400+ successful fundraising events and 100+ consulting projects, delivering targeted outcomes for diverse organizational needs.

• Performed Data-Driven Donor Insights to maximize revenue and strategic storytelling for nonprofit clients.

• Designed, Implemented & Marketed FUND-A-NEED FRAMEWORK, driving donor generosity, and increasing revenue.

• Designed, Developed, Implemented & Marketed DIY VIRTUAL GALA COURSE, a comprehensive guide empowering small nonprofits to produce impactful virtual events on a budget.

• Successfully transitioned 20+ nonprofits to virtual events, demonstrating adaptability, innovation, and effective change management skills.

• Gained alignment between nonprofit Executive Leadership, Board Members and volunteer event staff to develop strategic fundraising programs designed to create donor engagement and year over year revenue increases.

• Facilitated nonprofit and corporate events serving as emcee, panel moderator, and discussion facilitator.

AGENCY RECRUITIER | Multiple companies October 2010 – June 2013

• Staffed roles across diverse sectors such as finance, marketing, administrative, warehouse, and clerical positions. Proven expertise in identifying and matching top-tier talent to ideal roles, with a focus on long-term potential and career growth.

• Collaborated with clients led to the design of tailored recruitment strategies that aligned with their talent development goals.

• Fostered relationships with candidates and hiring managers, serving as a trusted partner and advisor.

EDUCATION

BA Relational Communications, Bethel University 2008

MHRIR, Carlson School of Business, University of Minnesota (Anticipated Graduation 2025)