Manager of Learning and Development: Key Roles and Responsibilities

A manager of learning and development ensures smooth execution of training strategies aligned with company goals. This role involves designing programs, managing budgets, and overseeing professional growth initiatives.

By Brad Nakase, Attorney

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Table of Contents

1. What is a manager of learning and development?

2. What is the role of a learning and development manager?

3. How can one become a learning and development manager?

4. Salary for a manager of learning and development

What is a manager of learning and development?

It is the job of the learning and development manager to make sure that all of the company’s learning and development tasks run smoothly. This article delves further into this role. We go over the main duties of an L&D manager, the steps to become one, the average income for this position, and we wrap up with a sample job description.

Investing in the personal and professional growth of one’s staff is the responsibility of a company’s learning and development manager. Their goal is to assist individuals in developing their skills to their maximum potential so that they can maximize their gifts. On the other hand, a learning and development manager is keenly attuned to both the learner’s and the company’s requirements.

When a company has a dedicated L&D department, the manager in charge of all things related to training and development reports directly to the Head of Learning and Development. This is common in larger organizations. It may, however, be merely one of the duties of an HR Generalist (alongside team managers) in smaller organizations.

What is the role of a learning and development manager?

Collaborating closely with company managers, executives across the organization, L&D specialists, and other L&D department members as well as HR, the learning and development manager makes sure that:

Training programs they design are in perfect harmony with the organization’s stated goals, which they have a firm grasp of.
They are well-versed in all of the company’s departments and their unique educational needs.

A learning and development manager is responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:

Facilitating the achievement of organizational goals through the design and execution of learning strategies and programs. Learning and development managers should be aware of the company’s primary goals. This means they need to collaborate with other company heads to learn about each division’s training needs.

To begin developing a learning strategy and program, the L&D manager must first thoroughly grasp the company’s goals and the training needs of the different departments. During this period, they will continue to maintain regular contact with the various stakeholders to ensure the programs meet expectations to the best of their abilities.

Embracing and implementing many methods of training. People learn in unique ways. Some people learn best when they are on their own and have access to resources online, while others prefer the “old-fashioned” method of studying under the guidance of an instructor. Some people learn best when they mix online and offline methods.

As a learning and development manager, you should be open to and use various training methods in your program. Your choices are practically endless. Examples include workshops, job shadowing, online courses, classroom instruction, and coaching.

Assisting with financial tracking and contract negotiations. This follows naturally from the first two duties of an L&D manager. They need to know the company’s L&D budgets so they may develop a training program and use different types of training from third-party suppliers.

Similarly, while negotiating contracts with external training providers, the L&D manager needs to be aware of the budget for this as well as their negotiation room in order to achieve the best deal possible.

Establishing and nurturing partnerships with external service providers is, thus, logically, another responsibility of the L&D manager.

Creating instructional resources. Making the training materials themselves is a part of a learning and development manager’s duties. Designing and delivering e-learning courses, among other training types (such as workshops), is an integral part of today’s frequently online learning environment.

Evaluation of development strategies for ongoing optimization. If you don’t track your progress, you’re essentially flying blind in modern human resources. A learning and development manager’s duties are similar. Among their primary duties is monitoring the progress of their growth initiatives in order to:
- Continue to optimize as needed
- Make sure your staff members take full use of the training opportunities given to them

Responsible for recruiting and supervising learning and development experts. It is the responsibility of the L&D Manager, in bigger companies with a dedicated L&D department, to recruit and supervise L&D specialists.

In charge of overseeing the HR team’s growth. It is common for a company’s HR department to house its Learning and Development department, which makes sense given that both departments focus on helping employees grow professionally. Because of this, it is not uncommon for the L&D manager to also be responsible for overseeing the training and development of the HR team.

How can one become a learning and development manager?

Most learning and development (L&D) managers have a master’s or bachelor’s degree in human resources, psychology, education, business, or a closely related discipline. Working in human resources or another managerial capacity is a common experience for many persons in this field.

To stay ahead of the curve, strong candidates always research new learning trends, theories, and technologies. Consequently, they are forward-thinking and adept at predicting future developments. The ability to effectively network is another quality of an excellent learning and development manager.

Although it isn’t required, certification can add credibility and show that you’ve done your research. Some examples of certifications include the Certified Professional in Training Management, Certified Training and Development Manager (UK), and the CIPD Level 5 Diploma in Learning and Development. These credentials are offered by organizations like the Knowledge Academy, Training Industry, and the CIPD.

Salary for a manager of learning and development

Duties, company size, and geographic region all play a role in determining salary ranges. In the United States, for example, a learning and development manager’s starting compensation is roughly $62,000, with an average salary of $73,000 for someone in the middle of their career. Beginning learning and development managers in the UK can expect an average pay of 36,000 GBP, with a mid-career salary of 40,000 GBP being the norm. Learning and development salaries in France typically hover around 48,000 EUR.

A learning and development manager’s responsibilities and compensation might vary widely. The precise responsibilities and size of the company’s learning and development department are two factors that determine the learning and development manager’s job description.

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