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Training and Development Managers

People classed as Training and Development Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization. On the six-type interest model it reads ESC, meaning leading, persuading and making business decisions comes first, followed by helping, teaching or caring for people. The preparation level is considerable preparation, typically a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience. O*NET’s skill data points to learning strategies, speaking, and reading comprehension as the ones to build. Expect to analyze training needs to develop new training programs or modify and improve existing programs. It tends to suit people who want leading, persuading and making business decisions, and it offers little for anyone seeking hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world.

What they do

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

Main tasks

  • Analyze training needs to develop new training programs or modify and improve existing programs.
  • Evaluate instructor performance and the effectiveness of training programs, providing recommendations for improvement.
  • Plan, develop, and provide training and staff development programs, using knowledge of the effectiveness of methods such as classroom training, demonstrations, on-the-job training, meetings, conferences, and workshops.
  • Confer with management and conduct surveys to identify training needs based on projected production processes, changes, and other factors.
  • Conduct orientation sessions and arrange on-the-job training for new hires.
  • Train instructors and supervisors in techniques and skills for training and dealing with employees.

Skills

  • Learning Strategies
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Instructing
  • Active Listening
  • Writing

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like taking the lead and making the call.
  • You get energy from helping other people move forward.
  • You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
  • You are comfortable relying on learning strategies and speaking.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather not persuade, sell or manage other people.
  • You want to work with your hands for most of the day. Realistic rates 1.9 out of 7 here.
  • You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ESC takes the three highest, and Enterprising comes first here.

Preparation

Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Education and Development Manager
  • L and D Director (Learning and Development Director)
  • Learning Manager
  • Organizational Development Manager (OD Manager)
  • Staff Development Director

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.