Training and development managers, also known as learning and development managers, are human resource specialists in charge of planning, coordinating and leading the continuing education opportunities offered by an employer. Needed and sought after in a variety of industries — including technical services, finance, health care, education, and government entities — training managers equip associates with the capabilities to successfully perform their jobs.
Learning and development managers are hired to help close skills gaps by implementing the proper programs that can help workers become more proficient in their roles and gain more work experience —especially if they’re relatively new to the job. Within this guide, you’ll learn more about additional responsibilities, the steps to take toward becoming a training and development manager and how much you can potentially earn once you step into this role.
Training and Development Manager Job Description
The tasks and assignments that are specific to training managers can vary considerably based on the needs, business goals and desired outcomes of an employer or organization. Requisite knowledge and skills in computer engineering are far different than what might be needed for nurses or orderlies in a health care practice to excel.
In addition, these professionals have many duties related to their own team of training and development specialists. They must oversee their staff, making sure each member is running training sessions efficiently. When the training and development team begins working with a new vendor or deploys a new training system, these managers must teach instructors and supervisors the basics so they can train others.
However, there are some general responsibilities that training and development managers tend to lead, regardless of their work environment. These duties include, but aren’t limited to:
- Designing employee training programs and materials;
- Talking to employees about what they’d like to get out of training sessions;
- Ensuring learning materials align with company standards and professional goals;
- Update training sessions to keep up with growing industry trends/updates;
- Create and implement a training budget.
Individuals in this career have a substantial amount of responsibility in an organization’s day-to-day workings. They have to develop and run training programs that educate employees while remaining aligned with the business’s available resources. These trainings may appear in different forms, including self-guided instructional sessions, online modules, videos or in-person explanatory presentations.
How To Become a Training and Development Manager
Just as with most human resource careers, a degree of some kind is desired by most employers seeking to fulfill the roles in this department. Luckily, there are several degrees to choose from to help get you on track toward becoming a training and development manager. Read below to learn more about the different degrees to become a professional in this field.
Best Degrees for Training and Development Managers
The first step towards becoming a learning and development manager is to earn a bachelor’s degree in human resources or management. You may consider enrolling in all online courses to give you more freedom in how you learn the skills needed to succeed throughout your schooling.
During this time, you’ll gain further insight into how to perform the daily responsibilities of a training and development manager. This includes but certainly isn’t limited to, enrolling in courses that highlight how to manage through leadership and human resource management basics.
Those who already possess a bachelor’s in human resources may look to expand their knowledge and advance in their current position by earning a master’s degree. Enrolling in master courses that focus on leadership gives you access to build on existing skills and enhance them with additional education not obtained when earning a bachelor’s degree.
Training and Development Manager Certifications
While earning a master’s is a great way to excel in your career, it isn’t for everyone. Thankfully, you can also add to your skillset by obtaining certifications targeted for current and prospective training and development managers.
You may also consider taking classes that build on foundational aspects. For instance, the International Society for Performance Improvement, the Association for Talent Development and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) all offer classes that build upon the foundational aspects of training and development that are taught in undergraduate programs.
There are no required certifications at this point. However, this doesn’t mean they aren’t beneficial to your career. The SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM CP) is a credential that helps to demonstrate a higher level of proficiency and expertise in human resources management, which employers may take into consideration during the hiring process when reviewing resumes.
Another certification program that SHRM offers is the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM SCP). While SHRM-SCPs and SHRM-CPs perform some similar functions in the workplace, SHRM-SCPs tend to be more involved in the formation of human resources policies and procedures for an organization or an HR firm. SHRM-CPs, meanwhile, are more engaged in the implementation of HR policies. Neither the SHRM-CP nor the SHRM-SCP certification programs require test takers to have a bachelor’s degree to be eligible for the respective exams.
Skills Needed To Become a Training and Development Manager
Academic qualifications are important for this role, but so are many other qualities that professionals need to bring with them to be successful. Here are a few of them:
- Effectively communicate;
- Critical thinking;
- Listen to and implement feedback;
- Works well in a team setting;
- Compassionate and understanding;
- Natural leader;
- Open-minded;
- Inquisitive;
- Adaptable;
- Tech-savvy.
With the right training tools and knowledgeable HR professionals to use them, employees can add value to their organizations, with the potential for a significant return on investment.
Training and Development Manager Salary
These professionals have the potential to earn a competitive wage. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), training and development managers can make a range of $68,450 and $210,470 annually, depending on experience.
The BLS also reports that this career is expected to grow by 7% by 2030. Those seeking a career as a training and development manager can expect to use technology to help them achieve daily tasks, especially as software intended to help HR professionals continues to roll out.
If you are interested in a career in human resource management, you may want to pursue learning and training opportunities that keep you up to date on internal communications and development platforms. Human resources management and training technologies are constantly evolving, so you must be well-versed in innovative methods in all areas of HR management.
The online Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Collat School of Business can provide you with the expertise you need to work toward a career in HR training and development. This 100% online program can offer you the high-level insight you need to approach today’s workplace challenges.
UAB even provides an internship component that helps you gain experience in HR while building connections that are essential to career longevity. Get in touch with an enrollment advisor from UAB to find out how you can leverage a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development Management to begin your career.
Sources:
International Society for Performance Development, “ISPI Homepage”
Association for Talent Development, “ATD Homepage”
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) “SHRM Homepage”
SHRM, “SHRM-CP SHRM Certified Professional”
SHRM, “SHRM-SCPSenior Certified Professional”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Training and Development Managers: Job Outlook”