What Jobs are Available in Learning and Development?

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Since every type of organization needs trainers and educators, there are many types of learning and development jobs available. There are jobs in the fields of academia, education, government, human resources, and general business. Here are four typical jobs for someone with a degree related to learning and development.

Resource: 20 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Human Resources

Training Coordinator

Most corporations and large businesses employ training coordinators to manage resources, facilitate classes, and coach individuals using a variety of delivery methods. This typically involves new hire orientation, on-the-job training, side-by-side coaching, and group PowerPoint training sessions. New hire training is critical because it instructs employees on the behaviors that drive safety, quality, productivity, and regulatory compliance.

Training coordinators usually help develop agendas, materials, curriculum, and training courses. They may be involved in scheduled assessments of employee progress, such as the standard 30-day and 90-day intervals. More and more corporations are opting to use online, self-paced education technology solutions, so being tech savvy will help with career trajectory.


K-12 Development Specialist

Public school districts employ development specialists who serve teachers through on-site training and professional development support. They help licensed teachers meet their continuing education requirements, as well as school districts meet regulatory education mandates. Development specialists provide individual, small, and large group presentations to staff, teachers, administrators and academic coaches.

A sample workshop might teach students how to blend traditional lesson presentation approaches with technology solutions and educational software. Anyone who applies for this type of job will need experience in educational environments and in delivering successful training and consulting. Development specialists will teach educators how to analyze data so they may apply it to instruction, curriculum, and administration decisions.

HR Training Specialist

HR training specialists coordinate with hiring managers, supervisors, and senior leaders to develop and deliver customized training sessions and employee development programs. They may create and implement needs-analysis research to determine training requirements and knowledge gaps within the organization. Then, they will develop reference sources, teaching materials, and learning aids for classroom use.

Afterwards, they may administer evaluations and employee surveys to benchmark quality, satisfaction, and outcomes. Some corporations offer wage and salary raises through standardized performance tests. HR training specialists may conduct these proctored exams as well as provide refresher courses on company policy and operational procedures.

Organizational Development Manager

Organizational development managers work with HR directors and executive leaders to enhance efficiency, implement strategies, and align the corporate mission with values. They are often called upon to revamp and readjust organizations before or after major changes, such as a mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring. They improve existing frameworks, HR processes, and professional development projects.

According to Forbes, organizational development managers may spearhead a company diversity initiative through training HR staff, identifying organizational risks, and improving legal compliance. Or, they may train territorial or out-of-touch executives on how to effectively communicate across departments and global locations. These managers often focus on employee growth, engagement, and performance.

Professional learning and development jobs will require communication skills, pedagogical patience and demonstrable expertise and confidence. Job applicants should possess learning agility, intuitive creativity, critical thinking skills, and time management techniques.