Expand mobile version menu

Training and Development Manager

salary graphic

AVG. SALARY

$99,870

education graphic

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree or higher +

job outlook graphic

JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

Training and Development Managers Career Video

Insider Info

Training managers oversee the training of employees. They are usually connected to the human resources department.

Training managers might do some training themselves. Other duties may include designing training courses, including seminars on writing and presentation skills. They also order books and other teaching materials.

Another growing branch of training management uses the Internet to reach millions of potential trainees. Dave Egan is founder and vice-president of provider strategies for a website that helps companies mix and match different online schools, publications and other resources to come up with their own training programs.

"Online training is growing more and more useful for corporations," says Egan. "It builds choice while delivering training cheaply and effectively."

To be a training manager, it's important to have good organizational skills. Managers need to be able to manage projects and people. They must understand how employees will learn best. That is often different for each employee.

"You need to have a strong presence in order to engage all the students and compel each of them to learn," says Egan. "You have to be a great communicator while being highly competent at what you're teaching -- often taking complex issues and putting them into simpler terms."

Training covers a wide range of topics. A company might switch computer systems, for instance. That means every person in the company must be taught how to use it. Companies with factories where heavy equipment is used must give more training.

Managers often deal with many different personalities.

"One of the biggest problems overlooked in corporate environments is cultural," says Richard Battaglia.He is executive director of the International Society of Performance Improvement in Washington, D.C. "These days, some people just don't feel they belong -- like square pegs in round holes."

Most trainers are generalists. For specialized tasks, most companies will turn to outside firms. There are hundreds of training consulting firms in North America.

Thomas Ebert runs a company that provides training on a contract basis. "It's mostly the smaller companies that contract out," he says. "The larger corporations generally have their own training infrastructure in place."

Just the Facts

Want a quick overview of what this career is about?Check out Just the Facts for simple lists of characteristics.

At a Glance

Oversee the training of employees within a corporation

  • Good organizational skills are important
  • It's important to be versatile
  • You don't need a degree, but it helps

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support