Summary
Training and development managers plan, coordinate, and direct skills- and knowledge-enhancement programs for an organization’s staff.
What they do
Training and development managers typically do the following:
- Oversee training and development staff
- Assess employees’ needs for training
- Align training with the organization’s goals
- Create and manage training budgets
- Develop and implement training programs
- Review and select training materials from a variety of vendors
- Update training programs to ensure that they are relevant
- Teach training methods and skills to instructors and supervisors
- Evaluate the effectiveness of training programs and instructors
Training and development managers oversee training programs, staff, and budgets. They are responsible for creating or selecting course content and materials for training programs. Training may be in the form of a video, self-guided instructional manual, or online application and delivered in person or through a computer or other hand-held electronic device. Training also may be collaborative, with employees informally connecting with experts, mentors, and colleagues, often through social media or other online medium. Managers must ensure that training methods, content, software, systems, and equipment are appropriate.
Training and development managers typically supervise a staff of training and development specialists, such as instructional designers, program developers, and instructors. Managers teach training methods to specialists who, in turn, instruct the organization’s employees—both new and experienced. Managers direct the daily activities of specialists and evaluate their effectiveness. Although training and development managers primarily oversee specialists and program operations, some also conduct training courses.
Training and development managers often confer with managers of other departments to identify training needs. They may work with top executives and financial managers to identify and match training priorities with overall business goals. They may also prepare training budgets and ensure that expenses stay within budget.
Work Environment
Training and development managers typically work in offices. Some travel between a main office and regional offices or training facilities. They spend much of their time working with people and overseeing training activities.
How to become a Training and Development Manager
Candidates typically need a combination of education and related work experience to become a training and development manager. Although many positions require a bachelor’s degree, some jobs require a master’s degree.
Many positions require training and development managers to have a bachelor’s degree, but some jobs require a master’s degree. Although training and development managers come from a variety of educational backgrounds, these workers commonly have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, education, or a related field.
Some employers prefer or require training and development managers to have a master’s degree with a concentration in training and development, human resources management, organizational development, or business administration.
Training and development managers may also benefit from studying instructional design, behavioral psychology, or educational psychology.
Pay
The median annual wage for training and development managers was $113,350 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $64,720, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $196,070.
Job Outlook
Employment of training and development managers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. In many occupations, employees are required to take continuing education and skill development courses throughout their careers, creating demand for workers who develop and provide training materials.
Innovations in training methods and learning technology are expected to continue throughout the decade, particularly for organizations with remote workers. Organizations use social media, visual simulations, mobile learning, and social networks in their training programs. Training and development managers need to continue modifying training programs, allocating budgets, and integrating these features into training programs and curriculums.
Similar Job Titles
Development Manager, Education and Development Manager, Education Director, Learning and Development Director, Learning Manager, Staff Training and Development Manager, Training and Development Coordinator, Training and Development Director, Training Director, Training Manager, E-Learning Manage, Employee Development Directors and Managers
Related Occupations
Marketing Manager, Sales Manager, Purchasing Manager, Human Resources Manager, Training and Development Specialist
More Information
The trade associations listed below represent organizations made up of people (members) who work and promote advancement in the field. Members are very interested in telling others about their work and about careers in those areas. As well, trade associations provide opportunities for organizational networking and learning more about the field’s trends and directions.
- American College of Healthcare Executives
- American Organization of Nurse Executives
- Association for Talent Development
- Association for Talent Development Certification Institute
- International Society for Performance Improvement
- Project Management Institute
- Society for Human Resource Management
Magazines and Publications
Video Transcript
Fact: Employees who are engaged at work are happier, perform better, and stay on the job longer. Training and development managers play a big role in this dynamic: making sure that employees not only learn the skills they need, but also get the learning opportunities they want. These managers research topics, develop workshops and trainings, and give presentations. They may purchase materials from different sources, tailor them for the organization, and create some of their own. Running new employee orientations is often part of the job. A skilled training manager will conduct surveys, evaluate their programs, and keep tabs on leadership’s priorities to ensure their training efforts hit the target. Training materials and methods must be up to date; they may use distance learning systems or videoconferencing to reach employees at a distance. All while keeping a balanced budget. Training and development managers work in almost every industry. They almost always work full-time during regular business hours in an office setting. A bachelor’s degree, or sometimes a master’s degree, is required, in business administration, human resources, curriculum design, or a related field.
Content retrieved from: US Bureau of Labor Statistics-OOH www.bls.gov/ooh,
CareerOneStop www.careeronestop.org, O*Net Online www.onetonline.org