A learning manager is someone who works to optimize the effectiveness of a company's training program. Being successful at this job usually requires an individual with problem solving skills, creativity and leadership abilities. Having a bachelor's degree in an area such as business management is ideal, but many companies will hire someone with several years of experience. Common duties of a learning manager include researching training program needs, developing new training programs, improving current training programs, obtaining training materials and assessing instructor performance.
Researching training program needs is usually a preliminary task of a learning manager. Before he develops a new program or improves a current one, he must first identify which areas to address. For example, a company might be experiencing consistent customer service complaints or employees might be having difficulty using a new software program. Regardless of the situation, it's up to a learning manager to pinpoint the precise areas that need work. To accomplish this, he may implement surveys or communicate with department supervisors.
After he has a clear understanding of what to focus on, a learning manager will develop a new training program if there isn't one currently in place. In the case of customer service complaints, he may create a course that instructs employees on how to efficiently interact with customers and take care of their needs. Some training programs might be taught by an instructor, while others may be taken on a computer.
If there is a current training program already in place, the learning manager will take steps to improve it. For example, if there are numerous complaints about poor job performance due to lack of education, he might tweak the training program. In some cases, he may hire a new instructor who is knowledgeable in a particular area. Other times, he may add more in-depth training in an area that is lacking.
Along with this, a learning manager is often responsible for obtaining training materials. This can include things like computer training software, videos, books and posters. Sometimes he will order these materials and other times he may create them himself. To provide employees with adequate training, he must ensure that educational materials are both relevant and effective.
In addition, he will need to assess instructors' performance. To make sure that employees are gaining useful knowledge, the instructor's teaching methods must be effective. Consequently, a learning manager might listen to employee feedback after the completion of a training program. As he collects information, he may suggest areas of improvement for an instructor.
