How to hire a training development director

How to hire a training development director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step training development director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a training development director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new training development director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a training development director do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your training development director job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a training development director for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a training development director to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a training development director that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of training development directors.

   Type of Training Development Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Training Development Director	Training and development managers plan, direct, and coordinate programs to enhance the knowledge and skills of an organization’s employees. They also oversee a staff of training and development specialists.	$20-68
   Educational Manager	An educational manager is responsible for organizing educational strategies and managing learning resources, following the standard curriculum and guidelines. They coordinate with instructors and other educational institutions to develop teaching practices and adjust curriculum objectives as needed... Show more	$21-62
   HSE Manager	A health, safety, and environmental (HSE) manager is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing a company's health and safety programs. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating with different departments to gather data, assessing existing programs and policies to identify areas needing improvement, implementing solutions on issues and concerns, developing strategies to execute programs, and creating new safety policies as necessary... Show more	$28-58

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Human Resources
   • Professional Development
   • Training Development
   • Training Curriculum
   • Learning Management System
   • Program Development
   • Leadership Development
   • Subject Matter Experts
   • Organizational Development
   • Training Materials
   • Employee Development
   • Needs Assessment
   • Identify Training

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage instructional design and facilitation teams to create exceptional instructor-le and eLearning interventions.
   • Extend product revenue by delivering new products for managing configuration of Linux platforms.
   • Provide a comprehensive training approach including eLearning and classroom-base training.
   • Develop and market management training programs and leadership initiatives base on ongoing assessments of enterprise-wide needs and client consultations.
   • Formalize processes; create and maintain training records and prepare statistical reports to evaluate performance and ROI.
   • Determine learning and performance requirements for clients through needs analyses, along with customization requirements and follow-up ROI analyses.

   More training development director duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your training development director job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A training development director salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, training development directors' average salary in missouri is 54% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level training development directors earn 71% less than senior-level training development directors.
   • Certifications. A training development director with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a training development director's salary.

   Average training development director salary

   $78,066yearly

   $37.53 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level training development director salary

   $42,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average training development director salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$111,715	$54
   2	Connecticut	$97,793	$47
   3	Washington	$97,567	$47
   4	New Jersey	$96,742	$47
   5	Maryland	$84,326	$41
   6	Pennsylvania	$82,296	$40
   7	New York	$81,712	$39
   8	Florida	$69,297	$33
   9	Michigan	$68,648	$33
   10	Texas	$66,263	$32
   11	Illinois	$65,042	$31
   12	Iowa	$64,641	$31
   13	Indiana	$63,231	$30
   14	Georgia	$58,298	$28
   15	South Carolina	$52,657	$25
   16	Missouri	$48,422	$23

   Average training development director salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	First Republic Bank	$170,423	$81.93
   2	Aya Healthcare	$126,851	$60.99
   3	HomePro	$117,423	$56.45
   4	Brokers International	$100,865	$48.49
   5	Day & Zimmermann	$96,663	$46.47
   6	NCM Associates	$94,937	$45.64
   7	Go Ape USA	$94,752	$45.55
   8	Virginia Tire & Auto	$94,680	$45.52
   9	*n/a*	$94,624	$45.49	2
   10	Kemper	$93,490	$44.95
   11	Prime 8 Consulting	$93,387	$44.90
   12	Nexstar Media Group	$93,112	$44.77	1
   13	Goodwin Recruiting	$90,456	$43.49
   14	ML Strategies	$88,890	$42.74
   15	MetroPlus	$88,239	$42.42
   16	Reinsurance Group of America	$86,162	$41.42	1
   17	Challenger Sports	$82,820	$39.82
   18	Summit Staffing, Inc.	$82,089	$39.47
   19	Avtech	$81,395	$39.13
   20	Marriott International	$76,882	$36.96	19

4. Writing a training development director job description

   A training development director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a training development director job description:

   Training development director job description example

   Dewberry is seeking to hire a Director of Training and Development, responsible for helping to design, implement, and maintain a best-in-class training and development program focused on Project Leadership, People Leadership and Compliance. Our training and development program is a key strategic commitment, focused on building the skills of our team managers, project managers, and other professionals across the organization. This is an exciting and excellent opportunity for a dynamic professional to join our team!
   
   In this position you will provide oversight of Training and Development (T&D) staff, development and delivery of corporate training, oversight of the enterprise-wide learning management program, and expertise on curricula and training processes. Specifically, this position will have direct ownership of either the People Leadership or Project Leadership programs and have relevant qualifications for that role.
   The successful candidate will understand all training modalities that best fit the need.
   
   The candidate will have knowledge of certification requirements for architects, engineers, consultants, field personnel, and others in the A/E industry. In this position you will be responsible for creating employee development programs, leading ongoing project management programs, enhancing leadership programs, and developing/producing specific courses in subjects that improve the capability of employees to do their jobs. You will be responsible for the activities of staff and budget for Training and Development (T&D). This high-visibility, high-value work will have a clear and lasting impact on Dewberry's culture and business success.
   
   Dewberry is a leading, market-facing professional services firm with more than 50 locations and 2,000 professionals nationwide. What sets us apart from our competitors are our people. At Dewberry, we seek out exceptional talent and strive to deliver the highest quality of services to our clients. Whether you're an experienced professional or a new graduate, you'll have the chance to collaborate with the best and brightest and work on innovative and complex projects at the forefront of the industry. Our commitment to excellence stems from our personal integrity and from other defining attributes, which we call "Dewberry at Work," that have inspired our employees to be successful for more than a half-century.
   
   Responsibilities
   
   Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
   
   * Lead a cross-functional team to design and implement Dewberry's training and development programs (focused on Projects, People and Compliance)
   * Determine how to involve Dewberry senior leaders, including board members, in the execution of the programs
   * Determine the budget investments and vendors needed to run the training and development programs
   * Track, measure and report on the success of the programs
   * Design learning interventions related to leadership, talent/employee engagement, and interpersonal skills
   * Facilitate custom workshops based on specific office/corporate needs
   * Facilitate interpersonal workshops, including assessment-based workshops
   * Identify, select, and manage vendors used to develop and deliver learning interventions to meet business needs
   * Work with others on the Training and Development team to schedule and deliver the leadership and employee engagement workshops and learning events
   
   Required Skills & Required Experience
   
   Position Requirements:
   
   * Ideally 15+ years of related experience in Training and Development
   * College degree or equivalent work experience in human resources, organizational development or related field is preferred
   * 10+ years of experience in instructional design
   * 5+ years of experience facilitating training events
   * Aptitude and experience managing cross-functional projects in a matrixed structure
   * Intellectual agility and interpersonal flexibility
   * Strong consultation and communication skills
   * Ability to collaborate and develop mutually beneficial internal and external relationships
   * Ability to craft and present a business case to executives in a concise compelling manner
   * Excellent Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) skills
   * If providing ownership of Project Leadership function, PDP certification is required.
   
   Don't meet every single requirement? At Dewberry we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace for our employee's. So, if you're excited about this role, but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the position description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may just be the right candidate for this or other opportunities.
   
   Must have a valid driver's license, good driving record and ability to pass a driving record background check.
   
   * At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.
   * Dewberry is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation.
   * Only recipients of an offer of employment from Dewberry, will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted by Dewberry's background vendor of choice and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find training development directors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any training development directors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level training development directors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your training development director job on Zippia to find and recruit training development director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit training development directors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new training development director

   Once you've selected the best training development director candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new training development director first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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