Become A Development & Program Manager

Candidates need a combination of education and related work experience to become a training and development manager. Although training and development managers need a bachelor’s degree for many positions, some jobs require a master’s degree.

Training and development managers need a bachelor’s degree for many positions, and some jobs require a master’s degree. They can have a variety of educational backgrounds, but they often have a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field.

Many employers prefer or require training and development managers to have a master’s degree, usually with a concentration in training and development, human resources management, organizational development, or business administration.

Training and development managers also may benefit from studying instructional design, behavioral psychology, or educational psychology. In addition, as technology continues to play a larger role in training and development, a growing number of organizations seek candidates who have a background in information technology or computer science.

Related work experience is essential for training and development managers. Many positions require work experience in training and development or another human resources field, management, or teaching. For example, many training and development managers start out as training and development specialists. Some employers also prefer experience in the industry in which the company operates. Increasingly, employers are looking for workers with experience in information technology as organizations introduce more e-learning and technology-based tools.

Although training and development managers are not legally required to be certified, certification can show professional expertise and credibility. Many employers prefer to hire certified candidates, and some positions may require certification.

Many professional associations for human resources professionals offer classes to enhance the skills of their members. Some associations, including the Association for Talent Development and International Society for Performance Improvement, specialize in training and development and offer certification programs.

Communication skills. Training and development managers must clearly communicate information and facilitate learning by diverse audiences. They also must be able to effectively convey instructions to their staff.

Critical-thinking skills. Training and development managers use critical-thinking skills when assessing classes, materials, and programs. They must identify the training needs of an organization and recognize where changes and improvements can be made.

Decisionmaking skills. Training and development managers must select or create the best training programs to meet the needs of the organization. For example, they must review available training methods and materials and choose those that best fit each program.

Interpersonal skills. Training and development managers need strong interpersonal skills because delivering training programs requires collaborating with staff, trainees, subject matter experts, and the organization’s leaders. They also accomplish much of their work through teams.

Leadership skills. Managers are often in charge of a staff and are responsible for many programs. They must be able to organize, motivate, and instruct those working under them.