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Job description: Training & Development Manager
As a training and development manager you'll be organising and managing the various training programmes within an organisation.
Essentially, you'll make sure staff gain and develop the skills they need to carry out their jobs effectively. This involves designing and coordinating training to cover both the organisation's current and future needs.
Your day-to-day tasks could include:
- Consulting with other managers to identify training needs
- Drawing up an overall training plan
- Managing a training budget
- Producing materials for in-house training
- Working with training providers to develop suitable course content
- Evaluating the success of both individual training and the overall programme
- Managing regular staff appraisals and reviews and making sure staff have opportunities for ongoing development
In a smaller organisation, you may also deliver some of the training yourself.
Hours and Environment
You'll usually work 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. Sometimes you may need to work more flexible hours, maybe to cover residential courses or workshops, or if your organisation has a shift system.
You'll be office-based, but also expect to travel between company sites or to training venues such as hotels and conference centres.
Skills and Interests
For training and development you'll need a range of qualities, most importantly:
- Excellent communication skills
- The ability to relate to staff at all levels
- The ability to encourage and motivate people
- Organisational skills and the ability to plan ahead and manage your time
- Presentation skills
- Effective negotiating skills
- The ability to write reports, keep records, and work within budgets
- Computer skills.
Entry
Normally, you'll need experience as a training officer before becoming a training manager. It's often an advantage to have a degree or postgraduate qualification in a subject such as business studies, human resources or communications.
If you don't have a degree, you may be able to work your way up from a training officer or personnel position by gaining experience and a professional qualification. These are offered by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Many people join the training department from other departments in the company, and then work towards their qualifications.
Membership of the CIPD can also be an advantage when you're looking for work.
Training
Once you're working in a training department, you can study for Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualifications part-time, either by block release or by distance learning. These include:
- Certificate in Personnel Practice (CPP)
- Certificate in Training Practice (CTP)
- Professional Development Scheme (PDS).
- You can also choose from a range of CIPD short courses - the CIPD website has details.
You can also choose from a range of CIPD short courses - the CIPD website has details.
Alternatively, you can work towards the following qualifications:
- NVQ Level 3 in Direct Training and Support
- NVQ levels 3, 4 and 5 in Learning and Development
- NVQ level 4 or 5 in personnel or management areas.
When you have completed NVQs, you may be eligible for the appropriate level of CIPD membership.
You can also do postgraduate diplomas and MSc degrees in training management or training and development, usually by part-time study or distance learning. To get on to these you'll need either a degree, professional training qualification or substantial relevant work experience. Contact individual colleges and universities for their exact requirements.
LLUK - Lifelong Learning UK - are developing a new framework of qualifications for teaching and co-ordinating in the lifelong learning sector. This will mean that trainers and managers can gain qualifications that are transferable within the sector. Contact LLUK for details.
Opportunities
You can work as a training manager for a variety of employers. These include banks, local authorities, the health service, retail organisations and manufacturing companies. You could also find opportunities with commercial training providers that run courses for other organisations. Note, however, that competition for jobs is usually strong.
With experience, you may be able to become a freelance trainer or consultant. There's a growing tendency for companies to bring in outside experts, and opportunities for freelance trainers are increasing.
Annual Income
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
- Training managers can earn between £19,000 and £40,000 or more a year.
- Training directors or senior training managers working for a large organisation can earn up to £50,000 or more.
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